Gifu Pocket Knife-Making Workshop & Sword Town Tour
Design your own traditional pocket knife in Gifu, near the renowned “City of Blades,” and discover how they preserve their 800-year-old legacy of knife-making today.
Highlights
Explore the 800-year-old history of Japanese knife-making at the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum
Craft your own pocket knife from recycled tungsten carbide, a material as strong as diamond and enjoy a special kitchen knife factory tour
Browse and shop for expertly crafted knives in Seki, Japan’s renowned "City of Blades"
Savor a locally-sourced lunch, prepared using knives made in the same time-honored tradition
10 meals
Experience Details
We are in Gifu, a bounty-blessed, steel-forging Japanese prefecture home to Seki, a town celebrated for producing the world's finest knives, swords and cutlery.
Even beyond the city limits, generations of knife makers and bladesmiths have dedicated themselves to the art of sword and cutlery making, a tradition passed down from parents to children and masters to apprentices for over 800 years.
In this exclusive workshop, you'll design your own traditional-style pocket knife at Fukuda Cutlery Co, a local knife factory established 100 years ago. Your journey begins with a tour of the site, where you'll witness the forging of knives from tungsten carbide — the same material used by the Japanese Mint Bureau to cut through hundreds of stacked banknotes. Known for its durability and hardness, second only to diamond, this material is ideal for high-quality blades. This knife can only be crafted at this factory, making it a one-of-a-kind product that can’t be found anywhere else.
After the tour, you'll create your own pocket knife using recycled cemented carbide and take it home. If properly maintained with regular sharpening and honing, this pocket knife can serve you for a lifetime.
Following your hands-on experience, you'll enjoy a meal at a local Japanese restaurant where the very same knives are used to prepare delicious dishes featuring fresh vegetables and fruits sourced from Gifu. Participants will also visit the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum to learn more about the fascinating history of knife-making in the region and have the option to shop for more knives at the Cutlery Hall nearby.
Inclusions
Lunch at a local restaurant
Entry ticket to the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum
An English-speaking guide
All equipment and tools for knife-making
A pocket knife as a souvenir
Exclusions
Transportation to and from the venue
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Meet your host in front of the Travel Information Center near Gifu Station’s ticket gate. More detailed information and a Google Maps link will be provided upon booking.
Remarks
Please let your host know in advance after booking if you have any dietary restrictions.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 72 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Gifu Prefecture is home to well-preserved historic villages, mountainous landscapes, and scenic open-air hot springs, with a proud culinary heritage spanning centuries.
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10 meals
Be a part of an 800-year-old sword-making tradition in Seki, Gifu Prefecture, one of the world's top knife producers, as you craft your own Damascus knife under the expert guidance of a master bladesmith with 50 years of experience.
Make artistic sushi rolls with nature-inspired designs in Mitake, Gifu. Mitake was one of the post towns along the famous Nakasendo trail that connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Learn about this historic town while crafting colorful sushi.
Explore Takayama's regional cuisine in this cooking class at an izakaya restaurant near Takayama Station. Led by Don, a chef and business owner, you’ll make signature Takayama dishes: hoba miso yaki with Hida beef, tsukemono steak, and gohei mochi.
From regional Takayama ramen to beloved makizushi, this cooking class in the heart of Gifu’s quaint Hida Takayama will introduce you to local cuisine in a fun, hands-on cooking class that includes a simple tea ceremony.