Kyoto: Knife Forging Class & Japanese Blacksmith Workshop

You'll Hammer Out a Japanese Knife in 2.5 Hours at a Kyoto Blacksmith Studio

You'll change into a traditional outfit, learn the forging technique used for Japanese kitchen knives, and hammer out your own blade over 2.5 hours with a professional instructor guiding each step. The experience includes all tools, sharpening, polishing, and your finished knife to take home. It's hands-on and physical, so moderate fitness helps, and it's not suitable if you have spinal injuries, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Traditional Japanese knife making experience

• Change into traditional goldsmith outfit
• Learn traditional Japanese knife making process
• Heat and forge the iron with hammer
• Sharpen the knife
• Polish the knife to complete masterpiece

The experience

You step up to the forge, and the instructor hands you the hammer. The iron is glowing red in front of you (actually hot, not a prop), and you're about to shape it the way Japanese blacksmiths have for centuries. The knife forging experience in Kyoto starts with changing into a traditional goldsmith outfit, which sounds like theater until you realize it's there because the work gets serious. Heat, metal, repeated strikes. The instructor walks you through the grip, the angle, the rhythm, and then you're doing it yourself, watching the blade take shape under your own hands.

The main event is the forging itself. That's where the experience lives. You heat the iron until it's the right shade of red, then hammer it into shape over and over, learning as you go. Even beginners pick it up because the instructors are patient and the process is straightforward, though yeah, there's real danger involved, which is why they teach you how to hold the hammer correctly before you swing. After the forging comes sharpening and polishing, and by the end of the 2.5 hours you walk out with a finished knife, roughly 13 to 15 centimeters, that you made yourself. You can film or photograph the whole thing if you want proof.

The studio will message you before your visit to confirm whether you're going to Studio NIN Yase or Studio NIN Kendo. Both are in Kyoto and both have public transportation nearby. Children under 15 need a parent or guardian there with them. If you have questions about what the experience actually involves or what to expect, the staff answers them before you book. The uniform and tools are included, and you get an English-speaking guide the whole time, so language isn't a barrier to understanding what you're doing.

What’s included

Your 2.5-hour session includes a traditional goldsmith outfit, a complete set of tools for knife making, instruction in the traditional Japanese forging process, sharpening and polishing of your blade, an English-speaking guide, and your finished knife to take home.

Options for this experience

2 options

Genuine Knife Making Experience with a Blacksmith in KyotoGuide in English · 10:00, 12:00 and 14:30

A knife featuring a wooden handleGuide in English · 10:00, 12:00 and 14:30Knife with a Wooden Handle: The standard plan (24,000 yen) features a knife made entirely of iron; choose this plan if you would like a wooden handle instead.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Atelier NIN

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a hands-on craft experience that results in something real and functional: the 2.5-hour format and small-group setup mean you're actually forging, not watching, and you leave with a knife you made yourself.

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Top questions

Do I need experience to do this knife forging class?

No. The instructors teach beginners step-by-step, starting with how to hold the hammer and use the tools correctly. Prior blacksmithing knowledge is not required.

How long does the knife forging experience take?

The full experience is 2.5 hours, from changing into the outfit through forging, sharpening, and polishing your finished knife.

What size knife will I make?

The finished blade is approximately 13 to 15 centimeters, depending on the individual and how the forging goes.

Are there two different studio locations?

Yes. Studio NIN has two locations in Kyoto: Studio NIN Yase and Studio NIN Kendo. The staff will confirm which one you attend before your visit.

Can children participate in the knife forging workshop?

Children under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the experience.

What's included in the experience?

The experience includes a traditional goldsmith outfit, all tools needed to make the knife, an English-speaking guide, and instruction in forging, sharpening, and polishing.

Is this experience safe if I have health concerns?

The experience is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health. You should have at least moderate physical fitness to participate.

Can I take photos or video during the forging?

Yes, video and photography are available throughout the experience.