idk even my freind told me they are very rare to find over ther but thaT DOT MAKE SENSE cause japan well started the mastery of swords but still anyways were can i find katana swords in japan are they common?
2007-11-03 16:34:10 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
you can purchase anything, but good luck trying to bring them home through the airport!
my husband's parents got him a wooden African sword from Africa, and they had so much trouble getting it through customs. and it was WOODEN.
2007-11-03 16:41:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's not difficult at all if you can afford it. Just go to one of the sword shops that specializes in selling swords to expats and tourists. The shop will prepare the documentation you need. It's not a problem to bring it home as checked luggage as long as the documentation is in order. After all, you can carry a gun as checked luggage if it is properly documented and the firing pin is removed. I would say if you had about three grand US$ you could maybe find something decent. There are a lot of good swords in the US that were acquired as souvenirs during the occupation. You are a lot more likely to get a bargain on a katana in the US than Japan.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tokyo/S27109.html
2007-11-04 08:18:07 · answer #2 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antique katanas will run in the thousands and, depending on the original maker and the history of the sword, are often illegal to remove from the country. You can buy replicas throughout Japan..everything from inexspensive ones meant for decorative use, to middle of the road suitable for costume accessories to authentic replicas that can hold and edge and cost into the thousands of dollars. How much you can and want to spend will determine how easily and what type you will come back with. Keep in mind however that you may have to pay to ship the items back to the states rather than be able to fly them back in your luggage. It will depend on what is happening with airline security regs at the time of your trip. Be sure to check the list of restrictions for your airline before leaving the US...it would suck if you bought one and then had it confiscated by airport security.
2007-11-05 10:37:38 · answer #3 · answered by Annie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As TokyoE mentioned, there's a big difference from the real thing and tourist junk. And also said above, good luck on getting them out of the airport. You're better off buying here in the US. BTW, a "katana" is a sword...It's 2007, swords were outlawed in Japan in the 1850's...
2007-11-04 00:50:28 · answer #4 · answered by Vinegar Taster 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why doesn't it make sense?
Just because it is a mastery doesn't mean everyone has one nor it can be found everywhere.
Japan has many laws that deal with personal weapons, There's a whole Firearms and Swords section in the law books.
There's a difference in wanting real ones and junk to hang up on the wall.
2007-11-04 00:10:12 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Pardon me, but why do you even care about buying katanas from Japan? If it's not meant for display and used for something else like, uh.... cosplays or dueling, eh, I doubt it'd be a good idea.....
2007-11-04 01:10:48 · answer #6 · answered by cyberfiendkil 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a real set? Not going to happen. chances of you finding a swordmaster are slim, slimmer still are the chances of him SELLING you a set, and forget about the price let alone trying to export it.
pick a tourist spot, and you can find fake ones starting at under a $100US.
2007-11-05 15:45:32 · answer #7 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋