1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Samurai Swords and Inuyama Castle
- View Japan’s oldest castle, Inuyama Castle, and one of only five castles to be designated the status of “National Treasure.”
- Learn about the techniques behind crafting a Japanese sword, then test your own skills in sharpening a Japanese kitchen knife.
- Taste matcha and Japanese sweets and learn about the art of the tea ceremony in a tranquil Japanese garden.
Good to know
Seki, Gifu was a blacksmithing town known among samurai warriors as a place that creates blades that "never break or bend and are incredibly sharp.” Now regarded as one of the world’s three major cutlery centers (along with Solingen in Germany and Sheffield in the UK), the city is still home to around 100 blade manufacturers, and 10 active swordsmiths.
We'll be stopping at the cutlery center in Seki, where you are welcome to purchase Japanese chef knifes if you wish. Please check with your country's customs/shipping regulations before hand and ensure you bring your passport with you if you wish to shop tax-free.
For those who join this tour on the first Sunday of every month (except January and October), you will be able to see a live demonstration of the sword forging process by active swordsmiths. You will also get to see the finishing process of creating a samurai sword (polishing, attaching the handle, etc) and speak to the local people who are carrying on these traditional crafts.