The Japanese Sword Museum in Ryogoku near the Edo Tokyo Museum
The Japanee sword museum moved to Ryogoku that is downtown in Tokyo and opened in January 2018.
The Japanese Sword Museum
It is a museum where you can see many many Japanese swords as its name suggests.
It was previously located in Yoyogi, but recently moved to Ryogoku.
Now, Japanese swords are displayed in a brand new building near the Edo Tokyo museum and Kokugikan.
Exhibited works
The works it displays will change regularly.
The memorable first exhibition of the new building is “Contemporary Swords and Artworks – The Ancient Techniques Inherited over Generations".
Works winning pieces of swords and their polishing technique are exhibited.
Floor Guide of The Japanese Sword Museum
1F: Entrance lobby
There is a ticket counter.
You can receive a brochure
that summarizes the basics of Japanese swords in English at the ticket counter on the 1st floor.
You pay for the ticket and turn right, then you can find the stairs on the left side, and elevators on the right.
Please go up to the 3rd floor.
As well as there is a cafeteria on 1F.
2F: Office floor
2F is the office floor of a secretariat.
3F: The exhibition room and the Garden
The sword works are exhibited on the 3rd floor.
You have to show your ticket at the entrance of the room and then you get a guide copy.
They prepare the guide papers written in English.
There also is a rooftop garden on 3F.
You can look down a Japanese-style pond from the rooftop.
It’s the Former Yasuda Garden.
The Japanese sword museum is placed in the Former Yasuda Garden.
The park is always open to the public.
This traditional garden has no entrance fee, but tourists are few and it’s not very crowded.
It’s a place that’s not well known even among Japanese people.
I recommend you to visit there, after the Japanese Sword Museum.
Access to the Japanese Sword Museum
1-12-9 Yokomami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
From JR Ryogoku Station
Leave the West Exit and turn right.
Go past the Ryogoku Kokugikan and go a little.
For about 5minutes, you’ll arrive there.
From the Ooedo Subway Line Ryogoku Station or the Edo-Tokyo Museum
I recommend you to exit the A3 exit of the subway station.
There is a green road on the left side of the exit.
As you cross the green road towards the backside of the museum, the road will branch like this, so you can go to the road on the right tile pavement.
↑turn right
When you turn left at the end of the tiled road,
↑turn left
You’ll find a signal. Then, across this way.
There is the museum next to the garden.
Hours: 9:30am-17:00pm
(Last admission 16:30pm)
Closed: Monday
(If Monday is a national holiday, it opened on Monday and closed the next day)
Entrance Fee: 1,000yen
Discount information
Until the end of March 2019, you can enter at 10% OFF by presenting the semi-ticket at the Sumida Hokusai Museum of Art.
Hokusai Museum is near.
For about 10 minutes on foot.
The thing I want you to be careful about
Including the Hokusai Museum and the Japanese Sword Museum, museums around the Edo Tokyo Museum are all closed on Monday.