KyotoAdd a date2 adults
Help Plan my trip

Kyoto Knife Making Workshop with a Blacksmith

Kyoto, Japan3 hoursGuided in English, Japanese

Forge, shape and sharpen your own small Japanese knife under the guidance of a professional blacksmith, then take it home. A rare hands-on look at one of Japan's great crafts.

3 hoursExplore at your own pace
Small groupKeeps the experience personal
English, JapaneseLive guide or host
CancellationNon-refundable: tickets are issued for your chosen date and time

Highlights

  • Make your own small Japanese knife
  • Guidance from a professional blacksmith
  • Forging, shaping and sharpening steps
  • Learn how to care for Japanese blades
  • Take your knife home

Full description

Japanese knives are known around the world for their sharpness, and in this workshop you learn how they are made. Working with a professional knife maker in a Kyoto studio, you heat and hammer the steel, shape the blade, and then grind and sharpen it on whetstones.

The session also covers how to care for a Japanese knife and a little of the history of blacksmithing in Japan. At the end you keep the small knife you made. Larger knives take much longer and are not part of this format.

Itinerary

  1. Welcome

    Meet your instructor and get a safety briefing.

  2. Forge

    Heat and hammer the steel into shape.

  3. Grind and sharpen

    Refine the blade and sharpen it on whetstones.

  4. Wrap-up

    Learn knife care and ask any final questions.

Included

  • Instructor-led workshop
  • Materials for one small knife
  • Use of tools and safety gear
  • The knife you make

Not included

  • Transport to the studio
  • Shipping of your knife
  • Food and drinks

Meeting point

The blacksmith's studio in Kyoto; the address is sent with your confirmation.The exact spot and your host's details arrive with your confirmation.

Open in Google Maps

Know before you go

  • Knives must go in checked luggage when you fly; they cannot be carried in hand luggage.
  • Wear closed shoes and clothes you do not mind getting dirty.
  • Participants under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • The workshop involves heat and sharp tools; follow the instructor's safety guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a large chef's knife?

Not in this workshop. Larger knives need much longer sessions; ask us about longer options.

Can I fly home with the knife?

Yes, but it must be packed in checked baggage. Check your airline's rules and your home country's import rules.

Reviews

No reviews yetTravelled with us on this tour? Your review helps the next traveller choose.

More things to do in Kyoto

From USD 183 per adult
Request to book