Can You Buy a Samurai Sword in Japan? Yes, But…
Can you buy a sword in Japan? Yes, that part’s relatively easy. The challenge is getting it OUT of the country.
By Bradley Jolly
Japan has a large amount of valuable artifacts, trinkets, and antiques from its ancient years to today. It’s easy to say that the most well-known of these would be the nihontō or Japanese sword.
There are so many beautiful combinations of blade, guard, and sheathe to admire. Plus, each sword has a history and its own stories — even if many of those are lost to time. And hey — who doesn’t want to own a samurai sword?
Naturally, these swords are a prized item for collectors. On top of that, some people buy swords just to have a nice Japanese artifact in their home.
The good news: Buying a sword in Japan is very easy to do! The bad news: exporting them is a whole different affair. Sadly, it’s not as simple as buying one and shipping it back. This article covers the challenges in sword exporting, as well as alternatives if you’re time-poor or don’t want the hassles.
