A Definitive Display of Beautiful Blades 

The history, culture, and craft of Japanese sword-making are featured at the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum.

The town of Osafune has long been known for the production of fine katana, Japanese swords prized for the beauty and strength of their blades. This unique museum features a variety of these amazing weapons on display—some dating back 700 years or more—as well as the tools and artifacts that go into making them. Spears, daggers, and scabbards are also on display.

The annex next door offers an up-close look at the intricate process that turns raw iron into a highly polished, deadly work of art. In the forging room and studio, visitors can watch the master craftsmen at work, or take part in a workshop under their guidance, such as a lesson in sword care. Or, participants can craft their very own souvenir with the letter opener workshop (reservations required). 

Access: Take the Shinkansen bullet train from Shin-Osaka Station to Okayama Station (45 mins.), then take the local train to Kagatoe Station (30 mins.).

Bizen Osafune Sword Village Bizen Osafune Sword Museum