Open Tuesdays to Sundays 9:30 - 5:00 the uninspiring building provides
very little clues as to the treasures it contains.
I paid the 300 yen and entered.
The building has 2 levels.
The ground level has a room to the left, after entering. This
room displays various fittings, but no blades.
The next level contains a thick steel door, like a bank vault.
In this room are the treasures of a time gone by.
At the time I visited there were 12 katana/tachi, 6 wakizashi, 5 tanto
and 7 daisho (katana/tachi and wakizashi sets) on display.
Later I was to visit the Sword Museum in Tokyo. I found the location
and atmosphere of the museum at Osafune to be more inspiring and the collection
pieces where just as good as the more famed museum.
Open every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 11:00 and 1:00 this is a unique chance
to see blades being made.
Unfortunately I missed the chance to see this.
I bought some books in the lobby of the museum, only to find different
books available at the souvenir shop.
If you like Nihonto (Japanese swords), don't go past this shop.
The prices are very competitive (compared to other sword places in Japan)
and they have of good range of accessories (Cleaning kits, knives, etc...)
Osafune is very accessible. It is less than 30mins (27-28mins)
from Okayama station (on the Shinkansen "Bullet Train" line).
Okayama is west of Osaka, with Himeji about half way.
Here is a closer map showing the railway line to Osafune.
Finally a map of the town of Osafune and the location of the museum.
