Kyoto Knife-Making Experience at a Blacksmith Shop
Last updated: August 26, 2026
Forge your own Japanese kitchen knife at a real blacksmith's studio in Kyoto — studio NIN in Yase, at the foot of Mount Hiei where the Eizan Railway ends. Over about two and a half hours a professional knife-maker guides you through the traditional forging process, heating, hammering and shaping a blade of roughly 13 to 15 centimeters with a handle of solid iron — no experience needed. The knife you forge goes home with you: a working souvenir of Kyoto craftsmanship rather than a shop-bought one.
Itinerary
- Stop at: studio NIN Yase
Frequently Asked Questions
About two and a half hours from first heat to finished blade, with a professional knife-maker guiding every step of the traditional process.
None at all — the instructors are professional knife makers and the process is built for complete beginners, so the forge, hammer and anvil are far less intimidating than they sound.
A practical kitchen knife of roughly 13 to 15 centimeters, forged the traditional Japanese way with an iron handle. Because every blade is hand-hammered, each one comes out slightly different — and yours goes home with you.
The studio stands beside Yase-Hieizanguchi Station, the last stop on the Eizan Railway from Demachiyanagi — a scenic ride out of the city along the Takano River to the wooded foot of Mount Hiei, about half an hour from central Kyoto.