The Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo’s Ryogoku is a museum that holds 190 swords and other items designated as national treasures and important cultural properties.
The sword is a weapon used by warriors in battle, but at the same time it was treated as a work of art. The Japanese Sword Museum exhibits such swords. We would like to know the charm of the sword and use it as a reference before actually going to the Japanese Sword Museum.
The swords actually owned by the warriors who survived the Sengoku period are on display, so it is fun to see them. Such members as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Uesugi Kagekatsu. If you think that the warlords were actually touching or looking at the sword, you would be excited to see it from the same perspective as 400 years ago.
The swords are beautiful and powerful. Each sword has its own personality. It appears in the shape and shape of a sword, but you can really feel that there are individualities with various swords. The works created by the skilled craftsmen who make swords are just amazing and can be seen.
There was a person who conscientiously used a sword, and the sword was actually valued. There is an appraisal called “Origami” and it was actually displayed, but the price is also listed. It seems that it used to be bought and sold as before.
Access to the Japanese Sword Museum is about a 7-minute walk from the Ryogoku Station West Exit of the Japan Railway Sobu Line (stops at each station).
* Walk along the Sumida River and walk further while looking at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on your right.
When using Ryogoku Station on the Toei Oedo Line, it is a 5-minute walk from Exit A1.
National treasures and important cultural properties
The Japanese Sword Museum is the headquarters of the “Japanese Art Sword Saving Association” that drives modern swords industry and swordsmanship, and has swords of national treasures and important cultural properties of various treasures. Initially it opened in Shibuya-ku Hatsudai in May 1978 and closed in March 2017 for relocation. In January 2018, it was reopened in the former Yasuda garden in Ryogoku, Sumida ward.
The renovated Japanese Sword Museum is a modern building like a museum in recent years. First of all it is recommended a free section on the first floor. There is an exhibition on basic knowledge of swords such as “how Japanese swords are made”. Since the exhibition is from the 3rd floor, especially for beginners, it is good to see from this free section.
Sumida Ward with Japanese Sword Museum is focusing on the preservation and dissemination of materials on Japanese history and culture. Especially in the Ryogoku area, various facilities such as “the Edo-Tokyo museum” which was renewed open, “Sumida Hokusai Museum of Art“, etc. are gathered. Furthermore, walking along the Sumida River for about 30 minutes, there is Sumida Park where there was the residence of Koume (former residence of Mito domain).
After enjoying the exhibition carefully, you can refresh by walking around the garden and watch the Sumida river on your left while thinking about the story of the old sword and the newly born swords who will be born.
The sword of national treasure only seen here
The swords specially selected from all over Japan gather in “The Japanese Sword Museum”. It is only here to be able to see the swords including the national treasure in Japan.
The sword of the master craftsman, which is from the Heian era through the Edo era, is always displayed in here. Furthermore, It is attractive that many historic items like the armors and the documents are possessed. It is a fantastic place for a history fan.
Soul of the samurai
The sword which was said to be the soul of the samurai from Kamakura to the late Edo period. Not only as a weapon, the sword is used for Shinto ritual. There are many swords, like an old Japanese sword and the celebrated sword made by the master craftsman, forming a line in a row. Many visitors from the foreign countries come to learn Japanese culture.
Art treasure
There is the thing which received designation and the authorization of the country as a national treasure, important cultural property, and art treasure in the displayed sword. Mainly, the old works of each generation (Heian, Kamakura, Nambokucho era) are displayed.
Not only history buffs, why don’t you go to visit here once, and see and touch the beauty of the sword carefully.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
| Name: | The Japanese Sword Museum |
| Adresse: | Yokoami 1-12-9 Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015 Japan |
| Access: | Toei metropolitan subway Oedo-sen Line “Ryogoku-eki Station” (5 minutes walk) |
| Tel: | (+81) 3-6284-1000 |
| Price: | 1,000 yen (Adult) 500 yen (Student) Free (Under 15 years old) Please refer the official web page. |
| Official site: | http://www.touken.or.jp/ |
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