Nagoya Sword Museum (Touken World)

About Nagoya Sword Museum (Touken World)

Experience Japan's newest and largest sword museum, opened in 2024 as a premier destination for Japanese sword enthusiasts. Spanning four floors, this state-of-the-art facility can display up to 200 swords simultaneously, including national treasures, important cultural properties, and contemporary masterpieces. The museum combines traditional exhibits with cutting-edge interactive media, creating an immersive experience that brings the art and spirituality of Japanese swordmaking to life for modern audiences.

History

The Nagoya Touken World Sword Museum, also branded Meihaku, opened in June 2020 at 3-35-43 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. It is operated by the Touken World Foundation, a private body associated with Tohken Corporation (Tohtaken), and is part of a network that includes related facilities in Tokyo and Kuwana. Although the museum itself is recent, its collection is built around classical nihonto spanning the Gokaden (Five Great Traditions) of Yamashiro, Yamato, Bizen, Soshu and Mino, giving visitors an overview of the full arc of Japanese sword history rather than a single regional school. Nagoya's location in Aichi, the home province of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, gives the institution natural thematic ties to the Sengoku and early Edo periods when these unifiers consolidated power. The foundation positions the facility as one of the larger privately held Japanese sword museums in the country.

What to See

The holdings include roughly 550 swords, of which up to about 200 are on display at a time, along with around 50 suits of armor, approximately 150 ukiyo-e woodblock prints, and some 350 matchlock and antique Western-style firearms. Blades on rotation include tachi and uchigatana from successive periods, and the collection contains works designated as National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties and Important Art Objects. The museum runs a dedicated bladesmithing section explaining the forging and polishing process, life-size armored-samurai mannequins for scale, designated photo spots, and a hands-on video theater covering sword history and technique. Profiles of major historical smiths, including Masamune and other masters of the Soshu tradition, appear throughout the interpretation alongside modern mukansa-ranked smiths recognised as the highest tier of current practitioners.

Visitor Tips

Allow 90 minutes to two hours; enthusiasts who read every interpretation panel easily spend longer. The museum sits within walking distance of Sakae Station on the Higashiyama and Meijo subway lines, putting it in the heart of Nagoya's shopping and dining district. Designated photo spots are provided, but general photography rules vary by gallery, so check signage on entry. English labeling is available. Nagoya Castle and the Tokugawa Art Museum make strong same-day pairings for samurai-era context.

Visitor Information

Hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Admission:

• General: 1,200 yen
• Seniors (65+): 1,000 yen
• University/High school: 500 yen
• Elementary/Junior high: 300 yen

Access: 9-minute walk from Osu Kannon Station (Subway Tsurumai Line) or 12-minute walk from Fushimi Station (Subway Higashiyama/Tsurumai Lines).

Phone: +81 52-262-6000

Website: https://www.meihaku.jp/en/

Google rating: 4.4

Museum Highlights

• Four-floor exhibition space
• Interactive media displays
• Japanese café
• Educational programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the opening hours at Nagoya Sword Museum (Touken World)?

10:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

How much is admission to Nagoya Sword Museum (Touken World)?

General: 1,200 yen; Seniors (65+): 1,000 yen; University/High school: 500 yen; Elementary/Junior high: 300 yen

How do I get to Nagoya Sword Museum (Touken World)?

9-minute walk from Osu Kannon Station (Subway Tsurumai Line) or 12-minute walk from Fushimi Station (Subway Higashiyama/Tsurumai Lines).

How do I contact Nagoya Sword Museum (Touken World)?

You can call +81 52-262-6000 or visit https://www.meihaku.jp/en/.