Authentic Knife Making Experience at a Blacksmith in Kyoto
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kyoto, Japan
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Japan is known for its world-class kitchenware, and with this hands-on experience, you can learn how to forge your own knife. Don’t worry about bringing anything with you, as all materials are provided to make the class as hassle-free as possible. Also, the group size is kept small so you can get plenty of help throughout.
- Create an incredible souvenir—a handmade Japanese knife
- Learn multiple skills—including how to forge, sharpen, and polish
- No need to source protective clothes: A uniform is provided
- A small group size means a more personalized experience
What's Included
- Uniform
- English Guide
- A set of tools used to make knives
- Snacks
- Private transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- studio NIN 八瀬168-1 Yasenosechō, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1254, Japan
We operate two forging studios in Sakyo Ward, provide the same facilities and experience. Unless noted otherwise, please head to "studio NIN Yase". Depending on reservation status, your session may take place at "studio NIN Kendo". If your location is changed, our staff will contact you in advance.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Rurikoin
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 113 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
It was a wonderful experience in a beautiful part of kyoto. The staff were very helpful and patient with us. I loved every second of it. Also a very cool hookah bar upstairs called daruma with a gorgeous view. All and all very thankful.
Was a fun learning experience with a souvenir. Mao and staff were great, right there to guide you. Would do again.
Amazing experience ! Very interesting , and Mits was very comprehensive and helped us along the way !
Extremely cool experience and our knives turned out great! Recommended by a friend and the recommendation did not disappoint! Thanks to Ako and Mao!
Amazing experience start to finish. This is actual knife making, not just a tourist trap. Place is super easy to get to and find and the people working there were helpful and thorough. It is actual work to get this done but well worth it. My 15y/o son has done a lot of things while in Japan and this was his favorite.
I would not do this with smaller children.
Well worth the heat! Fantastic experience and explanations were great. Love my knife and I’ll use in the kitchen a lot.
Great Experience, everything was very well explained in english, very attentive guides. Great souvenir to take home
I felt this was a different travel experience than the typical guided tour. I truly enjoyed making my own kitchen knife and understanding the expertise required to make a world-class knife. Highly recommended!
Our family of 2 adults and 2 teens enjoyed this experience a lot. The two hosts spoke English very well. Despite the potential danger of working with very hot metal, the steps were very orderly and created a safe environment. As others have said, it is hard work, but the guides helped when needed. Our whole family really enjoyed this experience.
This was truly one of the most interactive experiences I've done anywhere in the world. You start with a small price of metal then forge it at over 1500 degrees. The forge area was obviously hot but not too uncomfortable so. The work was somewhat hard but very manageable and the staff will help as much or as little as you need. The sharpening and polishing part also so cool to see your knife really take form. The staff all spoke great english and was very good at their jobs. Beautiful location on the river and also great swords on sale for a reasonable price. Thank you
Lots of manual labor, but worth it. Not easy to access, but organizers were very gracious and patient.
It was my husband, daughter and I and we all truly enjoyed this experience. They were very helpful in guiding the group and you end up with a wonderful keepsake of your trip to Japan. Be prepared to work hard and sweat.
Overall experience, loved everything about it, the history, the end product, it was unique attraction, recommend to everyone who likes unique souvenir
Overall a nice introduction into the process of forging a knife. The metal used is pretty soft, and the blade will be thin. Water quenched, so not sure blade is even hardened. The staff is very accommodating and speak and understand English fairly well.
This was a great experience. Wife booked this for my son and I as a surprise. We really enjoyed it, learned a lot and would recommend. I would advise that kids be on the older side when doing this at is physically demanding and kids will get a little restless and there is no place for them to run around so would highly encourage parents to think twice before signing up young kids (12 and under ). Otherwise, this was a well organized event and we really enjoyed the facility and the staff. Learned a lot and have a great souvenir that I can proudly display on my office wall with a great story to go along with it . Memories were made.
Great experience for our family ... very professional treatment, high focus on safety, high quality gear and finally fantastic service by the staff ... they helped our family a lot...
What an amazing experience from start to finish. The staff and instructors are very helpful and enthusiastic in sharing their expertise with you. The forging can be a little tiresome for younger participants. Can’t recommend enough!
This was so much fun! It was a once in a lifetime experience that I’m super happy to have been apart of! It took quite a bit of effort to complete, but the results spoke for themselves. The staff was super helpful and supportive to making sure you got what you wanted!
We were looking for an experience that was out of the normal shrine/temples. This knife making experience didn’t disappoint! The staff were great and walked us through the entire process. We left with an awesome keep sake from our trip. Forging your own knife is a fun and enjoyable time. I recommend this tour!
I was super excited about this experience; however while I was heating up the knifes (700 Celsius) while they well cutting the knife a piece of it flew and burn my clothes and skin. This is hazardous if is not done with care. They did return my money back but they did not care about whether I got hurt or not. They were rude, they did not ask if was alright. My advice is if you are going to do this I suggest to be carful and make sure to wear old clothes. Although they said it rarely happens when we were sharpening the knives one of the fans in the wall got on fire and we all had to stop and leave. All around it was not a great experience.
If you ever wanted to know what it was like to hammer out and sharpen your own knife, this is the place. Your are guided through the process step by step and assisted when needed. Would do it again.
Honestly one of the most authentic and truly different things I have ever done on a trip. Worth every penny. It is alot of work but so rewarding!
Was a great afternoon making the knives, would recommend this as a must do for an extended stay in Kyoto. Well worth it.
Amazing experience. Very informative and knowlegable fogers. The work is difficult and very hot so be prepared with water before hand. You get protective attire. I love that you can choose from multiple knives. I highly recommend upgrading for the handle.
Very fun and would totally recommend. Our instructor, Taka, was excellent!
Definitely hard on your arms but fun and you feel like you learn somethings and create a knife and memory!
Very cool introduction to knife making. The staff gave very detailed instructions on what to do and how to do it.
Cool visual effects from the experience, be ready for great photo opportunities.
This is a must do when in Kyoto.
Be prepared for figuring out transportation. The system is great, but you may need an hour if using the local transport lines.
Physically demanding but excellent help and most rewarding experience. Also they made it safe and fun
We heard that Osaka was where the comedians are, Taka proved they are alive and well in Kyoto as well! Wonderful, fun experience-highly recommend! My arms are still sore writing my review.
Great fun. And a really nice team.
Just don’t expect too much as your knife may not cut the skin off a christmas custard.
I loved mine - the ugliest and at the same time most beautiful artwork ever forged.
Very happy with the result and cant wait to have a crack at that custard.
Be prepared for a bit of a workout (I mean you’re hammering out your knife). The team was great and knew what they were doing and how to make it fun for those of us who’ve done backsliding before as well as those who’ve never seen a forge before.
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$151.07
per personWas $159.03(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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