About this tour
Spend five hours in Seki, the Japanese heartland of blade-making, forging your own Damascus kitchen knife under a master smith with over five decades of experience. You'll shape, hone, and personalise the blade, then put it to work slicing fresh vegetables. The day includes a traditional lunch made with local produce, a certificate, and a small knife to take home. Seki sits roughly two hours from Kyoto by train.
Highlights
- Forge and finish a Damascus kitchen knife from scratch
- Learn polishing, sharpening, and engraving from a veteran bladesmith
- Test your finished blade on vegetables immediately
- Personalised name engraving on your completed knife
- Traditional Japanese lunch featuring local ingredients
- Private transport and museum entry included
- Bonus mini-knife souvenir to keep
What to expect
You'll arrive in Seki and begin with museum context on the town's 700-year sword-making legacy. Then you're at the forge. The master craftsman walks you through each step—you'll do the work, not watch passively. Expect to spend two to three hours at the anvil and polishing stone, hands-on. Your knife takes shape progressively; you'll see the difference between a rough blank and a usable edge. Once complete, you'll slice vegetables to confirm the sharpness. Lunch follows, then time to admire the finished piece before heading back.
Good to know
Wear closed shoes and comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dusty. The work is standing and repetitive; those with back issues, heart conditions, or pregnancy should skip this. All fitness levels otherwise welcome. Public trains connect Seki to Kyoto; private vehicle pickup is included.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.