« Sword making Kyoto », « katana Kyoto », « sword making Tokyo »: every month thousands of travellers search for a way to forge a samurai sword in Japan. Here is the honest answer first — and then the experiences that come genuinely close.
Why you can’t make a real katana as a tourist
Japanese swords are regulated as works of art. A katana must be forged by a smith licensed by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, from traditional tamahagane steel, and registered with a certificate. Licensed smiths may produce only about two long swords per month, and making the steel alone takes days. That is why no workshop — in Kyoto, Tokyo or anywhere else — sells a « make your own katana » class. Listings that use the word usually mean a small knife shaped like a katana, which is still a fantastic experience.
1. Forge a small katana-style knife with a swordsmith
Masahiro Sword Forge — Kameoka (Kyoto)
Closest to a katana
- Duration: 3.5–4 h
- Price: ¥39,000 (small knife) / ¥59,000 (survival knife)
- Language: Japanese, interpreter ≈ ¥22,600
- Access: ≈ 1 h from Kyoto Station + taxi
A licensed swordsmith guides you through forging a small katana-shaped blade in traditional steel, which you can have engraved with your name or a word of your choice. Groups are limited to 3–4 people. This is the most sword-like experience you can book near Kyoto — details in our Kyoto knife forging guide.
Swordsmith knife workshop — Aioi (Hyogo)
Best value
- Duration: ≈ 4 h
- Price: from ≈ ¥12,000 booked direct
- Includes: leather case, name engraving
- Access: 20 min from Himeji
A certified swordsmith lets you forge a small blade under his supervision, then engraves it with your name. He explains the process with a translation app. Book at least a week ahead. See our knife towns guide for access details.
2. Watch real swordsmiths at work
- Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum (Gifu): traditional forging demonstrations on selected days each year — the most impressive show in Japan. See our Seki guide.
- Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum (Okayama): sword history, workshops of smiths, polishers and scabbard makers, and hands-on activities on selected weekends.
- Japanese Sword Museum (Ryogoku, Tokyo): the reference collection in Tokyo, with exhibitions that change several times a year.
3. Samurai and ninja experiences in Kyoto
If you want to handle a sword rather than forge one, Kyoto offers samurai classes (around USD 60–70, 1.5–2 h) where you learn basic swordsmanship with a replica. For a take-home souvenir with a ninja twist, some forges run a 2.5-hour class (≈ USD 145) in which you forge a shuriken or kunai.
Read also:Best Knife-Making Workshops in Japan (2026): Where to Forge Your Own Knife
Buying a katana in Kyoto: what to know
Kyoto has several sword shops selling antique and modern katana. A genuine Japanese sword always comes with a registration certificate (torokusho), must be exported with permission from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and may be restricted in your home country. Decorative replicas are simpler — but check your airline and customs rules. For kitchen blades, our Kyoto knife shop guide is a better starting point.
Our recommendation
For most travellers, the best « sword » day is a combination: forge a real knife with a blacksmith in the morning, then visit a sword museum or take a samurai class in the afternoon. The easiest knife to forge is in central Kyoto:
Frequently asked questions
Can I make my own katana in Japan?
No. Only licensed swordsmiths may forge katana, and they are limited to about two long swords a month. You can, however, forge a small katana-style knife with a swordsmith near Kyoto or Himeji.
Where can I see katana being made?
At forging demonstrations held on selected days at the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum (Gifu) and at the Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum (Okayama).
Is there sword making in Tokyo?
Not for visitors. In Tokyo you can visit the Japanese Sword Museum in Ryogoku or take a samurai class; to forge a blade, go to Kyoto, Seki or Aioi.
Can I bring a katana home from Japan?
A genuine sword needs its registration certificate and an export permit from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and your home country may restrict it. Always check before buying.
Affiliate disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links to GetYourGuide. If you book through them we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are indicative and were checked at the time of writing — the live price on the booking page always prevails.