Kyoto: Custom Japanese Knife-Making Workshop in Arashiyama

Yuki was great. It was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot about knife sharpening and the different techniques. I also got to take the sharpened knife with me, which was fantastic. I can only recommend it!

Very informative and exciting course on the art of knife sharpening, with Yuki as our instructor! We had the opportunity for both only sharpening or buying our own carbon steel blades (either nakiri or funayuki), which we chose and are happy about.

I joined a Japanese kitchen knife-making workshop for the first time. Thanks to the artisan's patient and expert support, even a beginner like me was able to craft a solid, beautiful blade. But what impressed me the most was the handle engraving service! Being able to have my name or a special date engraved right onto the handle adds an extra layer of attachment, turning it into a truly one-of-a-kind personal knife that mass-produced products just can't match. The moment I held the finished knife in my hands, I was overwhelmed by how special it felt. It’s the ultimate way to commemorate a trip, treat yourself, or make an unforgettable gift for a loved one. I walked away with the best memories and a treasure I will cherish for a lifetime!

Very friendly people and the explanations were good. Not as many blades and handles to select from as described. A standard kitchen knife is included in the price but you will want the upgrade. debossing in roman letters is possible but a lil small we found. Because of the location great to be conbined with visiting the bamboo grove or with making chopsticks. All in all a great workshop.Ttry it out!

As someone who loves to cook, I was immediately drawn to this "make your own knife" experience and decided to join. Guided by a professional artisan, we also learned about the materials and blade structures as we went along, making the crafting experience deeply satisfying. Being able to adjust the handle and weight to fit my own hand is a unique charm you can only get from handmade items. I immediately tried cutting vegetables and meat with my finished knife, and I was blown away by its professional-grade sharpness! Cutting smoothly without any resistance has made my daily cooking time something to truly look forward to. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who loves cooking!

I had a fantastic time learning how to sharpen a Japanese knife. You don't need any prior experience because the staff is very patient and teaches you one-on-one. Building my own custom knife was so much fun, and learning the whetstone technique is a practical skill I can use back home. Taking home my newly sharpened, high-quality knife is the perfect souvenir from Kyoto.

I bought a new knife and wanted to learn how to take care of it. Yuki was very helpful, informative, and thoughtful throughout the process and taught us how to sharpen a knife to a fine edge! We were even able to engrave our knife as a momento to take back home. Highly recommend!

Great experience and highly recommended . Yuki is friendly and guides you through the experience without being overbearing. He encourages you with a positive attitude. I had so much fun sharpening my new knife!

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 and after was incredibly satisfying and made the whole experience so much fun. I walked away with my own customized, razor-sharp knife and a great memory to take home from Japan. Definitely an experience I would recommend!

This was a very informative experience, even for Japanese people. I was also able to choose and purchase a knife!