Best places in Japan to buy/make knives?

[yoyoma]

Hi all,

I'll be travelling to Japan in April 2024 (departing April 7th) and am trying to figure out where I should go for buying knives and for knife-related experiences (like guided tours, workshops where you can make your own knife, etc).

Just to be clear I'm NOT asking where to buy a random Japanese knife - I've been to Japan before and post decently regularly here so I'm not really interested in paying normal prices at a random knife store that sells a wide variety of makers' knives (like you will find in Kappabashi). There's no real advantage to going there because online sales and knife vendors in Canada carry basically the same things at the same prices.

I am really interested in seeing:

- Shops owned by a single owner or collective, for example Teruyasu Fujiwara's shop or Takefu Knife Village (although I've already been to both). You can sometimes talk to the staff there and they often sell their knives at much lower than online retail prices.

- Same as the above but they also offer workshops or "make a knife with us" things, or tours, or anything cool.

Any ideas? I know Takeda has a store in Kyushu but I've never been and don't know if they sell under their normal retail cost or if I'll be able to get out that way (edit: They don't sell direct from their factory in Kyushu anymore at all).

Thanks!

 

[Hualicopter]

Hi all,

I'll be travelling to Japan in April 2024 (departing April 7th) and am trying to figure out where I should go for buying knives and for knife-related experiences (like guided tours, workshops where you can make your own knife, etc).

Just to be clear I'm NOT asking where to buy a random Japanese knife - I've been to Japan before and post decently regularly here so I'm not really interested in paying normal prices at a random knife store that sells a wide variety of makers' knives (like you will find in Kappabashi). There's no real advantage to going there because online sales and knife vendors in Canada carry basically the same things at the same prices.

I am really interested in seeing:

- Shops owned by a single owner or collective, for example Teruyasu Fujiwara's shop or Takefu Knife Village (although I've already been to both). You can sometimes talk to the staff there and they often sell their knives at much lower than online retail prices.

- Same as the above but they also offer workshops or "make a knife with us" things, or tours, or anything cool.

Any ideas? I know Takeda has a store in Kyushu but I've never been and don't know if they sell under their normal retail cost or if I'll be able to get out that way (edit: They don't sell direct from their factory in Kyushu anymore at all).

Thanks!

Would be curious to hear a summary of your findings! I just came back from Tokyo for my first trip and ended up buying a knife at Kama Asa, but I didn't really know anything about knives. Might be going back again next year and hopefulyly with more knowledge!

 

[brimmergj]

Workshop Kurogane, located in Kochi looks like a good time.

 

[Pie]

If you’re into stones or polishing I think tsuchihashi san takes visitors and let’s you rub some metal on their special rocks.

 

[blokey]

Workshop Kurogane, located in Kochi looks like a good time.

How do you like his knife so far?

 

[brimmergj]

How do you like his knife so far?

I really like it. Very sturdy feeling, and the steel is quite hard. For being as rustic as it is, the quality is great. I define it as rustically charming.
Thanks again!

 

[yoyoma]

Thanks all, looking into planning some bookings. If you have anything else you think of, please let me know.

 

[Homruh]

Thanks all, looking into planning some bookings. If you have anything else you think of, please let me know.

Hi there!
What did you end up doing? I’ll be in Japan at the end of the year, and currently I’m checking for some unique experiences, knife / food related, you seem like you’ve been to Japan so advices from you would surely be great!

 

[yoyoma]

Hi there!
What did you end up doing? I’ll be in Japan at the end of the year, and currently I’m checking for some unique experiences, knife / food related, you seem like you’ve been to Japan so advices from you would surely be great!

I didn't actually end up doing any experiences (besides shopping/visiting) due to last minute planning, but I would highly suggest these two options., which I have done. Note that I've also gone to many other places/stores, but these two really stand out.

• Takefu Knife Village (in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture).
  • Main site: https://www.takefu-knifevillage.jp
    • Use a browser to auto-translate the website.
  • Knifemaking classes are available here: https://www.takefu-knifevillage.jp/experience
    • Sign up early as these seem to book up a few months out. I missed out on the classes due to this.
  • The Knife Village consists of a few buildings that include a place where you can watch people make knives, along with a store that has a good collection of knives that they make at the factory. It also has a small museum area. Both watching the knives be made and buying from the store makes the trip worth it for a first timer, imo, but doing the class and making your own knife would be even better.
    • You can also message or call ahead and ask about engravings: they were doing them on-site (in the store) when I was there, but you may need to be there at the right time as I believe the engraving is done by the maker.
  • To get there: get off at Takefu Station, it's located (roughly) on the line between Osaka/Nara/Kobe/Kyoto region and Kanazawa. It's a 1.5 hour trip by rail to Takefu Station from Kyoto Station, then a 20-30 minute taxi ride from Takefu Station to Takefu Knife Village.
    • There are taxis lined up outside Takefu Station, but DO NOT just grab one without FIRST going to the visitor's centre that is located 1 minute away from the station. At the visitor's centre, you can buy taxi coupons for 500 yen that will cover your trip to/back from Takefu Knife Village. Buy 2 coupons, one to get to the Village, and one to get back, 500 yen each. Normal taxi rides cost ~3,000 yen (each direction) otherwise.
      • To get to the visitor's centre, once you walk out the front door of Takefu Station, immediately turn to your left and walk to the big building located beside the station. Inside this big building is an optician's office, and across the hallway from it is the visitor's centre. That's where you buy your 500 yen taxi coupons. Note that the Takefu region is also known for pottery and other artisinal crafts, and there are lots of brochures available showing places to visit to see/buy locally made pottery.
      • Visitor's centre direct google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/f2LZQrvvLSqhDWPS6
      • When you are done at the Takefu Knife Village and want to return to the station, you can ask the Takefu Knife Village store attendants to call you a taxi.

• Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum and nearby workshops
  • 30 minute tram ride from central Osaka.
  • Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/g64XpPShRPYvkoy78
  • This place has a museum of Sakai knifemaking and also a knife store. The knife store has great selection and the best prices (by far) that I found in Japan. Way better than going to the usual tourist knife stores you'll find in major cities. They only sell their knives from their own knife guild, but it's a large guild and the store itself is well-stocked.
  • I bought some Ashi Ginga knives there.
  • In the same area, within a 15-20 minute walk are the workshops for Takada no Hamono, Konosuke, Baba, Ashi, etc. Takada no Hamono sells knives almost on the street, but selection is very limited and may be at zero due to high demand. I just walked into all of these places, but some people recommend sending messages on Instagram a few days in advance to let them know you are coming. They all have tiny stores associated with the workshops.
    • For the workshops, go on a weekday, as many are closed on weekends.

So summary would be:

- Takefu Knife Village has it all: You can watch the knives be made, make your own knife as part of a class, buy knives from a well-stocked store, look at a (very small) museum, etc, all in a nice rural-ish part of Japan, but it's a bit out of the way if you aren't going from the Osaka/Kyoto region to Kanazawa. If you are, it's on the way.

- Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum and nearby workshops are excellent, but I wasn't able to find any classes or experiences. The store at the museum is by far the best store I found in Japan, with good selection and very low prices, probably because it's run by the Sakai knife guild. It also has a museum component which is quite good. The place is easily accessed from Osaka (Sakai is essentially part of Osaka city), and you can walk around and go to knife shops and buy knives that are sold out everywhere online (Ashi, Takada no Hamono, etc).

Bonus

A reddit user suggested I reach out to Yoshimi Kato (a well-known blacksmith at Takefu Knife Village) on Instagram before going to Takefu Knife Village. I did, and told him that I liked his knives and asked him if I would be able to meet him or buy his knives at the village. He graciously offered to have some knives for me, and he had them lined up for me in his private workshop when I arrived. We talked one on one a bit (language difficulties as I don't speak Japanese), and I bought a SG2 120mm petty from him. Embarrassingly I didn't have enough cash on me (it was around 30,000 yen), so he drove me in his SUV to a 7/11 nearby and I withdrew the cash then we went back to his workshop, where I paid cash for the knife. No receipt needed

 

[refcast]

Minomo kajiya is one

https://knifejapan.com/shop-by-brand/minomo-hamono-kumamoto/

 

[Homruh]

I didn't actually end up doing any experiences (besides shopping/visiting) due to last minute planning, but I would highly suggest these two options., which I have done. Note that I've also gone to many other places/stores, but these two really stand out.

• Takefu Knife Village (in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture).
  • Main site: https://www.takefu-knifevillage.jp
    • Use a browser to auto-translate the website.
  • Knifemaking classes are available here: https://www.takefu-knifevillage.jp/experience
    • Sign up early as these seem to book up a few months out. I missed out on the classes due to this.
  • The Knife Village consists of a few buildings that include a place where you can watch people make knives, along with a store that has a good collection of knives that they make at the factory. It also has a small museum area. Both watching the knives be made and buying from the store makes the trip worth it for a first timer, imo, but doing the class and making your own knife would be even better.
    • You can also message or call ahead and ask about engravings: they were doing them on-site (in the store) when I was there, but you may need to be there at the right time as I believe the engraving is done by the maker.
  • To get there: get off at Takefu Station, it's located (roughly) on the line between Osaka/Nara/Kobe/Kyoto region and Kanazawa. It's a 1.5 hour trip by rail to Takefu Station from Kyoto Station, then a 20-30 minute taxi ride from Takefu Station to Takefu Knife Village.
    • There are taxis lined up outside Takefu Station, but DO NOT just grab one without FIRST going to the visitor's centre that is located 1 minute away from the station. At the visitor's centre, you can buy taxi coupons for 500 yen that will cover your trip to/back from Takefu Knife Village. Buy 2 coupons, one to get to the Village, and one to get back, 500 yen each. Normal taxi rides cost ~3,000 yen (each direction) otherwise.
      • To get to the visitor's centre, once you walk out the front door of Takefu Station, immediately turn to your left and walk to the big building located beside the station. Inside this big building is an optician's office, and across the hallway from it is the visitor's centre. That's where you buy your 500 yen taxi coupons. Note that the Takefu region is also known for pottery and other artisinal crafts, and there are lots of brochures available showing places to visit to see/buy locally made pottery.
      • Visitor's centre direct google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/f2LZQrvvLSqhDWPS6
• 
  
• Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum and nearby workshops
  • 30 minute tram ride from central Osaka.
  • Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/g64XpPShRPYvkoy78
  • This place has a museum of Sakai knifemaking and also a knife store. The knife store has great selection and the best prices (by far) that I found in Japan. Way better than going to the usual tourist knife stores you'll find in major cities. They only sell their knives from their own knife guild, but it's a large guild and the store itself is well-stocked.
  • I bought some Ashi Ginga knives there.
  • In the same area, within a 15-20 minute walk are the workshops for Takada no Hamono, Konosuke, Baba, Ashi, etc. Takada no Hamono sells knives almost on the street, but selection is very limited and may be at zero due to high demand. I just walked into all of these places, but some people recommend sending messages on Instagram a few days in advance to let them know you are coming. They all have tiny stores associated with the workshops.

So summary would be:

- Takefu Knife Village has it all: You can watch the knives be made, make your own knife as part of a class, buy knives from a well-stocked store, look at a (very small) museum, etc, all in a nice rural-ish part of Japan, but it's a bit out of the way if you aren't going from the Osaka/Kyoto region to Kanazawa. If you are, it's on the way.

- Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum and nearby workshops are excellent, but I wasn't able to find any classes or experiences. The store at the museum is by far the best store I found in Japan, with good selection and very low prices, probably because it's run by the Sakai knife guild. It also has a museum component which is quite good. The place is easily accessed from Osaka (Sakai is essentially part of Osaka city), and you can walk around and go to knife shops and buy knives that are sold out everywhere online (Ashi, Takada no Hamono, etc).

Bonus

A reddit user suggested I reach out to Yoshimi Kato (a well-known blacksmith at Takefu Knife Village) on Instagram before going to Takefu Knife Village. I did, and told him that I liked his knives and asked him if I would be able to meet him or buy his knives at the village. He graciously offered to have some knives for me, and he had them lined up for me in his private workshop when I arrived. We talked one on one a bit (language difficulties as I don't speak Japanese), and I bought a SG2 120mm petty from him. Embarrassingly I didn't have enough cash on me (it was around 30,000 yen), so he drove me in his SUV to a 7/11 nearby and I withdrew the cash then we went back to his workshop, where I paid cash for the knife. No receipt needed

Wow this reply is just amazing thank you!
I think I’ll be going to both Sakai and Takefu Village because I’ll have quite some time in Japan.
Also the Yoshimi Kato story is just amazing, I own a Masakage knife and I love it

 

[bsfsu]

I didn't actually end up doing any experiences (besides shopping/visiting) due to last minute planning, but I would highly suggest these two options., which I have done. Note that I've also gone to many other places/stores, but these two really stand out.

• Takefu Knife Village (in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture).
  • Main site: https://www.takefu-knifevillage.jp
    • Use a browser to auto-translate the website.
  • Knifemaking classes are available here: https://www.takefu-knifevillage.jp/experience
    • Sign up early as these seem to book up a few months out. I missed out on the classes due to this.
  • The Knife Village consists of a few buildings that include a place where you can watch people make knives, along with a store that has a good collection of knives that they make at the factory. It also has a small museum area. Both watching the knives be made and buying from the store makes the trip worth it for a first timer, imo, but doing the class and making your own knife would be even better.
    • You can also message or call ahead and ask about engravings: they were doing them on-site (in the store) when I was there, but you may need to be there at the right time as I believe the engraving is done by the maker.
  • To get there: get off at Takefu Station, it's located (roughly) on the line between Osaka/Nara/Kobe/Kyoto region and Kanazawa. It's a 1.5 hour trip by rail to Takefu Station from Kyoto Station, then a 20-30 minute taxi ride from Takefu Station to Takefu Knife Village.
    • There are taxis lined up outside Takefu Station, but DO NOT just grab one without FIRST going to the visitor's centre that is located 1 minute away from the station. At the visitor's centre, you can buy taxi coupons for 500 yen that will cover your trip to/back from Takefu Knife Village. Buy 2 coupons, one to get to the Village, and one to get back, 500 yen each. Normal taxi rides cost ~3,000 yen (each direction) otherwise.
      • To get to the visitor's centre, once you walk out the front door of Takefu Station, immediately turn to your left and walk to the big building located beside the station. Inside this big building is an optician's office, and across the hallway from it is the visitor's centre. That's where you buy your 500 yen taxi coupons. Note that the Takefu region is also known for pottery and other artisinal crafts, and there are lots of brochures available showing places to visit to see/buy locally made pottery.
      • Visitor's centre direct google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/f2LZQrvvLSqhDWPS6
      • When you are done at the Takefu Knife Village and want to return to the station, you can ask the Takefu Knife Village store attendants to call you a taxi.
• 
  
• Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum and nearby workshops
  • 30 minute tram ride from central Osaka.
  • Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/g64XpPShRPYvkoy78
  • This place has a museum of Sakai knifemaking and also a knife store. The knife store has great selection and the best prices (by far) that I found in Japan. Way better than going to the usual tourist knife stores you'll find in major cities. They only sell their knives from their own knife guild, but it's a large guild and the store itself is well-stocked.
  • I bought some Ashi Ginga knives there.
  • In the same area, within a 15-20 minute walk are the workshops for Takada no Hamono, Konosuke, Baba, Ashi, etc. Takada no Hamono sells knives almost on the street, but selection is very limited and may be at zero due to high demand. I just walked into all of these places, but some people recommend sending messages on Instagram a few days in advance to let them know you are coming. They all have tiny stores associated with the workshops.
    • For the workshops, go on a weekday, as many are closed on weekends.

So summary would be:

- Takefu Knife Village has it all: You can watch the knives be made, make your own knife as part of a class, buy knives from a well-stocked store, look at a (very small) museum, etc, all in a nice rural-ish part of Japan, but it's a bit out of the way if you aren't going from the Osaka/Kyoto region to Kanazawa. If you are, it's on the way.

- Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum and nearby workshops are excellent, but I wasn't able to find any classes or experiences. The store at the museum is by far the best store I found in Japan, with good selection and very low prices, probably because it's run by the Sakai knife guild. It also has a museum component which is quite good. The place is easily accessed from Osaka (Sakai is essentially part of Osaka city), and you can walk around and go to knife shops and buy knives that are sold out everywhere online (Ashi, Takada no Hamono, etc).

Bonus

A reddit user suggested I reach out to Yoshimi Kato (a well-known blacksmith at Takefu Knife Village) on Instagram before going to Takefu Knife Village. I did, and told him that I liked his knives and asked him if I would be able to meet him or buy his knives at the village. He graciously offered to have some knives for me, and he had them lined up for me in his private workshop when I arrived. We talked one on one a bit (language difficulties as I don't speak Japanese), and I bought a SG2 120mm petty from him. Embarrassingly I didn't have enough cash on me (it was around 30,000 yen), so he drove me in his SUV to a 7/11 nearby and I withdrew the cash then we went back to his workshop, where I paid cash for the knife. No receipt needed

I had a customer bring in a knife that they made at TKV a few years ago.

 

[Homruh]

I had a customer bring in a knife that they made at TKV a few years ago.

How was it?
I wouldn’t be surprised if every customer makes a similar knives in terms of finishing quality

 

[bsfsu]

How was it?
I wouldn’t be surprised if every customer makes a similar knives in terms of finishing quality

In regards to the f&f it looked like a shop brought knife, it was about 4 years old though and it needed a couple of chips taken out and the tip fixed.