Knife Making: Forge Your Own Blade

Forge your own knife in Kyoto with expert guidance. Experience the thrill of blacksmithing and create a unique keepsake. Book your adventure today.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • studio NIN 八瀬 - This immersive experience offers a comprehensive understanding of “forging.” Participants will learn to use the tools and craft a knife following the traditional methods used for Japanese kitchen knives. It promises to be an unforgettable experience.
    This experience includes:
  1. Dressing in traditional costumes
  2. Learning to use…
What's Included
  • A set of tools used to make knives
  • Uniform
  • English Guide
What's Not Included
  • Snacks
  • Private transportation
Additional Information

Mao, your instructor, is a seasoned knife expert with over a decade of experience in sharpening knives. He will guide you through the knife-making process in a straightforward manner, perfect for beginners. While some tasks may be hazardous, rest assured. The highlight of the experience is “forging,” where hot iron is repeatedly hammered. Detailed…

Location
studio NIN 八瀬
It's a one-minute walk from Yase Hieizanguchi. Just up the hill where there is a red postbox.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(45 Ratings)
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Mathew_f
Nov 21, 2025
Humbling Fun - Very nice experience for individuals or couples. If you’ve watched forged by fire it’s not that hard but it is strenuous as you hammer the metal billet into shape. Once done you grind and sharpening. Had a great time challenging myself.
Review provided by Viator
Cameronmb3476ah
Nov 14, 2025
Must-do experience - The experience was great and my knife came out far better than I could have imagined. The location of the home is a bit of a walk into a very quiet neighborhood of Kyoto, but the space is nice and unique. The teacher helps keep you on track throughout the processes to make sure you have a nice result. There are many nice different options of blades to make.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
April_g
Nov 11, 2025
Had a great time at Nin... - Had a great time at Nin Studio. Very educational, would highly recommend it. Instructors made the experience.
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_k
Nov 11, 2025
Great day of learning and appreciating - The workshop was a lot of fun. We were taught how to forge our knife blades, grind our knives so that we’re clean and finished, and finally sharpen. It took a little bit of work and energy to get this done, but we got a great workout. We would highly recommend this tour/experience!
Review provided by Viator
986zoem
Nov 4, 2025
Amazing, insightful and rewarding experience - I booked this for my partner as he is a chef and have a lot of Japanese knives already stocked up. For him, this experience was really rewarding and I think gave him an even bigger appreciation for the knives he already owns. For me, this also made me appreciate the process but was also an insightful look into knives and a fun physically rewarding experience. The instructors / experts were knowledgeable, friendly, funny and super supportive in creating the best experience for us guests. The price of this definitely reflects the experience of being able to forge and refine your own knife! We had no issues bringing the knives back home when in our checked bags. I'd highly recommend this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brittany_h
Nov 4, 2025
Awesome experience - highly recommend! - This was awesome. Wife surprised me with this and man I can’t recommend it enough. Very fun, and legitimately awesome knife. The staff were wonderful and spoke great English. Definitely do this while you’re in Kyoto. We have only had 2 days there and are glad we spent the time doing this. Great for adults and kids.
Review provided by Viator
L7132dasaskiab
Oct 15, 2025
Amazing! - An incredibly fun experience with amazing staff! They were so helpful and great fun! Everyone went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time and that we had really cool knives to take home!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peterj633
Sep 29, 2025
A finely honed experience! - The staff at the forge are very helpful, especially understanding that most of us have no prior experience blacksmithing or doing anything similar. They instructed us on what to do, and guided us with the goal that every participant will leave with a completed knife, and will finesse any imperfections created by us newbies. But, parts of this is hard work, for sure, and made harder by the fact that you are working alongside two very hot forges. This operation is all very focused on completing the work safely with proper protection provided. The studio is located a little off the beaten path, but well worth the effort to find them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tjaša
Oct 6, 2025
Fun and unique experience - We really enjoyed the authentic knife-making experience — it’s something truly special that you can’t easily find anywhere else. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the whole process was fascinating. The only thing I would have liked is a bit more detailed guidance on what exactly to do at each step, rather than just general explanations. They did fix things afterward themselves, so it turned out fine in the end. Just keep in mind that the knife you make is more of a souvenir than a fully functional kitchen knife, but it’s still a very cool keepsake. Also, the workshop is quite a bit outside the Kyoto city center, so make sure to leave early to get there on time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidh12931
Nov 5, 2025
Not a great experience… - The staff was friendly and helpful. Participants were offered options for their knife style. The forging process was handled well with safety equipment and helpful guidance. I thought the finished products were fairly basic and the lack of finished handles limited most people’s utility. I make handles and look forward to finishing my knife at home. I took a similar course in Nepal and in less time, and for less cost completed a beautiful knife far superior to what was produced here.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $153
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).