Okinawan Karate History Tour

Okinawa is well known as the birthplace of Karate. There are various historical Karate spots, more than 400 Karate Dojos and many great Karate masters who are respected all over the world in Okinawa. You can visit 6〜8 Karate spots, some of which are difficult to go to by yourself.

Features of this tour

 This tour is a tour which you can experience only in Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate
 You can visit the roots of your Karate style and experience Okinawan culture
 You can visit Karate historical spots which are difficult to get to by yourself

Description​

If you have ever dreamed of visiting either the roots of your Karate style or the birthplace of Karate, then this is the tour for you. We will take you on a 6-hour tour of places that are little known to not only tourists but also the locals. You can see several monuments of legendary Karate Masters. You can also visit the world’s first Karate and Kobudo Museum in Nishihara City, and the Okinawa Karate Kaikan in Tomigusuku City. Join our Karate History Tour and step into the amazing past of this ever so revered martial art.

1. This tour is the only one that you can experience only in Okinawa,
birthplace of Karate.
1. This tour is the only one that you can experience only in Okinawa,
birthplace of Karate.

Goju-ryu members from France, Austria and Australia visited the grave of Kanryo Higaonna sensei, founder of Goju-ryu Karate.

2. You can visit roots of your Karate style and experience Okinawan culture.

2. You can visit roots of your Karate style and experience Okinawan culture.

Nepal Shito-Ryu members visited the grave of Anko Itosu sensei. Shito-Ryu is named from Anko Itosu (糸) and Kanryo Higaonna (東). The members prayed for good luck for their tournament.

3. You can visit historical Karate spots which are difficult to go to by yourself, and meet famous Grand Masters.
3. You can visit historical Karate spots which are difficult to go to by yourself, and meet famous Grand Masters.

Hungary Goju-ryu members visited famous Goju-ryu master Tetsuhiro Hokama sensei at his dojo. Hokama sensei is also famous for being a calligraphy master. He wrote proverbs in Kanji for the Hungary members based on their requests.

Visit 1 : Okinawan Karate Monuments

Monument of Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi (founders of Goju-ryu)
Monument of Gichin Funakoshi (founder of Shoto-Kan)
Monument of Kanbun Uechi (founder of Uechi-ryu) *1.5 hours from Naha by car
Monument of Choshin Chibana (founder of Shorin-ryu /Kobayashi-ryu)

Highlights​

Monument of Kanga Sakugawa (founder of Shuri-Te)
Monument of Ryosaku Matsumora
Monument of Kume Sanjuroku Sei (one of Karate's birthplaces)

Visit 2 : Okinawan Karate Masters Graves

*This portion of the tour has been temporarily removed until further notice.

Sokon Matsumura (founder of Shuri-te)
Anko Itosu sensei (origin of Shito-ryu)
Kanryo Higaonna (founder of Goju-ryu)
Chojun Miyagi (founder of Goju-ryu)
Choumo Hanashiro (top student of Itosu Anko)
Eiichi Miyazato (Goju-ryu master)
Seiko Higa (Goju-ryu master)

Visit 3 : Karate museum & Okinawan Karate Dojo

Karate Museum
Karate Museum
Karate Museum
Karate Museum
Karate Dojo
Karate Dojo
Karate Dojo
Karate Dojo

Visit 4 : Okinawan Shrine

Purification ritual at the Okinogu Shrine
Okinogu Shrine
Tentouzan (Sacred place)
Naminouegu Shrine

Visit 5 : Shopping for Karate Goods

Shureido (Okinawan Karate goods brand)
Pottery Street
Awamori factory

Visit 6 : Lunch (Choice based on your request)

Okinawan noodle (in Okinawa traditional house)
Beef Steak (includes curry, salad, soup and coffee buffet)
Sushi or Seafood lunch

Model Tour Course

・This is Goju-ryu tour course for Goju-ryu members from Hungary.
・Tour time is from 10:00 to 16:00.

10:00 am Pick up & Start
10:00 am Pick up & Start
Pick up & Start
Monument of Gichin Funakoshi Founder of Shoto-Kan
Okinogu Shrine
Okinogu Shrine
Okinogu Shrine
Sacred Place “Tentouzan”
Monument of Kanryo Higaonnna and Chojun Miyagi Founders of Goju-ryu
Monument of Kanryo Higaonnna and Chojun Miyagi Founders of Goju-ryu
Kume Sanjuroku Sei One of Karate's birthplaces
12:00 pm Lunch Time (Steak buffet Lunch)
12:00 pm Lunch Time (Steak buffet Lunch)
Steak buffet
All-you-can-eat Salad, Curry, Soup
All-you-can-drink
Grave of Seiko Higa
Dojo Visit Shorin-ryu Kenshikai Dojo
Conversation with Shorin-ryu 10th Dan Yoshimasa Kakazu sensei
Grave of Seiko Higa
Grave of Seiko Higa
Dojo Visit Goju-ryu Jundokan Dojo
Okinawa Prefecture Karate Museum Goju-Ryu 10th Dan Tetsuhiro Hokama sensei
Okinawa Prefecture Karate Museum
Hokama sensei is also a very famous calligraphy master
They requested to have their favorite Kanji to be written by Hokama sensei
Memorabilia Photo
Pottery Street
4:00pm End of TOur
4:00pm End of TOur

Details about 4 Styles of Okinawa Karate Trial Course

Zen & Breakfast at a fish market
Price: +5,000 JPY per person
Time: 6:00-8:30
Zen & Breakfast at a fish market
Price: +5,000 JPY per person
Time: 6:00-8:30
Zen
(seated meditation)
Zen
(seated meditation)
Fish market
Breakfast
(Tuna bowl)

Participants' Voices

You should bring your own Karate uniform!
We participated with our DOJO member, and took many good photos in Karate uniforms (Louis / France)

Experience at Shrine Okino-gu was great! (Wang / China)

Nice tour arrangements!
They changed the tour course based on our requests! (They added Shureido for us to shop. Thanks!!). The original course is also good! (John / England)

I miss Taiyaki!
I love Karate, but what I loved the most in this tour was Taiyaki. It is Japanese traditional sweet food. The sweet red beans inside was really yummy! (Silva / Brazil)

I want to experience ZEN next time.
The shrine Okino-gu we visited offers ZEN classes in the early morning. (Maria / India)

Very friendly guide.
Ageshio CEO Kenny guided us in English. He was a former Japanese Karate champion and a really nice guy. (Linda / England)

The Karate museum was fantastic!
I was very happy that I could meet Hokama sensei who is very famous Goju-Ryu master. Hokama sensei made the Karate museum, which is full of many valuable Karate artifacts and history. (Michael / Germany)

I want to participate again.
We visited Naha this time. I want to visit another area next time. (Johnny / Taiwan)

There are many nice photo opportunities.
There are many nice places in this tour so we could take many wonderful photos. (Patricia / Spain)

Good course!
We visited many good places all in one day, and some places seemed very difficult to get to (master’s tomb). I am very satisfied with this tour. (Tony / USA)

Details

Price for one person (Not including tax)   4 or more: 13,800 JPY
  3 persons: 17,000 JPY
  2 persons: 19,000 JPY
  1 person: 30,000 JPY
Includes   Visit 6-8 spots / Tour guide / Transportation / Museum ticket / Lunch / Grave goods (Removed until further notice) / Photo data
Minimum Participants   1 person
Tour time   10:00 – 16:00 (Based on your request, the time may change accordingly)
What you need to bring   ・Beverage(s)
  ・Camera
  ・Towel (should it be a hot day)
  ・Karate Gi (optional) for photo taking opportunities
Notes   We can arrange a tour course based on your requests, so please let us know if you have any.
  You will have the chance to take many pictures, so it is recommend that you bring your Karate Gi with you.
  The tour may be changed based on the availability of some places visited.

Cancel Policy

If you want to cancel your reservation, there will be a cancellation fee based on the following cancel policy.

 Estimate  Free
After application〜15 days before the activity day   25% cancellation fee
8〜14 days before   50% cancellation fee
 Within 7 days  100% cancellation fee

Karate History Tour Experiences

For Shito-ryu group
For Shoto-kan group
For Goju-ryu group
For Shoto-kan group

Inquiries

If you would like to go on a Karate History Tour or would like more information on our Karate History Tours, please send us your inquiry using our contact form.