How to get to Bizen Osafune Sword Museum

Hey I am travelling to Japan this month and have found this website Bizen Osafune Sword Museum http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp/~osa-token/english/index.htm.

I would love directions on how to get there from Osaka and any other info about the museum eg. Is it worth going to? Do you get to see sword making demonstrations? Can you buy swords there?

Many Thanks

If you want to spend the money on a shinkansen, here is the link to the nearest station (Kagato) to the museum from Osaka Station:

http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=OSAKA&arv_node=KAG...

Uncheck the shinkansen button on the bottom of the page and you can see the routes and fairs for rapid express and regular trains (about half or less than the shinkansen fair). The museum is about a twenty minute walk from the Kagata Station. Here is a link showing the location of the museum and the Kogata Station:

http://diddlefinger.com/?q=岡山県瀬戸内市長船町長船966

Zoom out and you'll see the station to the northeast(upper right).

As for the museum itself, the website you referenced seems to give the most information about the museum. However, here is a description of what can be found at the museum from a fellow traveler:

The land around Bizen is also rich in iron sands and charcoal, two of the key ingredients for producing steel. The area was so predominant in sword making that it is thought that 60-70 percent of surviving samurai swords were produced in the local forges. At the Bizen Osafune Museum, dozens of historical swords are on display, but the museum is also a working forge. Once the blades were made for the samurai, but now it is collectors who place the orders. Only occasionally do they construct the full length katana, however swordsmiths can be seen working on hilts, scabbards and smaller blades.

http://www.travel67.com/features/the_best_of_okayama/

Here is a link that discusses the museum in Japan-Guide.com (this site).

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+36692

I went 2 years ago and have a blog posting with pictures of what I saw. It may interest you.
http://gaijin37.blogspot.com/2008/03/osafune.html

There are 2 videos demonstrating the technique they use to fold the steel. That is the only blacksmithing demonstration they had. They did not pound out any sword blanks. There was also a craftsman polishing a finished sword.

If you go, I suggest getting a cab to the museum from the train station. There were plenty of them when I went. The museum is back in some side streets and wasn't easy to find. I tried walking at first but gave up after about 30 minutes of being lost, went back to the station and got a cab that had me at the museum in about 5 minutes. When I was done I walked back to the train station (now that I knew the way) which was cool because it is a quiet and beautiful little town and it was interesting to walk down the streets.

The Japanese version of the museum web page has a calendar of when their demonstrations are held. When I was there it was the second Sunday of every month. Not sure if it is the same now, maybe someone here can help with understanding the calendar if you don't read Japanese.

Thankyou both for all your information!!!

I looked at the Japanese site and used google translate to work out the calender... The yellow square on the calender came up as a knife making course... I was wondering if anyone had done this or knows if anyone can do it...

Also I was wondering if it was possible to buy a katana sword at this museum???

Thanks again!

Did some Googling and was unable to find any information on whether you can buy a katana sword at the souvenir shop. It looks like you can buy knives (even make your own).

Sorry.

You can order a Katana from then and get it send home as soon as it's finished.
But be prepared to pay between 20-30000 US Dollar! They don't do Souvenir Swords.