Forge a knife under the guidance of a katana master using the same steel and skills as crafting a sword in this Odawara samurai sword studio
3.5 hour Private Experience
Location: Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa (XX minutes from central Tokyo)
Lead by xx in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the master
The National Museum in Ueno was where Fusahiro, a professional katana craftsman, saw his first katana. The museum visit was a middle school class trip, and it was the start of Fusahiro’s fascination with katana. Since then he’s been forged these protective swords in Tokyo for over 20 years.
What you’ll do
Visit an authentic katana forge in Odawara and observe a master swordsmith at work. Then, use katana-making techniques to create your own katana knife, guided by the master swordsmith.
Who can attend
Children must be 7+
Availability
Monday to Saturday
Session 1 (12:30 - 16:00)
Unavailable every Sunday and New Year Holidays
Access
30 minutes walk from Odawara station by train
What’s Included
Each guest will receive a small knife, shipped to them two months after the experience.
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, utilize the same forging techniques as an authentic katana sword to create your own small knife. Observe the master operate the forge and maneuver the steel, then file, shape, and refine your blade until it's ready for the final step - the yaki-iri, 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 katana-making techniques in a single session, guided by a master katana maker.
Customer Reviews
“The experience was amazing! The interpreter was super nice and good.
Your service during the booking, the tour and the follow up has been outstanding. ”
— M.C, United States
“We had a wonderful time yesterday at the Katana experience! It was excellent from a cultural and materials science point of view, and we got to see some of the countryside on the way and how they trellis pear trees... I have a geology background and interest in knives and sharpening, so seeing every step from raw iron to the finished, polished katana was fantastic. We learned so much from Sensei, he has really planned the experience well to show every step of his work.”
— J.O, Canada
