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View all Kyoto toursCustom Japanese Knife-Making Workshop in Arashiyama in Kyoto
1-hour tour in Kyoto, including Japanese kitchen knife for the workshop and Choice some blades and handles combinations. Run by Viyago Japan, booked direct rather than through a reseller.
Highlights
- Runs 1 hours
- Japanese kitchen knife for the workshop
- Choice some blades and handles combinations
- Knife sharpening experience
- Handle fitting and finishing
- Initial stamping
Custom Japanese Knife-Making Workshop in Arashiyama: Key Facts
| Price | From $25 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 hours |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
This is a 1-hour experience in Kyoto. It is run by Viyago Japan, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.
Arashiyama, on Kyoto's western edge, is the bamboo grove, the Togetsukyo bridge over the Katsura river, the gardens of Tenryu-ji and the monkey park on the hill above. The bamboo path is about 500 metres and is photographed empty in every guidebook because those photographs are taken before 7:30; by mid-morning it is a procession. Rickshaw runs, the Sagano scenic railway along the gorge, and boat rides down the Hozu rapids all start here. Autumn colour peaks in the second half of November and cherry blossom around the first week of April.
The price covers Japanese kitchen knife for the workshop, Choice some blades and handles combinations, Knife sharpening experience, Handle fitting and finishing and Initial stamping. It does not cover Transportation to and from the workshop, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.
Viyago Japan sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Viyago Japan before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Includes
- Japanese kitchen knife for the workshop
- Choice some blades and handles combinations
- Knife sharpening experience
- Handle fitting and finishing
- Initial stamping
- Use of all workshop tools and equipment
- Step-by-step guidance from the instructor
- Finished Japanese knife to take home
Excludes
- Transportation to and from the workshop
Important information
Meeting point
Viyago Japan sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
Yuki welcomed me and we entered the room of knife lovers via the secret door. There began my journey with knife sharpening. I have one santoku at home but I was never confident enough to sharpen it myself. Now I jumped over my shadow and sharpened my brand new nakiri. I enjoyed this workshop a lot and it is a great combination with visiting the bamboo forest.
Such a unique and enjoyable experience in Arashiyama! The instructor explained everything clearly and patiently, so even as a complete beginner, I felt comfortable sharpening the knife myself. It was fascinating to learn about Japanese knives and how proper sharpening can completely change their performance. The workshop was hands-on, relaxing, and very well organized. Seeing the blade become noticeably sharper by the end was incredibly satisfying. A great activity for anyone interested in Japanese craftsmanship, cooking, or looking for something different to do in Kyoto. Highly recommended!
This was my first time sharpening a knife. The staff gave me a detailed lecture on swords and knives. They also chatted with me while I was sharpening, making it a very valuable experience! I highly recommend it.
Obwohl man zu spät war (zug und nicht gefunden) konnte man es durchführen der Kursleiter war sehr zuvorkommend und sehr nett und hilfsbereit hat viel Zeit investiert das es ein cooles Ergebnis und Erlebnis gegeben hat
What a wonderful experience!
Très bonne introduction à l'utilisation des pierres à aiguiser dans un endroit sympa et avec un personnel qui l'est tout autant. Merci !
This was such a fun and unique experience! I learned how to sharpen a traditional Japanese knife, and the instructor explained everything clearly and patiently. The workshop was hands-on, interesting, and perfect even for beginners. I also decided to upgrade and make my own Japanese knife, and it was definitely worth it! It feels so special to bring home something I made myself. The quality of the knife is amazing, and it will be a great souvenir and something I’ll use for years. If you’re visiting Japan and looking for an authentic cultural experience, I highly recommend this workshop!
One of the best parts of the experience was getting to choose both the blade and the handle to create my own custom knife. It made the whole experience feel much more personal from the very beginning. But the biggest surprise came after sharpening it. I honestly had no idea a knife could become THIS sharp! When I finally tested it myself, it sliced through everything so smoothly that I couldn’t believe it. It was exactly like those super-sharp Japanese knives you see in videos on social media, except this time I was actually holding one that I had sharpened myself! Seeing the difference before
This workshop exceeded all my expectations. It is a rare chance to get hands-on with authentic Japanese blades under the guidance of a true expert. Yuki is a fantastic guide who explains complex techniques with clarity and humor, making the learning process engaging from start to finish. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Japanese craftsmanship. Pro tip: make sure to ask about the upgrade option to craft your own custom Japanese kitchen knife—it’s an amazing way to take home a piece of what you’ve learned.
I had an absolutely incredible time learning the traditional art of sword sharpening! Our guide, Yuki, was truly exceptional—not only is he incredibly knowledgeable about the history and technique of the blades, but his personality made the entire session so much fun. It was a highlight of my trip to Kyoto. I was also thrilled to find out that they offer an upgrade to forge your own Japanese kitchen knife; it’s such a unique opportunity that I couldn't pass up. If you're looking for a hands-on experience, this is it!
We found this experience while visiting Arashiyama and decided to give it a try. There were more than 20 different knife options to choose from, which made it really fun to pick the one we liked. The staff were friendly and explained everything clearly, so it was easy even though we had never done anything like this before. Making the knife ourselves was a great experience, and we were really happy with how it turned out. It is something we can actually use at home, so it feels much more special than a normal souvenir.