Japanese Knives: Design A Custom Knife & Factory Tour, Fukui
Uncover the history of Japanese knives in Fukui. Tour the Yamaken Woodworks factory (handles), explore Yamamoto Blade Works (blades), & then design your very own custom Fukui knife to take home!
Highlights
Learn about the history of Japanese knives in one of the country’s top knife-producing regions (Fukui)
Visit Yamaken Woodworks (a revered woodworking factory established in 1929) and tour the factory with a fourth-generation woodworking master
Visit Yamato Blade Works to learn about the blade-making process and see artisans at work
Design a custom knife (handle and blade) to take home with you
10 meals
Experience Details
Uncover the history of Japanese knives in this factory tour and custom knife experience in Fukui. You’ll visit and learn about the history of Yamaken Woodworks (founded in 1912), tour the factory, see the knife-making process (from handle to blade), visit Yamamoto Blade Works, and design your own custom Fukui knife, which will later be shipped to your address!
Experience flow:
Learn about the history of Yamaken Woodworks (handle)
Embark on a factory tour
See the woodworking equipment
Visit Yamamoto Blade Works (blade)
Design a custom knife (select from 30+ handle options and 2 blade options)
Fukui Prefecture, located in the Chubu region of Japan, has a well-established reputation for its traditional knife making. The region's knife-making tradition was initially driven by the demand for high-quality blades for samurai and other warriors during feudal Japan. Over time, the craftsmanship evolved, and today, Fukui knives are sought after for their functionality, beauty, and precision.
Visit Yamaken Woodworks: Established in 1912, Yamaken Woodworks has been dedicated to crafting wooden bowls using the traditional art of the potter's wheel. You’ll learn the history of Yamaken Woodworks in a factory tour led by Takuya Yamamoto, a fourth-generation woodworking master. Yamaken's reputation is built on its commitment to creating high-quality handles through patented techniques, resulting in blades with distinctive qualities and functions. Today, the products are sought after by domestic and international manufacturers and users alike.
Visit Yamamoto Blade Works: Head across the street to Yamato Blade Works. You’ll tour the factory, see blade-making artisans at work, learn about the process, and then select a handle and blade to design your knife. Knives typically arrive at your designated address about 10 days after the experience. For those who choose to include customization options (lacquer wiping or painting), knives are usually delivered within a month.
Inclusions
A guided tour of Yamaken Woodworks and Yamato Blade Works
A custom knife (handle and blade) that you’ll get to take home at the end
Exclusions
Transportation to and from the experience location
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
The meeting place is etoe. 46-1-10 Ikenouecho, Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture If you come by car, it is 20 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway Sabae IC (parking available). If you come by train, it is 10 minutes from the JR Takefu Station by car.
Remarks
Please listen carefully to the instructions of your guides; you’ll be touring active factories and in proximity to machinery/equipment
Please note that this is not a private experience, so there might be other participants.
Children aged 10 and older are welcome to participate. Those under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Please participate wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
For an additional fee, optional additional experiences (lacquer wiping and painting) can be arranged, but please note that lacquer may cause a rash. Gloves, arm coverings and aprons will be provided.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 3 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
A prefecture prized for its seafood, history, and culture, Fukui is a must-see for anyone with an interest in Zen Buddhism or a soft spot for amazing shellfish.
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10 meals
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