Wakō Museum

Overview

The Wakō Museum is a museum in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, that opened in 1993. It presents exhibits on wakō and tamahagane steel, which formed the source of tool steel in the former Izumo and Hōki provinces. Visitors can also learn about how the raw material for Japanese swords was produced.

Highlights

• ●Exhibits themed on wakō and tamahagane steel
• ●An introduction to tatara smelting, Japan's own direct-reduction method using iron sand
• ●Displays on early-modern iron production
• ●Displays of Japanese swords

History

The former Izumo and Hōki region is regarded as the source of tool steel, a type of high-grade special steel, and the museum opened in 1993 as an institution dedicated to the related wakō and tamahagane steel.

Map

35.4353, 133.2536 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Begin with the exhibits on wakō and tamahagane steel
2. 2View the explanations of the tatara smelting method
3. 3Move through the displays on early-modern iron production
4. 4Appreciate the displays of Japanese swords

Did you know?

💡 Tatara smelting is known as Japan's own direct-reduction method using iron sand.

Nearby spots