Buying an Iaito in Japan?

[Isaac]

Hey all,
I'm rather new to this forum, but I have found you all to be very knowledgable in the purchasing of an Iaito. I know, another thread on buying an iaito, lol...but anyway, I've been practicing Iaido for about a month using a friend's iaito, but I'm looking to get my own soon. Rather than save up the money (which would take me until the summer) and order one, I am conveniently going to be in Japan in the beginning of June as a graduation present from my generous sisters. Since it will be about that long until I can afford my own Iaito, I was wondering if any of you could help me out with some reputable stores in Japan who sell mid quality iaito without having to donate my heart to afford it. I'm hoping to have about USD$400-500 to spend on my first...Thanks for any info!

Oh...I'm going to be in Tokyo and Kyoto the majority of the week, but anywhere a train can get me I can go, basically, so long as it's on Honshu.

Thanks!

-Isaac

[xvikingx]

Hi Isaac,

There is Tozando in Kyoto www.tozando.com , Meirin in Osaka www.nipponto.co.jp (just a quick train ride away), and I am sure there are numberous places in Tokyo. However from what I read (somewhere else on this forum) it is not easy taking a sword out of Japan. You may want to look into that a little more before deciding to buy a sword over here. Happy hunting!

[Isaac]

Thanks for the great info, xvikingx! I'll definitely have to look into taking the sword home, thanks for the heads up. :smiley:

[xvikingx]

No problem. Sorry, I tried finding what read read earlier about taking swords out of Japan, but no dice. Try getting a hold of Alex or Hamish and ask them. I sure they can provide you with the information you will need to take your purchase home with you.

[roar]

Hi Isaac,

There is Tozando in Kyoto www.tozando.com , Meirin in Osaka www.nipponto.co.jp (just a quick train ride away), and I am sure there are numberous places in Tokyo. However from what I read (somewhere else on this forum) it is not easy taking a sword out of Japan. You may want to look into that a little more before deciding to buy a sword over here. Happy hunting!


On a trip to Japan, I had a hard time finding a good shop, and had to travel for quite a stretch to find a good one in Tokyo. I found one close to a amusement park, dont remember the name and adress. took me a day, and it was hardly worth it.
In Kyoto ist was much easier, plenty of shops in a walking distance. I found that Tozando was in fact quite expensive compared to the other I visited, and there were plenty of good offers on all kind of equipment. I bought some kendo-gear in a small budo-shop next to Butokuden, and drooled around on some "shinken-stores". Plenty of good offers, that you will not find on the net.
You will without find a good iaito that will last you for years for a couple of hundred dollars, and its easiest in Kyoto, according to my (limited) experience.

Taking a iaito out of Japan is no problem, if in doubt, the custom-officer test your blade with a magnet. If it does not attach to the blade, he quickly looses his interest, as an alloy blade is not defined as a nihonto

[Isaac]

lol, a magnet...sounds like it's not bad then. Thanks for the help! :cool2:

[chidokan]

go to the Budokan in Kyoto, Meirin is just across the road....how easy can it get??!!! They do some nice hakama etc to go with the iaito, so you may as well take advantage and go for a package deal. I got quite a good price on my stuff, but dont let them send it airmail, if they havent got it you must NOT buy it. It cost me a lot in tax last time to learn the hard way...
Try and take a teacher with you, they argue hard for a good discount as you are a poor foreigner with no money etc... :smiley:
Shame you couldnt time the visit for a taikai, although something may be going on the weekend you go...
Bringing iaito out is no problem, I got a bit of hassle until I had the magnet test... take off the tsuba and replace it with a bit of leather to protect the koiguchi before you fly home, dont trust baggage handlers not to break it.. :rolleyes:
There is also a big conference centre at the bottom of the road, where they had an antiques fair, a book fair and some demonstrations on while I was there over the May weekend. You never know, you might hit it lucky and get something similar. I got some late 19th century prints for $2 each...unframed of course...but now look good in my hallway!

[Isaac]

Thanks for the great info, Chidokan :cool:
I'll definitely have to check that out while I'm in Kyoto.

[Beckmeisterrr]

But can I just say that I am deadly jealous!!! I wanna go to Japan too! *frowns*

[chidokan]

just go, its worth the money for the total immersion in iaido for a week or two. Costs me about £1500 a trip and I do spend a lot on kit while I am there. Reckon if I didnt go mad on kit I could do it on a £1000 budget, which would include a lot of training... Probably cheaper for you than us as you live closer....This coming visit I am going for a new sword, so will need quite a bit more. Saying that I saw some antique blades for around £2500/3000 that would fit the bill nicely, just needed a polish. For some reason newer blades are quite cheap at the moment.

[Matlock]

Does anyone know if Isaac made a purchase of an iaito in Japan? He last posted in March and he mentioned that he was to visit Japan in June. So, did he make it back or is he M.I.A.?

Hey Isaac, if you are out there somewhere, let us know what decision you made. If you made a purchase, I think that it is only fair for you to post some photos of your iaito. Some details would be nice too. :)

Cheers

[Beckmeisterrr]

Can't afford to go. I'm doing my PhD at the moment and living off scholarship is no mean feat, especially with a mortgage to pay off. *sighs* Need to set up a send-bec-to-japan fund.

[chidokan]

my tickets came today, May 28th to June 10th, see my post in the visiting Japan threads for my practise...try not to be too jealous! Kyoto first for shopping and sightseeing as I never did any last time, then training for 6 days, then a tour north of Tokyo for museums, fishing, more training. All that and the opportunity of telling about 15 7th dans and up where they are going wrong....( thats just before they rip me apart mentally and physically...) :smiley:

[Tequila]

Hi all, this tread is abit old but I thought why bother starting a new one?

I found this info useful as I'm making a trip to Osaka and Kyoto end of this month. I know of Tozando, but I'm wondering if there is any area in Kyoto or Osaka where there are a few shops located together.

I'd be convenient for me to walk from shop to shop hunting for bargains rather than taking the train to each individual shop.

Also where would be the best place to hunt for antique tsuba?

Thanks heaps!

[chidokan]

Meirin is multi storey, with levels for kendo, iaido, kyudo, and antique stuff... can be pricey though so be careful, although the full armours were very nicely priced. They had a large selection of tsuba in various prices (one of which I bought), however there were better antique shops in Kyoto in a long covered market area, and I got a couple there as well. Unfortunately I was being driven around so lost my bearings, but one was really close but outside this covered street. It was fairly close to a railway station as well if that helps...

[Tequila]

Thanks alot! I will check out Meirin when I get to Osaka.

[Tequila]

I just got back from Osaka and Kyoto and thought I should update on my findings.

I checked out Meirin while I was in Osaka. They have two branches in Osaka and one in Kyoto - I checked out the smaller shop that is located in Umeda, the city centre. Their stock is quite small, probably about 8 or 10 iaitos in the store, and they told me its the same with their HQ store. However I did find their iaitos to be very well-made and balanced. If you wish for a personalized iaito, they said they can do it for u and send it to your address in your country.

While I was in Kyoto, I stumbled upon Tozando's new 2nd store. They have a big range of iaitos, prob about 15-20.

But my friend told me to check out the Kyoto Handicraft Center which was just across the street. And this was whr I found the motherload.

They have about the same range of iaitos as Tozando, but these iaitos were much more beautiful - which was what i was looking for. More for display rather than actual Iaido practice.

But even though its pretty, I still found the iaito to be well-balanced and perfectly usable for Iaido practice.

I found the perfect Iaito for me - a replica of a famous sword with very simple but elegant fittings and brown leather tsuka, with Hansame Kuroro lacquered saya. This baby cost me 120,000 yen duty-free - which is a bomb. But I'm happy as I've been wanting a iaito like this for a long time.

Tozando and Kyoto Handicraft centre has salespersons that were well-versed in English and knowledgable in Iaido - so they were good in helping me choose an iaito, especially the guy at KHC - he knew his Iaitos. The one at Meirin was not as helpful as she couldn't speak English and I had to communicate via a interpreter.

To me, most iaitos are generally similar. The difference in price is usually in the fittings and saya - so the prettier they look, the more expensive they are.

In short, I would describe Tozando and Meirin as having Hondas or Toyotas for iaito. They are decent and work very well - and not bad to look at either. KHC has these iaitos as well, but if you're looking for something pretty like the Mercedes or Ferrari of iaitos, they have a bigger range than the other two.

If you're in Osaka, I recommend you take the time to get to Kyoto to buy an iaito. Kyoto is only 30mins away with the bullet-train and there's much more choices there. However if you only have time in Osaka, Meirin is perfectly acceptable for good quality and balanced iaito for regular iaido practice. What's more they have a store in the city center so its very easy to drop by.

Now my only problem is that my iaito has been confiscated by customs... apparently here in Malaysia you're not even allowed to bring in replica weapons and firearms without a permit. So I'm working on getting a permit now - which I was told shouldn't be too hard as its only a iaito, not a live blade. Lets hope I get my baby back!

[chidokan]

Did you keep the address for the handicraft centre? If so please post it up here as I am hoping to get over again this year and will pop in for a look.
The small Meirin shop wasn't quite 'all there with the truth'.... They had about 30 iaito in racks when I visited, but the upstairs was the place to go for the antiques section....some lovely swords....and affordable...and now I remember how much they were I know how much cash to take with me...;)

Stick a photo of your new sword up as well when you get it back... we will be impressed I am sure!

[Tequila]

No prob, the website for the Kyoto Handicraft Centre is here (http://www.khc-kyoto.jp/khchome-e.htm).

The price range for iaitos here vary from around 35,000 yen for basic and women's iaito. The average range was between 60,000 yen to 80,000 yen. And the most expensive iaito I saw (which was ridiculously elaborate and 'bling') was over 160,000 yen!

A small branch of Tozando is just across the street so you can find some kendo gear and see some antique shinken as well; though I think their HQ would have much more choices.

I got my iaito back, so I'll put pictures up next time!