NEW! 5 Finest Japanese Knife & Katana Crafting Experiences in Tokyo

In this guide I share five of the finest hands-on Japanese blade crafting experiences in Tokyo that connect you with centuries of samurai tradition.

From polishing historic katana (swords) with master craftsmen to forging your own kitchen knife from traditional tamahagane steel, these authentic workshops offer rare insights into Japanese craftsmanship.

You’ll learn ancient techniques from master swordsmiths, handle centuries-old blades, and create personalised souvenirs that embody Japan’s cultural heritage.

Whether you’re a martial arts enthusiast, culinary aficionado, or cultural explorer, these 5 immersive experiences provide unforgettable insights into Japan’s iconic blade-making traditions just minutes from Tokyo’s bustling centre.

Interested in Japanese knife and sword crafting experiences elsewhere in Japan? Check out this guide:
5 Exclusive Knife Experiences with Traditional Artisans.

In Japan, bladed implements transcend mere functionality to embody spiritual, artistic, and cultural significance. From the sacred katana swords – one of Japan’s imperial treasures alongside the mirror and jewel – to precision culinary knives, Japanese blades represent a harmonious balance between practicality and aesthetic perfection.

Tokyo, has long been a hub for master craftspeople preserving these ancient techniques. The city and its outskirts house rare workshops where traditional tamahagane steel is still forged using methods dating back centuries.

It’s here you can experience firsthand the meticulous craftsmanship that transforms raw metal into objects of both utility and profound cultural expression.

Before committing to any of these unique knife or katana experiences, consider a few practical matters. Reservations are essential and should be made weeks in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons. Most workshops require closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing that can get dirty. While English-speaking guides are typically provided, having a translation app handy might help your experience with the masters.

Be aware that customs regulations may affect shipping your creations home – check your country’s rules regarding importing blades before booking. All these experiences involve proximity to high heat, sharp objects, and physical activity, so those with mobility issues or young children should inquire about practical considerations or age restrictions.

Lastly, bring cash for optional purchases and consider adding a half-day buffer in your itinerary – these immersive experiences can run longer than scheduled when participants are enjoying themselves.

Full-fledged Katana Experience – Experience 1 is best for history buffs wanting museum learning plus hands-on polishing in central Tokyo.

Handmade Kitchen Knife Experience – Experience 2 is perfect for culinary enthusiasts seeking a practical souvenir and willing to travel to Tokyo’s outskirts.

Craft a Small Katana – Experience 3 is great for martial arts enthusiasts wanting a display piece and the full forging experience outside Tokyo.

Katana Polishing Workshop – Experience 4 is ideal for artisan fans staying near Shibuya looking for a less physically demanding hands-on experience.

Learn from a Swordsmith – Experience 5 is excellent for history buffs interested in the spiritual aspects of swordmaking and willing to travel by Shinkansen.

This immersive experience begins at the Japanese Sword Museum, established by the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, where you’ll view historic katana specimens—some over five centuries old and designated as national treasures. The collection features blades from the Heian (794-1180), Kamakura (1180-1336), and Nanbokucho (1368-1392) periods.

Afterward, you’ll visit Nagaoka Nihonto Kenmajo workshop in Tokyo’s traditional Asakusabashi neighborhood, where master polisher Yasumasa Nagaoka welcomes you. His workshop, lined with katana, whetstones, and reference books, offers a striking atmosphere.

Nagaoka explains katana appreciation through examining three key elements: shape, hamon (blade edge patterns ranging from jagged peaks to soft waves), and jigane (the rippling steel patterns that shift from luminous white to dark black as they catch the light).

You’ll witness Nagaoka’s meticulous polishing technique, which typically takes 7-10 days per sword, progressing from coarse to fine whetstones. Finally, you’ll try polishing a rusted blade yourself, experiencing firsthand why these treasured heirlooms were traditionally polished only once per century and how they’ve survived generations as both weapons and art objects.

Nagaoka Nihonto Kenmajo’s workshop is perfect for history enthusiasts with limited time who want to combine museum learning with hands-on polishing. Ideal if you’re staying in central Tokyo and prefer experiencing preservation rather than creation. Suitable for those fascinated by the aesthetic appreciation of historic blades.

Just 80 minutes from Shinjuku station in the verdant hills of Ome City, Hirata Swordsmith offers a rare opportunity to forge your own kitchen knife using traditional tamahagane steel. This husband-and-wife team is extraordinary: Sukehira Hirata, a master blacksmith who completed a 13-year apprenticeship, works alongside his wife Nodoka, who is likely the only female murage (furnace master) in history.

This experience teaches you the tatara technique – the pinnacle of Japanese iron forging seen in Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” – which produces extraordinarily high-grade steel. Beginning with a sunobe (sword blank), you’ll learn hi-zukuri forging by hammering heat-softened steel to create your knife’s cutting edge.

Next comes the critical tsuchi-oki and yaki-ire phases, where the blade is coated with yakibatsuchi (a mixture of clay, charcoal, and whetstone powder) before quenching to achieve the paradoxical combination of sharpness without brittleness.

Your finished kitchen knife will be engraved with your name and shipped to you – a practical souvenir made with the same traditional techniques used for samurai swords and a lasting memento of your Japanese experience.

Hirata Swordsmith is Ideal for culinary enthusiasts and those wanting a practical, usable souvenir. Perfect if you can spare a day trip from Tokyo and want the most comprehensive hands-on forging experience. Great for those interested in seeing a rare female forge master at work.

In the rolling hills of Ome City, just 80 minutes from Shinjuku station, Hirata Sword Smith offers an extraordinary opportunity to forge your own small katana using traditional tamahagane steel. This workshop is run by a remarkable husband-and-wife team: Sukehira Hirata, who completed a 13-year blacksmith apprenticeship, and Nodoka Hirata, believed to be the only female murage (furnace master) in history.

Next comes the crucial tsuchi-oki and yaki-ire phases, where you’ll coat the blade with yakibatsuchi – a mixture of clay, charcoal, and whetstone powder – before quenching to achieve the katana’s signature combination of flexibility and sharpness. Your finished small katana will be engraved with your name and finished in your choice of three handle styles (raw mill scale, tempered color, or grind-polished) before being shipped to you – a rare and meaningful memento of your time in Japan.

The experience begins with the tatara technique – Japan’s pinnacle of traditional iron forging – where you’ll work with a sunobe (sword blank) created from their house-made tamahagane steel. Under expert guidance, you’ll perform hi-zukuri forging, hammering heated steel to create your blade’s cutting edge. Sukehira will teach you to harness gravity rather than force during this physically demanding process.

Hirata’s small katana workshop is ideal for martial arts enthusiasts wanting a displayable souvenir. Perfect for those who want the complete forging experience with less utility but more cultural significance. Requires a full day trip from Tokyo and suits those interested in physical, hands-on metalworking.

This exclusive experience invites you to the workshop of Masaru Nemoto, one of Japan’s mere 100 professional katana polishers, at Buneido in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward. Located near the famous Shibuya area and Gotokuji Temple (birthplace of the lucky cat), the workshop displays a collection of katana of various lengths alongside related crafts like sheaths and guards.

Your experience begins with a fascinating explanation of katana history, tracing their evolution from straight, double-edged blades in the 3rd-6th centuries to the iconic curved swords that emerged in the 10th-11th centuries. Nemoto explains how katana were considered extensions of samurai themselves – embodiments of their souls and honour.

You’ll then witness a polishing demonstration showcasing both “aratogi” (rough polishing) and “uchigumori” (finish polishing), learning how the complete process requires at least seven types of whetstones and typically takes 2-3 weeks per sword. Under Nemoto’s guidance, you’ll try polishing yourself, feeling the weight of the steel and the subtle vibrations through your fingertips.

The experience concludes with tea time with Nemoto, offering a chance to discuss your impressions and potentially purchase small knives crafted using traditional techniques.

Master polisher Masaru Nemoto’s hands-on is perfect for those staying near Shibuya who want a less physically demanding hands-on experience. Ideal for art lovers interested in the finishing process rather than forging. Great for those who want to meet one of Japan’s few remaining professional katana polishers.

Just over an hour from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen lies Katanakaji Fusahiro, a traditional swordsmith’s forge in rural Kamikawa, Saitama Prefecture. Here, swordsmith Fusahiro Shimojima—inspired by an 800-year-old sword he saw as a teenager—welcomes visitors to explore the spiritual and technical aspects of Japanese swordmaking.

The experience begins with a fascinating talk on Japanese sword history and its deep connections to Shinto ritual, evident in the workshop’s sacred ropes, altar, and Fusahiro’s white attire. You’ll learn how Japanese swords balance three seemingly contradictory qualities: resistance to breaking, prevention of bending, and excellent cutting ability.

The highlight is witnessing tamahagane steel forging, where the metal is heated to 1,300°C and hammered repeatedly, creating impressive spark displays that eliminate impurities. You’ll then participate hands-on by operating the bellows to control the furnace temperature and trying your hand at hammering hot steel – an unexpectedly challenging task!

The experience concludes with instruction on sword appreciation focusing on three elements: shape, metal layering, and blade patterns, followed by a photo opportunity holding an authentic Japanese sword in the forge where Fusahiro creates these spiritual guardians.

Katanakaji Fusahiro’s traditional swordsmith forge is perfect for history buffs who want balanced cultural learning and brief hands-on participation. Ideal for those interested in the spiritual aspects of swordmaking. Good for those willing to take the shinkansen for an authentic rural forge experience.

These blade-making experiences offer something beyond typical tourist attractions – they connect you with living traditions that have shaped Japan’s cultural identity for centuries.

Whether you choose to feel the rhythm of hammer strikes against glowing tamahagane or the subtle resistance of a whetstone against ancient steel, you’ll take home more than just a crafted blade; you’ll carry the wisdom of generations and the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship within you.

As interest in these authentic experiences grows and master craftspeople become increasingly rare, securing your spot means not just checking an item off your bucket list, but becoming part of an unbroken chain of appreciation that helps preserve these arts for future generations.

Don’t just visit Japan – become part of its living legacy by booking your blade-crafting experience today.

The Japanese Knife Experiences

Experience 1: Full-fledged Katana Sword Experience in Tokyo
Experience 2: Craft a Handmade Kitchen Knife of Traditional Tamahagane Steel
Experience 3: Craft a Handmade Small Katana Sword of Traditional Tamahagane Steel
Experience 4: Polish a Genuine Katana Sword With a Master Polisher
Experience 5: Learn the Rich History of Katana Japanese Swords from a Swordsmith

Wabunka – All Japanese Artisan Experiences

Wabunka – All Experiences

Further Reading

5 Exclusive Japanese Knife Experiences With Traditional Artisans

Japanese Knives: 600 Years of Craftsmanship

Yoshimune: Authentic Japanese Kitchen Knives

7 Extraordinary Things To Do In Himeji (Beyond The Castle)

A Secret Tour of Tokyo National Museum

Pulling Back The Curtain on Japanese Art and Culture

Experiences Travel Hub

Recommended Resources

My List of Recommended Japan Travel Resources

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