The experience
Katanakaji Fusahiro is the forge of the swordsmith Fusahiro Shimojima, in the town of Kamikawa in Saitama. The visit is private for your group, lasts three hours and comes with an English-speaking interpreter.
It begins with the history of iron and swordmaking in Japan. The forge is purified before work starts. Tamahagane steel is heated to about 1,300°C, hammered, folded and forged again more than a dozen times, and you work the bellows that control the heat of the charcoal.
At the end you learn how a blade is looked at: its shape, its steel and the pattern that shows when it is held to the light. You hold a genuine sword for a photo. The swords stay at the forge.
On the day
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Shinkansen to Honjo-Waseda
Just over an hour from Tokyo Station. The interpreter meets you at Honjo-Waseda Station.
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Taxi to the forge
About 25 minutes each way. The fare is paid separately.
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The story of the sword
A talk on iron, swordmaking and the meaning of the sword in Japan.
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Forging
A forging demonstration. You step up to the fire and work the bellows.
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Looking at a blade
How to look at shape, steel and pattern, then a photo holding a genuine sword.
Guide price
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Per person, from | ¥93,506 |
- Includes the experience, facility charges, the interpreter and tax.
- This is the lowest per-person rate. The final price depends on the number of guests, the season and any options. There is a child rate for 12 and under.
- Shinkansen tickets and the taxi between Honjo-Waseda Station and the forge are not included.
Good to know
- Booking deadline
- At least 3 days before, and earlier in busy seasons.
- Cancellation
- Full refund up to 11 days before, by 17:00 Japan time. After that the date cannot be changed.
- Language
- An English-speaking interpreter is included.
- What to wear
- Long sleeves and long trousers that can get dirty, as sparks and ash fly. Shoes come off inside.
- Health and access
- The forge gets hot, especially in summer, so bring your own drinks. It is not wheelchair accessible. Arriving more than 15 minutes late cancels the visit.
- Age
- Adult rate from 13. Guests under 18 come with an adult.
What STAYGO does
- We arrange the visit through Wabunka, the booking site the forge uses, and keep in touch with them about your date.
- We plan the Shinkansen and the taxi so you reach Honjo-Waseda in good time.
- We fit the day around the rest of your time in Tokyo.
This visit is paid in advance by credit card, in yen, through Wabunka, at the price they show. STAYGO adds nothing to it. The taxi is paid on the day.
Arranged only as part of a STAYGO journey.
Details checked on the host's published page on 13 October 2026. Hosts set their own prices and terms and may change them. We confirm them again when we arrange your date, and nothing is confirmed until the host accepts it.
You pay hotels, ryokan, restaurants and guides directly, at their own rates. We add no markups and take no commissions. The Signature planning fee is USD 3,500 for your group, for a journey of 7–14 days. Longer or more complex journeys are planned as Bespoke.
