OKAYAMA, Japan - An increasing number of foreign visitors are making their way to the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum in Setouchi, western Japan, where they can view swords designated as national treasures and watch master swordsmiths at work.

The museum in Okayama Prefecture welcomed a record 3,368 overseas visitors in fiscal 2025, up nearly sixfold from 591 in fiscal 2014. Most visitors came from France, while the number of independent travelers from the United States has grown in recent years.

The museum reopened in March following renovations that introduced immersive audio-visual displays and expanded English and French explanations to better accommodate the influx of international visitors.

More than 30 tourists from France visited on the day of the reopening on March 20, when Tachi Mumei Ichimonji, a national treasure known as Yamatorige and widely regarded as the finest Bizen sword, was on display.

"I am fascinated not only by swords as weapons, but also as works of art, reflecting extraordinary craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty," said 23-year-old French college student Sabri Arioli, who was on his first trip to Japan after developing an interest in the country's mythology and shrines as a child.

"I am especially drawn to how swords are deeply connected with history, samurai culture, and broader mythological and symbolic values," he added.

Minori Takumi, a curator at the museum, said a major turning point came with the "Evangelion and Japanese Swords" exhibition, which opened there in 2012 before touring Japan as well as Paris and Madrid.

"The exhibition significantly raised the profile of Bizen Osafune as one of Japan's leading sword-making centers," she said. "Neon Genesis Evangelion," a Japanese animated television series with a global following, helped attract new audiences to the museum.

The heavy, metallic clang of hammers echoed through the workshop, sending sparks flying as swordsmiths forged blades in front of captivated visitors. According to Takumi, this is the only sword museum in Japan where visitors can watch swordsmiths at work every day.

Visitor surveys suggest word-of-mouth recommendations among overseas travelers have fueled the museum's popularity. Hit manga and anime series featuring Japanese swords, including "Demon Slayer," have also broadened interest in the craft.