[Tsubame-Sanjo, the town of craftsmen] A journey to make a one-of-a-kind knife not found in guidebooks

• Table of Contents
• KRaft Tour base (former Sanjo Bussan storehouse)
• Hinoura Cutlery Workshop
• Yuukirou Fish Soldier

KRaft Tour base (former Sanjo Bussan storehouse)

Tsubamesanjo, located in the center of the prefecture, has long flourished as a "town of manufacturing." It has inherited traditional techniques from the Edo period and is a hub for metalworking, with a diverse range of techniques not found anywhere else in the world. It is a place that continues to make tools essential to daily life, such as work tools, blades, and Western-style tableware.

On this tour, you will ride an e-Bike equipped with a high-performance battery while enjoying the refreshing breeze, visiting historic factories and recommended local spots that are normally off-limits to the public, all of which can only be seen by a local tour guide.

The first place we visit is the Former Sanjo Bussan Storehouse, a symbol of the KRaft Tour. Built 85 years ago and measuring over 900 square meters, this huge vacant storehouse was formerly a factory and warehouse for tabi socks, a specialty of Sanjo, and is a rare building in terms of its structure, with three storehouses set within a wooden exterior wall.

The journey begins at a precious place that has woven the industrial history of Tsubame-Sanjo.

Not only is it large, but as soon as you step inside the storehouse, you are greeted by a dignified atmosphere, and your heart leaps with the feeling that you have found a secret hideout. Inside the storehouse, there are still tabi socks and account books that were produced at the time, and it feels as if they are speaking to you of the time that has passed here and the lives of the people who have lived here.

Natalie, who has an interest in Japanese history and traditional industries, also had her eyes lit up.

KRaft Tour: https://kraft-ts.jp/

Hinoura Cutlery Workshop

This time, the craftsmanship experience will take place at Hinoura Cutlery Workshop , a blacksmith with over 100 years of history that specializes in handcrafting hatchets and knives using the traditional "free forging" method.

Under the guidance of Mutsumi Hinoura, the fourth generation owner of the workshop, you will create a one-of-a-kind knife with your name engraved on it.

The first thing they try is forging. In free forging, which is done at Hinoura, metal heated to a high temperature is hammered into shape without using a die.

As the phrase "forge and forge" suggests, the process of hammering makes the metal's internal structure finer, resulting in a blade that is sharper, more durable, and less likely to chip.

After cutting off the excess material to fit the shape of the knife, the next step is shaping. A grinder is used to slowly shave off the metal to create the shape.

It is a delicate task to adjust the shape to the millimeter to create a beautiful knife.

Before the event began, Manuelle was excited and excited, saying, "We can make swords!"

Once the work started, their expressions changed completely, and they continued working in silence with serious expressions on their faces.

Quenching is the lifeblood of any blade. Metal is heated to high temperatures and then rapidly cooled with water to activate the structure and harden the steel.

The two work carefully, paying close attention to temperature and timing. Little by little, the knife comes to life.

The handle is attached, the knife is cleaned, and the final step is polishing. The knife is carefully sharpened on the whetstone while adding water little by little. It was the first time for the two of them to sharpen a knife. At first, their movements were awkward, but as the blade became sharper, their hands began to move more smoothly.

Sharpening your knives regularly at home is also an important step in maintaining the sharpness of your knives. You will be able to take home not only your handmade knives, but also the skills you need to make your tools last as a souvenir.

It's finally finished! Hinoura will engrave the completed knife.

At their request, they had their names engraved on the stones: "Manuel" and "Natalie."

You will experience the entire process from forging to hardening and sharpening to create a one-of-a-kind knife. By experiencing the passion and dedication of the craftsmen who painstakingly create the knife, you will naturally feel the desire to take good care of it and use it for a long time.

Both of them seemed very satisfied and said, "We got the best souvenirs!"

Hinoura Cutlery Workshop: https://hinoura.com/

Yuukirou Fish Soldier

With the completed knife, we headed to Yuukirou Gyohei, a traditional Japanese restaurant in Tsubame-Sanjo that has been in business for 150 years since it was founded in 1868.

In addition to traditional seasonal Japanese cuisine served with cooking utensils such as Tsubame-Sanjo knives and pots, chopsticks and cutlery, the restaurant also houses a cafe where you can casually enjoy Niigata's local cuisine, and a select shop that carries Tsubame-Sanjo products.

On this day, we borrowed the kitchen in the cafe space on the first floor and were able to test out the newly completed knives.

When he put the knife to the tomato, with barely any force whatsoever, the knife fell to the chopping board, revealing a vivid cross-section of the tomato split in two.

The two couldn't hide their surprise, saying, "It cuts just by touching it!" Their smiles spread as they saw how sharp it was, even more so than they had imagined.

The oranges were sliced beautifully thinly without falling apart. Natalie was entranced by the smooth cutting and commented, "I could watch this forever."

I was impressed that they had made something so amazing, and at the same time, my respect for the craftsmen there grew even greater.

Yukiro Fish Soldier: https://uohyo.com/

A unique journey not found in guidebooks

"It was a truly valuable experience! Learning about the knife-making process has increased my respect for craftsmen."

"We're happy to have a precious handmade souvenir that can be used on a daily basis," said Manuwel and Natalie.

We also visited some other local spots frequented by locals and had a lively discussion about our next trip.

Why not try a journey to make a one-of-a-kind knife that you won't find in any guidebook?

KRaft Tour

955-0851 1-16-22 Nishiyokkamachi, Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture

This is the base of KRaft Tour, which operates a manufacturing experience tour business in Tsubame-Sanjo. The large vacant storehouse, built...