🗺️ Bizen Osafune Sword Museum (Bizen Osafune Sword Village)

Nagoe Town in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, has been a renowned production area for Japanese swords since the Kamakura period. The Bizen Nagoe Sword Museum is one of the few sword-themed museums in Japan. Inside, approximately 40 swords, including Bizen swords, are displayed, and special exhibitions are held regularly. In the Sword World Information Area, there are precious videos of sword forging and digital displays, such as a touchscreen display for the national treasure "Tachi Mumei Ichimonji (Yamabirakoge)," which helps visitors understand the history of swords, the names of various parts, and the historical context. The museum also features a forging area and workshop where visitors can observe the traditional methods of forging Japanese swords, making sword fittings, engraving blades, and polishing processes. Additionally, the "Koshiki Tanren-ho" held on the second Sunday of each month is popular among sword enthusiasts both domestically and internationally, showcasing the breathtaking process of forging tamahagane at temperatures around 1,200 to 1,300 degrees Celsius. Other experiences include a craftsman observation area, knife-making workshops, and Japanese sword maintenance seminars. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the history and forging techniques of swords, the museum also houses the Toshiaki Imaizumi Swordsmith Memorial Hall and a product hall where visitors can purchase professional tools for sword maintenance and original sword-related merchandise.

The museum is located in Nagoe Town, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, which has been famous for its sword production since the Kamakura period. Situated in Nagoe, the top sword production area in Japan, it is a rare professional sword museum. Focusing on Bizen swords, it showcases around 40 swords and regularly holds special exhibitions. There is also a forge and workshop where visitors can closely observe the exquisite craftsmanship of traditional sword forging, sword mounting, blade engraving, and polishing. Nearby, there are also the Bodhi Temple of swordsmiths and a wishing shrine, allowing for a comprehensive tour to deeply experience the unique sword culture of the area.