Japanese Sword - Nara Question
 

Hello Everyone!

It`s me again, I`m having a great time in Kyoto, and I swear I`ve never seen such a beautiful place like this.

I`m wondering if you could help me with 2 questions:

1. Has anyone taken a Japanese Sword (katana) back to US? Are there any rules against it (airline or us customs)? I saw this beautiful sword and I`d love to take it back home with me.

2. I`ll take a trip outside of Kyoto tomorrow and I`m not sure if I should go to Nara for one day or to Osaka for 2 days, which one do you think it would be better?

Guys, for those of you who haven`t had a chance to visit Kyoto, it`s the most amazing place I`ve ever seen (and I`ve seen a lot), yesterday when I visited Kiyomizu I seriously thought about quitting my job back in the US :) and just stay here forever... it`s unbelievable.

Thank you.

Dave

Dear Famous Dave,

Nara! Nara! Nara!

Hands down. Esp. if you were so blown away by temples like Kiyomizudera.

Nara is ancient, serene and timeless - similar to Kyoto but smaller and more mellow. You must of course see the major sights in Nara Park - Kasuga Taisha especially and the long walk up to the shrine lined with stone lanterns. Watch out for those "sacred" deer - they are not interested in the officially approved deer treats sold in the kiosks and will nuzzle you roughly in hopes of something better.

If you have even a few extra hours, hop the train from Nara for the very short trip to Horyu-ji. Horyu-ji is possibly one of the most architecturally important sites in a country chock a block with ancient monuments. It's a Buddhist temple originally dating from the late 500's and it contains the oldest wooden buildings on earth, incorporating, among other influences, design details from classical Greece (via the Silk Road). Right next to Horyu-ji is the smaller temple called Chugu-ji, where the famous "Miroku" statue resides. Miroku is the Buddha yet to arrive, the saviour or messiah yet in store for the hapless human race. One look at this statue and you'll be changed forever. Go. You won't regret it.

Agree, Nara.

About the sword. There are Japanese export regulations for real swords...no idea if what you are talking about is a real sword or not. I'd be very careful to get the proper documents...either for exporting a real one, or saying that it isn't a real sword, so that you can carry it out with you. Airlines will require you to check it rather than carry it on, so be sure it is packed well. US customs...no idea, but I'll bet if you check the US customs info pages online you'll get a good idea. You could also call the embassy/consulate in Tokyo or Osaka for advice.

Go to Nara
Ship the sword

Thank you all!!

I`m taking the JR to nara first thing tomorrow morning.

I don`t think that the sword is real, I mean it`s not sharp on the edges or anything but it sure looks real.
If I decide to ship it home, would you recommend any special company to do it? I`m sorry for asking so many questions, but it`s really hard for me to ask this here.I just have a thing for swords, I`ve liked them since I was a little kid :)

One more thing, if there would have been a fax machine at Rokuonji (golden pavilion) today, I would definitely have faxed my resignation letter to my boss; this is incredible!!!

Take care all!!!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Please let me know on the outcome
of the sword. Where did you see it or get it. One of my sons is a fanatic on
collecting swords. I really would like
to get one for him. I bought a couple
for him in Turkey but, they put me thru
heck and back at the airport. I even had a letter from the vendor stating that it was not an antique. The name of the shop will help.

Happy travels

Easiest...have the shop ship it. Second easiest, post office. Third...pack it in a box and check it.

Bonjour FamousDave,

Where did you find the sword ? If in an antique store, martial arts supplies shop, or general souvenir shop (like the Craft Center), they will know exactly whether it is allowed for exportation or not, and how to pack/send it to the US. A lot of American martial artists and collectors do buy swords and have the same questions as you.

The kind of sword you describe can be either purely decorative, and too often of poor quality - you buy them for cheap at souvenir shops -, or a "Iaito", or sword for Iai-do (the art of drawing the sword and "shadow" fencing) training. The latter are more frequently found in specialists shops or kendo/martial arts supplies shops (there are a few in front of the Craft Center, not far from Heian Shrine). Good ones are not necessarily expensive (I've found very well balanced blades for as little as Y 20'000, but you can find more decorative ones for less).

Those are all recent swords and can be exported freely.

Don't only look at the blade of the sword, the Tsuba (the hand guard) is also an important part of the overall quality of a sword. You can generally fit an old tsuba on any standard blade, but be careful. Good decorative tsubas are easily found in antiques shops and fleamarkets. Real antique ones are very expensive, though, and there's a brisk collector market.

Hi!!!

I got the sword!; it`s just a decorative sword, not a real antique, my budget won`t let me get a real antique :( but I`ve seen them though..
I bought this sword at a small shop around the Gion bus station and I paid ??3900 for it.

I`m in kyoto today so I will ship it tomorrow from the Kyoto post office which is right across the street from kyoto eki.

Here goes my daily japan suggestion:

If you go to Nara (which is a must!) right after you exit the tickets counter, there`s a tourist information office, they will offer you a student guide free of charge (except for the meals and transportation). TAKE IT!!!! I had the greatest time and i learned A LOT with my beautiful guide Akiko today ;)

Guys, I have 3 more days in Japan. I`ve seen 90% of the sights here in Kyoto, I`ve been to Nara and Tokyo. I will go to Himeji tomorrow but I`m very undecided about my next stop, either Osaka o Hiroshima (or any other suggestion), please, your comments will be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards!

David

Um, did you check on the price of shipping the sword?

Go to Hiroshima. Add Miyajima if you have time.

my husband and I just returned from Kyoto and he was able to purchase a real antique katana. Because of all the certifications and government holdings. he won't get it shipped to him for another month because it has to be approved by Japanese customs first. There is only 1 store in Kyoto that has these original antiques and it's right off the Nijo-mae subway stop

dave; was the guide there waiting for you? are they a pool of guides waiting? or was this pre-arranged?

go to hiroshima and to the museum.

glad you got your sword.

((I))
Oishi-san desu ka.

hai, soo desu. it took you awhile.

Hello!

The guide will meet you at the tourism center located 3m walk from nara station.

I`m in hiroshima, i went to the museum (extremely painful images) and I saw the dome. I feel very sad in this city, I can`t believe what this people had to go through with this bomb...

Dave

Once again, hello.

I visited Miyajima today, it was very nice, unfortunately I had a bad hangover (good party in hiroshima!) so I couldn`t enjoy it as much.

I have 2 more days in Japan, I`m thinking of going to Osaka tomorrow, leave my luggage at a locker and pay a day visit but I`m not sure about sunday... probably I will go shopping in Tokyo for electronics. I`m open for suggestions :)

Oh, by the way, anyone knows if those super-cell phones that everyone use here can work in the US? they use sim cards so maybe just switching sim cards with my t-mobile phone at home will do.

arigato gozaemas!

Dave

Sounds like you are having a great trip.

My Vodafone cell phone works in the US, but it is one out of only of 2 models sold by Vodafone that work overseas, and we use the Vodafone plan for Japan residents.

Can you buy a phone in a shop and change the card? No idea. I would guess that some shops might have export phones...not something I've ever looked for though. You could certainly ask in shops that sell phones.