Knife-Making Towns in Japan

Where to Discover the Country’s Blade-Forging Heritage

Japan’s blade culture grew from the metallurgy of the samurai era into one of the world’s most respected kitchen-knife traditions. Across the country, specialized forging towns still maintain multi-century production ecosystems — many of which remain largely outside mainstream tourism. Visiting them offers rare insight into living craftsmanship, regional industry, and the roots of Japanese culinary culture.

Sakai — Japan’s Historic Chef-Knife Capital

Why visit:

Sakai’s blade industry dates to the 1500s, when the city thrived as an international merchant port supplying tobacco knives to traders. Its position near commercial Osaka allowed craft guilds to specialize — blacksmiths forged blades, sharpeners polished edges, and handle makers assembled finished tools — a division of labor that still defines Sakai knives today.

Because of this system, Sakai became the preferred supplier for professional kitchens during Japan’s culinary boom of the Edo period. Visiting now means walking through one of the few places where this workshop network still functions in close proximity, offering direct access to artisan storefronts and sharpening studios rarely seen by casual tourists.

Access: Nankai Line from Osaka (~15 min).

Seki — The Samurai Sword Legacy City

Why visit:

Seki’s development as a forging center began in the 13th century, when swordsmiths relocated here due to ideal conditions: clean river water for quenching, nearby pine forests for charcoal, and transport routes connecting central Japan. During the height of samurai warfare, Seki blades gained a reputation for durability and cutting performance.

Following the Meiji Restoration and the end of the sword-carrying class, many smiths transitioned into kitchen knives, scissors, and industrial blades — allowing Seki to evolve into one of the world’s largest blade-production cities. Travelers today can see both heritage sword culture and modern manufacturing coexisting, making it one of Japan’s most complete “blade history” destinations.

Access: From Nagoya (~90 min).

🔪 Echizen — Japan’s Hand-Forged Knife Village

Why visit:

Echizen’s knife tradition dates back roughly 700 years to a legendary traveling swordsmith who settled in the region and began forging sickles for local farmers. Unlike industrialized blade cities, Echizen remained rooted in small-scale agricultural tool production, preserving hand-hammered forging techniques long after mechanization spread elsewhere.

Today, the Takefu Knife Village gathers multiple independent blacksmiths into one cooperative complex where visitors can observe forging up close — something unusually accessible in Japan’s craft world. For travelers seeking authentic artisan encounters rather than retail shopping, Echizen offers one of the country’s most transparent views into working blacksmith culture.

Access: Via Fukui then local train (~20 min).

Sanjo & Tsubame — The Industrial Craft Powerhouse

Why visit:

The Tsubame-Sanjo region developed its metalworking industry in the 17th century as a response to repeated flooding that devastated rice agriculture. Local leaders encouraged residents to shift toward nail-making and tool forging, gradually creating one of Japan’s densest clusters of metal artisans.

Over time, this evolved into a sophisticated manufacturing ecosystem blending traditional forging with precision modern engineering. Unlike purely heritage-focused towns, visiting Tsubame-Sanjo reveals how Japanese craftsmanship adapts to contemporary global design — producing high-end kitchen knives, outdoor gear, and award-winning industrial tools. It’s especially compelling for travelers interested in the intersection of tradition and modern product design.

Access: Shinkansen from Tokyo (~2 hrs).

🔪 Miki — Temple Carpenter Tool Capital

Why visit:

Miki became famous not for swords, but for carpentry blades essential to Japan’s architectural tradition. During castle-building booms of the feudal era, demand surged for precision chisels, planes, and saws used by temple and shrine builders. Miki smiths specialized in laminated steel construction designed for woodworking accuracy.

This legacy continues today, making Miki one of the best places to understand how blade culture extends beyond cooking into Japan’s built environment. Travelers interested in architecture, temples, or traditional joinery will find the town uniquely insightful compared to chef-focused knife destinations.

Access: From Kobe (~1 hr).

🔪 Tosa — Japan’s Remote Outdoor Blade Tradition

Why visit:

In mountainous Kochi Prefecture, Tosa forging developed around forestry, hunting, and fishing rather than urban trade. Blades here were designed for practical survival tasks — woodcutting knives, field tools, and rugged outdoor blades — giving them a distinctly utilitarian identity compared to refined sushi knives from urban centers.

Because the region remains rural and relatively untouched by mass tourism, visiting Tosa offers something increasingly rare in Japan: small family forges still operating in agricultural valleys, often with direct workshop sales. For travelers seeking authenticity and countryside culture, this is one of the most immersive knife regions to explore.

Access: Via Kochi, then local transport.

Why Knife Town Travel Matters

Exploring Japan through its craft industries transforms travel from sightseeing into cultural investigation. Knife towns in particular reveal how geography, feudal economics, trade routes, and natural resources shaped entire regional identities — knowledge impossible to gain from urban shopping districts alone.

More importantly, planning trips around your own interests — whether blades, ceramics, textiles, or food — naturally leads you into smaller cities where living traditions still operate. These places often become the most memorable stops in Japan: slower paced, locally grounded, and rich with encounters you simply cannot replicate in major tourist centers.