Visit a Certified Swordsmith and Make Your Own Samurai Knife

I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in the art of sword forging. It will be a lifelong treasure, both in reality and in memory! 🔨 Instructor/Communication: No Japanese language skills are needed. The instructor uses translation software to explain and communicate throughout the process, ensuring you understand the sword forging procedures. The instructor is very kind and professional, providing ample emotional support, leaving you not only with a wealth of knowledge but also a strong sense of accomplishment. 🔨 Experience: You might notice that the shape of the sword we made differs from those of other visitors. This is because we emailed the instructor in advance to discuss the desired shape (we planned to make the handle ourselves at home). The instructor confirmed it was possible and prepared a customized sword blank for us on the day, also adding steps to create a blade pattern. Participating in the complete process and crafting the sword in our minds step by step was incredibly moving. (The above-mentioned additions to the itinerary were agreed upon with the instructor for an additional fee.) 🔨 Time: Because there were two of us, and we had an extra-cost itinerary, we spent about 7 hours there (including breaks). The instructor guides each group individually before moving on to the next, so if you come as a group, estimate that it may take a little longer than the time stated on the website.

this was the best thing I did in my trip to Japan. the location is a very beautiful town, away from the busy cities. the sword maker is one of the few official sword makers of Japan. he showed us how the steel is forged to make Japanese swords. then provided steel molds to make our own knife. patiently Teaching us at each step. what better souvenir to take home than something you made with your own hands.

It was AMAZING! worth the long trip from Kyoto. Took all day so plan for that. Uses a translator device on his phone to talk to you, and hands you and egg like device you can speak into that communicates to him. My teen boys had a blast! P.s. this is the ONLY excursion I booked through KLOOK that I did not have a problem with locating the facility using Google directions with the address that I was given :)

Hospitality and kindness are two things that make the Japanese people great; the swordsmith at Hayamitsu is not only a master at his swords, he is a master of humanity. I showed up late due to being lost, but he nevertheless showed me a craft I've only seen portrayed in the movies, doing it with a patience I was so grateful for. If you're curious about making Japanese swords, please check this out. You won't regret it. :)

20 out of 10 would recommend that you go meet Kikyo and Morikita(wife). Kikyo was very kind and generous and very informative. He answered every question we had. He told us about the steel (Tamahagane), and where it came from. He showed us how the steel is folded into the form that is needed to make a Japanese sword. I even got to swing the large hammer and flatten one of the folds. A piece of burnt metal flew off and melted my wife’s shirt (my fault) Kikyo proffusily apologized. Then we got to start making our knives. There were multiple billets for us to choose from. After that we were instructed in heating and hammering. My wife and I took our turns then Moriko came in with lunch and water. Very sweet lady cannot say enough good things about her. She sat and conversated with us while we had lunch. Kikyo told her about my wife’s shirt got melted, and she literally offered the shirt off her back to help my wife. And if that wasn’t enough they even offered us free gifts and a ride back to the train station. Overall one of the greatest events I’ve ever been to. Will definitely visit them again when we make our next trip to Japan.

Kikyo Hayamitsu is a wonderful host and provided a great tour of sword smithing followed by an excellent guided exercise where you participate in heating and hammering out a knife, hardening it and finally polishing it. The language barrier is overcome by small handheld translators which work suprisingly well. Definitely a big highlight from our Japan trip and I cannot praise how nice Mr Hayamitsu was

You owe it to yourself to book this experience. We were a party of three and he made us all feel inclusive in the experience. you'll learn a lot and do a lot as a part of making your own knife. While you won't be making your ow ln billet (it's not reasonable considering the time restraints) you will be making your knife and being very involved in the process from heating the metal and shaping it with a hammer and filing and polishing it. Hayamitsu sensei is patient, caring, helpful and encouraging all the way through. a thorough tier 1 experience. Also, my child of 10 years old also managed to make his own knife too with lots of guidance.

This was one of the best experiences I've had in Japan and would recommend it to everyone coming either to Kyoto or Osaka. It might seem far at first, but it is most definitely worth it. The swordsmith is incredibly nice and the whole session is very intimate and friendly. You get to witness the process of layering the steel, then you get to forge and refine your own knife. At the end, you can engrave it too for a personal touch.

It was a wonderful experience. My husband made a knife with Mr Hayamitsu. He was so informative about the process and materials. If you like swords dont leave Japan without this experience.

An awesome experience for both myself and Patrick, the organisers were patient with our English, and made us feel special. The venue is a little bit out of the way but with the help of some friendly locals and a taxi we got there no problem! Not the cheapest experience but was one of the most special and ethnic we have done in Japan!