Very exciting and fun adventure into japanes knife making - This very private tour was amazing. Our little group of 5 followed our super fund Tourguide Remi into a piece of Japanese knife making history. It all started by a greetings with traditional mochi at a local shop and went on to the knife making "factory" more like a small shop where you can see the craftsmen work on the final steps of making the knives. We saw them making the edge, polishing and ending the handle. During the Tour you are allowed to ask as many questions as you like and Remi will translate them to the craftsmen. I was allowed to film and take pictures of almost everything that is very rare regarding japanese (secret) traditions! The tour included a visit to the local knifes museum and a hands on sharpening lesson above the factory. In the end I even got a beautiful Damaskus knife from there for a great price! 100% recommend this tour if you want to know more about knife making in Japan and want to have a fun morning !

Osaka Memories - Remy was a great guide! His unique experience as a foreigner living in Japan provided such insight and helped us to better understand the culture. The itinerary we selected for our private tour included Sakai and the Osaka Food Tour. It was an amazing day that was a highlight of our trip to Japan. My husband continues to rant about his experience at the knife factory, and my grown kids loved the food samplings. For me, I was glad to have made everyone happy!! Thank you JTA for such a great day!

Authentic tour off the beaten path - Off the beaten path, and an authentic experience for those looking for something different from standard highlights of Osaka tours.

Great fun experience! - So much fun! We loved hearing about some of the history of Sakai and seeing the behind the scenes process of knife making. The guide, Remi, was very informative and extremely nice, as were all the individuals at the tour stops that we interacted with. There was a small mixup after purchasing our knives where we forgot our change, but the folks at the shop were super sweet and brought it to us since they knew we were going back to the mochi shop that was part of the tour to bring us the money. Definitely a great experience and one I'd be happy to do again!

A truly sharp tour with Remy - This tour was awesome! Exploring the streets of Sakai with Remy as a guide was informative and dynamic. I loved the pitstop at a mochi shop, learning the history of the Portuguese traders, and of course the in-depth exposure to the artistry behind Japanese knives. If you’re interested in buying hand-crafted knives or getting custom knives, Remy has built strong relationships with the purveyors of specialty shops that will go out of their way to share their artistry with you. 10/10!

Write up doesn’t do this fascinating tour justice. - So much precision,skill & pride in making these knives.Didn’t realise how interesting this subject could be.Fascinating.I felt so embarrassed about the blunt selection of my knives at home thatI decided to buy one & promised to treat this personalised one with the respect it deserves .No hard sell given but you just want to own one

Fantastic Cultural Experience in Sakai, Osaka - I went on the Sakai Knife Factory and Craft Walking Tour. This was hands-down one of the best experiences I had in Japan. This was a carefully curated selection of three sites in Sakai which had cultural and historical significance. We had softest and freshest cinnamon mochi in Yaogen Raikodo. Then we visited the Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum where you could delve into some of the other regional products. We then proceeded onto the knife workshop - it was amazing to see master craftsman in the process of making knives. You gain a full appreciation into what makes a beautiful knife, and we learned how to sharpen knives with a whetstone. Throughout the whole tour, our guide Remy was knowledgeable and passionate about the crafts, and the history of Sakai. You can tell the amount of thought and consideration that went into creating such a tour. Remy was fantastic, and helped to translate for the customisation of knives. The meeting space was easy to get to via train to Nankai Sakai station, and we met just past the East Exit Gate (look up for the mural, and you're in the right place if you see the display case of local goods; don't go down the escalators). The walking part was easy - paved pathways and flat. The tour group is small which is nice. I would highly recommend this tour for those interested in learning about Japanese knives and artisanal crafting. I look forward to using my custom knives, made with such dedication to the craft, along with the memory of learning about where they came from!

Great Experience! - Remy is a wonderful guide and very hospitable to all guests. The tour was exactly as described. It's important to note that it takes a lot of work and effort to be able to have a master craftsman allow tours in their production areas. Would recommend again!

Sakai is Japan’s best kept secret - Remy was a fantastic guide and we had a wonderful time learning about Sakai’s history, tasting its delicacies, and seeing its handicrafts come to life before our eyes. Truly truly a unique Japan experience and the highlight of our entire trip through the country.

Refined Japanese knife workmanship - There is a saying that everything starts from Sakai where many cultural elements origin here - tea ceremony, Japanese sweets, incense sticks. We came here to learn about the art of manufacturi g blades and different kinds of knives. There is a museum showing the amazing details on how the Japanese use different kinds of knives for cutting different things from vegetables, fruits, different parts of the fish & meat.