Complete a knife forged in the same way as a katana under the guidance of a master
3.5 hour private experience
Location: Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa
Offered in Japanese, with friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the master
What you’ll do
Visit an authentic katana forge in Odawara. Finish the final steps of making your own katana knife, guided by the master swordsmith.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
What’s included
Each guest will receive a small knife, shipped to them two months after the experience.
Availability
Monday to Saturday
Session 1 (12:30 - 16:00)
Unavailable every Sunday and New Year Holidays
Access
30 minutes from Odawara station by train
Handheld Knife, Katana Heritage
When crafting a katana, both instinct and experience guide creation. Master swordsmiths, like Ozawa in his Odawara katana forge, transition seamlessly to the next step in the swordmaking process based on the crackle of the flames, the color of the fire, or the shape of the shattering sparks as the hammer hits scorching steel. Painstaking care goes into every part of the process, as crafting just a single katana sword can take months, and apprentices training for years upon years before being nationally certified to create their own katana blades. In this intensive, full-day masterclass, create your own small knife forged from samurai sword steel and crafting techniques. File, shape, and refine your blade until it's ready for the final step - the yaki-ire, a highly challenging technique where the blade is heated and plunged into water, creating its final curved shape and iconic hamon pattern. While making your own katana is a process that requires immense amounts of time, this professionally-led workshop allows you the chance to practice crafting techniques in a single session, guided by a master katana maker.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
