OSAFUNE: The Holy Land of the Japanese Sword

DISTINCTLY LOCAL

The Holy Land of the Japanese sword, Osafune is home to countless points of interest and institutions that preserve and share its heritage, as well as a wide variety of small businesses inspired by this history.
Wander its streets, soak in the atmosphere, and uncover its culture as a new story, flavored by the unique sword heritage of Osafune, unravels before you.

Swords

  • Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum

    Osafune, the Holy Land of the Japanese sword. At its heart sits the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum. Through its collection of masterpieces from across the 1000 year history of Bizen swordmaking, it gives visitors an immersive opportunity to discover the artistry, craft, and religious significance of the Japanese sword, while in the adjoining workshops, you can witness swordsmiths forge hot metal up close. To truly ‘bring your Japanese sword story to life’ during your stay, we highly recommend this museum as your first port of call.

    966 Osafune, Osafunecho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Google Maps)

    TEL. 0869-66-7767

    Official Homepage >

  • Saihōji Jigenin Temple
    (family temple of the Osafune swordsmiths)

    Behind every masterwork blade lies a prayer, occluded by the sands of time. The family temple of the smiths of Osafune, inside can still be found the memorials and graves of swordsmiths from generations past. To visit is to comprehend that swords are, more than just weapons, imbued with the beliefs and hopes of their makers. This temple is a place to quietly contemplate and understand the minds of the smiths of the past.

    436 Osafune, Osafunecho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Google Maps)

    TEL. 0869-66-8979

    osafune_jigenin

  • Kyōisan Myōkōji Temple
    (home to the graves of the Kuroda and Ukita clans)

    With close ties to the Ukita and Kuroda, two famous warrior clans of the Sengoku Period, this ancient temple can trace its roots back over 600 years. To samurai, swords were at the heart of their identity, and you can come face to face with that identity and the history of the samurai who used these blades right here. As you walk its grounds, lose yourself in imagining the individual histories of these renowned blades and all the mighty samurai generals who once owned them.

    684 Fukuoka, Osafunecho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Google Maps)

    TEL. 0869-26-2024

Eat

  • Ichimonji Udon

    Its name taken from that of the famous ‘Fukuoka Ichimonji’ school of swordsmithing, their noodles, made from stone-ground flour milled in-house, have a warming, nostalgic flavour. To sit down to a bowl after a walk through the historic townscape is to experience the local culture at its most authentic. Their udon is another ‘work of art’ of the city of swords.

    1588-1 Fukuoka, Osafunecho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Google Maps)

    TEL. 0869-26-2978(10:00-15:00)

    Official Homepage >

  • Meitō Miso

    A store whose name evokes the town’s sword culture, the deep umami flavour of their miso is the finely dialed result of natural fermentation processes and countless hours of dedication, formed like the Japanese sword through the interplay of heat and the silent passage of time. Visit Meitō Miso and take home a delicious sample of Osafune culture.

    14-3 Haji, Osafunecho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Google Maps)

    TEL. 0869-26-2065(9:00-17:00)

    Official HomepageP >

Morning markets

  • Bizen Fukuoka Market

    A market held since the 13th century, its modern iteration is now held on the spot where merchants and farmers once gathered, bringing great prosperity to the one-time trading city of Bizen Fukuoka. Set against the area’s deep-rooted sword culture, experience a bustling atmosphere born from a long mercantile tradition at this historical market.

    Dates:
    Regular market: 4th Sunday of every month, 8:00-11:00
    Grand market: 4th Sunday in April and November, 8:00-12:00

    Venue:
    1588-1 Fukuoka, Osafunecho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Google Maps)

    Official Homepage >