Itinerary
You can experience blacksmith cutlery production as inherited from ancient times in Japan at "Tatara Iron & Steel Forging Workshop Kurogane," surrounded by the Shimanto River area of Kochi Prefecture, with mountains and river wilderness in abundance.
Imagine crafting your own knife or scissors from steel, using fire and ancient Japanese techniques. You can commemorate your wedding, or remember your trip, through engraving.
Stop At:
• Shimanto River, Kochi Prefecture
• Workshop Kurogane, 944 Nishitosakuchiyanai, Shimanto 787-1324 Kochi Prefecture
• Kachima Chinka Bridge, Unoe, Shimanto 787-1226 Kochi Prefecture
• Iwama Chinka Bridge, Nishitosa Iwama, Shimanto Kochi Prefecture
See Availability.
Workshop KUROGANE, Japan, 787-1324 Kochi, Shimanto, Nishitosakuchiyanai, 天王山９４４
09:00 AM
8 hours(approx.)
Returns to original departure point
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Posted By : Jonathan L
Thank you for a fantastic day, the absolute best part of our trip. Both Jesse and Nobuyah were fantastic teachers, and their enthusiasm and love for the craft really made it an unforgettable experience.
Waiting for the day, we can go back and make another knife.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-08
Posted By : jonathandT8667VL
This knife making activity was a surprise for our daughter age nine and son age seven. Both have been kind of crazy about the "Forged in Fire" TV series--they went nuts when we told them they would actually get to make a knife.
Last summer we climbed Mt Fuji and this activity was equal if not better. There is really no way to fully capture how wonderful an experience it was for them as well as for us.
The staff were professional and also personable--clearly, they love what they do.
Remarkably, they were able to keep the attention of two children for nearly eight hours of heating, hammering, and handling hot metal. All of it was done in perfect safety but yet with full participation of our kids.
Near the end, they spent over 90 minutes for each knife ensuring they were perfectly sharp. They even packaged them in nice looking boxes so we could get through customs at the airport.
The area where the forge is located is also very special and only adds to the ambiance of the day.
If you ever thought about making your own knife then this is the place to make a lifelong memory and a knife that you can use and give to your grandkids. Jon
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-03
Posted By : y0seii
I loved this experience so, so much! Shimanto is a beautiful, quiet area, making it an idyllic place to do some blade smithing. Hayashi-san is a wonderful instructor, which speaks to how truly knowledgeable he is about his craft. He was able to explain concepts at a basic level that are easy for novices to understand, but when asked about more technical aspects of metallurgy or process, he had perfect answers as well.
He has struck a great balance in his instruction to let the students feel as though they're truly involved in the process of creating their blades, yet ensuring the outcome is well-shaped and straight. Watching him work made the whole process seem easy, but I'm sure that what he could do in 5 minutes would take me hours to get right.
I loved learning about the practical tricks for identifying the correct temperatures when hardening or tempering the steel. It's one thing to learn about the process from an engineering standpoint, and a completely different thing to learn how to FEEL that process. I think that was my favorite aspect of this class - getting to experience the art in something that I had originally learned about from a technical standpoint. Getting to bring home a new kitchen knife that I helped craft isn't bad either!
Omakase Japan made the booking process super easy, and their communication was excellent. I fully recommend both Omakase Japan and Kurogane Workshop to any knife nerd, home or professional chef, engineer, or even just a curious mind - you won't be disappointed!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-22
Posted By : riosa2023
What a cool day! Awesome experience for someone traveling Japan and wanting a proper souvenir to take home. Very nice and helpful instructors who had no problem sharing their knowledge on the trade. Would highly recommend to anyone with interest in leading the craft
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-06-16
Posted By : 640jet
Had a wonderful time making my own custom kitchen knife. Mr Hayashi was very kind in guiding me along the steps of forging. I love the end result and I've already used the knife a few times. Shimanto is also a great town to visit I had a great time meeting a few friendly locals!
Rating :
Posted On : 2020-02-22
Posted By : mso_tokyo
I participated in a workshop with Master Hayashi making our own knives. The experience was absolutely amazing as we actually got to participate in all steps of the knife making/forging process. The master was so helpful in explaining the techniques we should use for each step and provided perfect guidance along the way. His hospitality throughout the entire experience was amazing and I can recommend this experience enough.
Rating :
Posted On : 2019-07-13
Posted By : laksmiapril
Once you got there, it is absolutely worth experience. I enjoyed making a knife with other customers. Mr.Hayashi can speak English well and he was really friendly to not only Japanese but also foreigners. If you are looking for unforgettable experiences, this is it.
Rating :
Posted On : 2019-06-03
