Nara City Tourism Association

Just below Houtoku-ji Temple, the family temple of the Yagyu clan, lies a kendo dojo that carries the name of the Masakizaka dojo. Yagyu Munenori's eldest son, Mitsuyoshi, who is commonly known as Jubei, is said to have trained approximately 10,000 disciples. 

This dojo serves both kendo and zazen, aligning with the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu spirit of "Sword and Zen as One." It was established in 1965 through the efforts of Sadayoshi Hashimoto, the head priest of Houtoku-ji Temple at that time. 

The dojo was reconstructed using the roof and pillars from the Nara District Court, which were initially located at Ichijo-in Temple, a subtemple of Kohfukuji Temple. The main entrance was moved from the entrance of the Kyoto Shoshidai, the representative agency of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Kyoto and western Japan.