Experience Report A special bus trip where you can touch and appreciate Japanese swords (real swords)! Nagoya Sword Museum “Nagoya Sword World”

【Experience Report】A special bus trip where you can touch and appreciate Japanese swords (real swords)!! Nagoya Sword Museum “Nagoya Sword World” ​
Tokken Corporation Co., Ltd. Press release: May 16, 2025 To members of the press [Experience Report] A special bus trip where you can touch and appreciate Japanese swords (real swords)!! Nagoya Sword Museum “Nagoya Sword World” Here is a report on the contents of the Japanese sword appreciation bus tour held at Nagoya Sword World! In addition, we are also looking for participants for the special exhibition “Swords Associated with Sengoku Warlords – Oda Nobunaga” to be held from June 7th (Sat) to 8th (Sun)! The Nagoya Sword Museum “Nagoya Sword World” (Nagoya City, hereafter referred to as the “Museum”) is holding a bus tour to coincide with the opening of the special exhibition. The greatest attraction of this tour is that you can “touch and appreciate real Japanese swords!” This special experience of being able to touch Japanese swords that are usually on display at the museum is very popular. In addition, you can learn more about the swords and history that are the theme of the special exhibition by visiting historical spots that correspond to the theme of the special exhibition and learning about the art works by a curator in a private room. The experience report we will introduce this time is a viewing bus tour held on March 22 (Sat) and 23 (Sun), 2025, to coincide with the opening of the special exhibition “Three Famous Swords of Japan”. This tour included a private viewing of the special exhibition “The Three Great Swords of Japan” on the first day of its opening, an event where you could touch real swords, and a tour of the places associated with the Three Great Swords of Japan, allowing our guests to experience the profound world of swords. Let’s take a look at what is included in this special exhibition bus tour! (*Information on new bus tours currently being offered is also included! It is introduced in the latter half of the report.)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bnRkcHPIy8 【Nagoya Sword
World】Special Exhibition CM “The Three Great Swords of Japan” “Bus Tour” 30 seconds | Youtube video
[Experience Report] Bus tour to view the special exhibition “Three Great Spears of Japan” 2-day, 1-night schedule
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-15fdac2e50e16217e729fcc27117093a-1740×1200.jpg [Reference] Schedule for Day 1
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-6231de453434a1a33f542fae43105ce1-1740×1156.jpg [Reference] Schedule for Day 2 1. Appreciate the copy of “The Three Great Spears of Japan” “before anyone else” On the first day of the tour, we had the chance to enjoy the special exhibition “The Three Great Spears of Japan” in the exhibition room on the 4th floor of the North Building of the museum. If you join the tour, you can enter the museum at 9:00, one hour earlier than the opening time. This means that you can enjoy the sight of the copies of the “Three Great Spears of Japan” lined up in a private room before anyone else. Even if they are copies, it is a very rare opportunity to see the three great spears of Japan all together. In addition to the history of the three great spears of Japan introduced by the museum’s curator, we were also able to hear detailed explanations and behind-the-scenes stories that were not written in the captions, such as an introduction to the unexamined swordsmith Kohei Kamibayashi, who created the copies of the three great spears, and Munehisa Yanagimura, who carved the Nihon-go, and we were able to deepen our understanding of the special exhibition “The Three Great Spears of Japan”.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-bbedab01d3e643e2fe3a9b2e26e2a5bb-3900×2925.jpg North Building 4th floor exhibition room
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-945150fd45be6e98a738552efc928e7f-3900×2925.jpg Exhibition of precious copies of the three most famous swords in Japan 2. Hold and appreciate the precious swords After taking your time to appreciate the museum, head to the sword appreciation session on the sixth floor of the building. The appreciation session is a valuable experience where you can actually hold and appreciate real swords. Unlike through a glass case, you can observe the jigane and hamon in more detail, and by moving the sword with your own hand, the hamon becomes more clearly visible, making this the ultimate sword appreciation experience. Of course, before touching the real thing, there is a lecture on the etiquette and manners of sword appreciation, and practice using a replica sword, so even those who are handling swords for the first time can enjoy sword appreciation with
confidence.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-832d0b60a3318fe516e272ff5fb36a86-3900×2925.jpg Swords at the viewing party
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-7339c9a5259d55b529f80a161d4363d6-2273×2700.jpg A special experience where you can touch and appreciate Japanese swords that are usually exhibited in museums. The swords that you can appreciate are also all precious swords carefully selected from the museum’s collection. This time, we were able to appreciate a total of five swords, including “Sword, folding inscription, Bizen Province, Sumiunoshige” and “Kodachi, inscription, Nagamitsu.” Another reason why we would like to repeat this tour is that different swords are presented at each appreciation session.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-f0adfcfb0b2083cbb386fc9cc5c409e3-3900×780.jpg Sword folded inscription Bizen Kuni Sumimoju (Important Art Object)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-b9e83a7aa6ced5a5640474807b135dfd-3900×780.jpg Kodachi signature Nagamitsu (Important Art Object) 3. Sister Museum “Sword World Nagoya Marunouchi” After visiting the Nagoya Sword Museum “Nagoya Sword World,” we went to see the sister museums “Sword World Nagoya Marunouchi Annex” and “Sword World Kuwana Tado Annex.” “Sword World Nagoya Marunouchi Annex” is usually only open on weekdays, but the bus tour allows you to view it on weekends as well.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-0e2e2fbfaf2d39c231cf83988f37275f-452×641.jpg The special exhibition “Swords of Uninspected Swordsmiths” is being held until June 27th (Friday) The “Sword World Nagoya Marunouchi Annex” is holding a special exhibition “Swords of Uninspected Swordsmiths” in addition to the regular exhibition until June 27th (Friday). Swords made by swordsmiths who hold the title of
“non-examined swordsmiths” just like swordsmith Kohei Kamibayashi, who created the copy of the Tenka Sanmei Yari. “Non-examined swordsmiths” is a title given to extremely excellent swordsmiths who have won the special prize multiple times or more in competitions hosted by the Japan Art Sword Preservation Association (Nittoho). You can view works by swordsmith Fujiwara Toshimitsu, who is said to be the father of the Bizen sword revival, and swordsmith Miyairi Norihiro.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-8046b658d7bea9bc186a835f8d21ad6c-465×658.jpg The special exhibition “Swords and Spears of the Muromachi Period” is being held until July 6th (Sunday) “Sword World Kuwana-Tado” The Nagoya Sword Museum Annex is holding a special exhibition called “Swords and Spears of the Muromachi Period” until Sunday, July 6th. Japanese swords from the Muromachi period are characterized by differences between the early and late periods. The Muromachi period was a turning point in the history of swords, when short Japanese swords called “Uchigatana” appeared. Furthermore, it was during the Muromachi period that spears began to play an active role on the battlefield, replacing “Naginata” and “Odachi”. The original Tenka Sanmei Yari were also produced during the Muromachi period, so you can compare copies of the Tenka Sanmei Yari exhibited at the Nagoya Sword Museum with the spears exhibited at “Swords and Spears of the Muromachi Period”. 4. Enjoy a luxurious stay at Hotel Tado Onsen Those who participate in the overnight tour can spend a luxurious stay at Hotel Tado Onsen in Kuwana City. Relax in the hot spring water, which is directly drawn from the source and has a high skin-beautifying effect, and enjoy a delicious dinner at Restaurant Houou. After appreciating the swords, please relax at Hotel Tado Onsen. Image
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-7ea743269b5b42bf04a06c53ba9cf82f-600×450.jpg ➄Visit historical sites in Kuwana City and reminisce about the Three Great Spears Those who participated in the overnight tour will go sightseeing in Kuwana City on the second day. Kuwana is the place associated with Honda Tadakatsu, who carried one of the Three Great Spears, Tonbogiri. First, we visited the Kuwana City Museum, where we learned about the history and folklore of Kuwana and viewed swords made by Muramasa, a swordsmith with ties to the area, and swords made by Fujiwara Masazane, the creator of Tonbo-giri.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-b65f014c25c096bff7f3d28349416e01-3900×2925.jpg Kuwana City Museum For lunch, we enjoyed the specialty gourmet clam dishes at Uojuro in Kuwana City, and after lunch we strolled around the historic site of Kuwana City, which flourished as a post town on the Tokaido Road. We visited Sodenoyama Jodo-ji Temple, where the grave of Honda Tadakatsu, the first lord of the Kuwana domain, is located; the remains of Shichiri-no-Watashi Ferry, a ferry terminal that connected Miyajuku (Atsuta-ku, Nagoya) to Kuwanajuku, a key post town on the Tokaido road; the remains of Kuwana Castle; and Kuwana Sosha Shrine. We concluded our trip by thoroughly enjoying the special exhibition “The Three Great Spears of Japan,” while tracing the history of Kuwana city.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-7bfea6381e5835eff6fbe8ac8a47823a-3900×2925.jpg Shichiri Ferry Ruins
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-1fc26ac0a5975415f67e6a82f95991d5-3558×2649.jpg Honda Tadakatsu statue
Did you enjoy this experience report? I’m sure you’ve been wanting to take a special bus trip where you can immerse yourself in Japanese swords. And we have some good news for you! We’ve planned a new bus tour. [Now accepting applications] Special exhibition “Swords connected to Sengoku warlords – Oda Nobunaga” viewing bus tour The next bus tour to view the special exhibition introduced this time will be held from Saturday, June 7th to Sunday, June 8th, in conjunction with the special exhibition “Swords Associated with Warring States Warlords – Oda Nobunaga,” which will be held from Saturday, June 7th to Sunday, August 31st, 2025 (Reiwa 7). Special Exhibition “Swords Associated with Warring States Warlords – Oda Nobunaga”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/23091/28/23091-28-bd7fc0085bd73dad98460aee702c2598-1907×2700.jpg Oda Nobunaga is one of the most well-known and popular warlords of the Sengoku period. This exhibition focuses on the Oda clan and Nobunaga’s birthplace of Owari Province (present-day Owari region of Aichi Prefecture), and will display swords related to the clan. The main exhibit is the National Treasure “Short sword with the signature Rai Kunimitsu,” a short sword bestowed by Toyotomi Hideyori to Oda Urakusai (Oda Nagamasu), Nobunaga’s youngest brother. This sword is also recorded in the “Kyoho Meibutsu Cho,” a book of famous swords compiled during the Edo period, and is also known as “Meibutsu Uraku Kunimitsu.” We will be making a special public display of this sword. Special exhibition “Swords connected to Sengoku warlords – Oda Nobunaga” viewing bus tour We are currently accepting applications for a tour that will allow you to be the first to see swords related to the Oda clan, such as the national treasure “Yuraku Kunimitsu,” and enjoy a two-day tour of castles related to Oda Nobunaga, such as Gifu Castle and Kiyosu Castle. The “viewing session,” where you can hold real swords in your hands, is always popular and is always popular, so please apply early.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glkgviEjqKY For applications, please visit the Totsu Travel website (https://www.totsu-tr.co.jp/) or contact Totsu Travel (TEL: 052-243-8500). ■【Accommodation】Special Exhibition “Swords Associated with Warring States Warlords – Oda Nobunaga” Viewing Bus Tour:
https://www.totsu-tr.co.jp/bustour/latest_tour/ ■【Day trip】Special exhibition “Swords connected to Sengoku warlords – Oda Nobunaga” viewing bus tour:
https://www.totsu-tr.co.jp/bustour/latest_tour/one-day/ Details of the overnight bus tour ​ Details of the day trip bus ​ *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.