Kyoto Tin Casting & Ninja Weapon Making Experience | Create Your Own Shuriken or Kunai

Cast Tin into Ninja Weapons in Kyoto

At studio GIN in Kyoto, this workshop guides you through melting tin, pouring it into molds, cooling, shaping, polishing, and finishing your very own ninja item.

Unlike forging, which involves hammering heated steel, this experience introduces you to casting—a technique where liquid metal is poured into a mold to create its shape.

Along with shuriken and kunai, some plans let you choose a shogun mask, and you can take home the metal piece you create yourself.

Guidance is available in both English and Japanese, so even first-timers in metalworking can join with support from skilled craftspeople.

Complete the Whole Process in About 2 Hours

The shuriken and kunai workshop runs for approximately 2 hours.

Beyond simply melting tin, you'll move step by step through mold preparation, pouring, cooling, removal, shaping, polishing, and protective finishing.

Compared to shorter decorative crafts, this workshop involves more steps, letting you fully experience the transformation of formless metal into a finished piece.

The shogun mask plan takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, so your finishing time will vary depending on what you choose to make.

Meet On-Site at studio GIN

The workshop takes place at studio GIN in Kyoto City.

It's run as an on-site group workshop, so you may work alongside other participants in the same time slot.

The studio is equipped with the tools needed for casting and polishing, and a craftsperson will explain each step as you go.

Please check the confirmation details sent before your visit for the exact address, entrance, meeting time, and access from the nearest station.

Choose from Shuriken, Kunai, or a Shogun Mask

The basic plan lets you create a tin ninja shuriken.

With the upgrade plan, you can instead make a kunai, known for its slender, elongated shape.

There's also a shogun mask plan available, which includes gold leaf decoration and cord attachment.

Since the molds and finishing steps differ depending on what you make, it's worth choosing based on the item you want and the time you have.

Discover Japan's Tin Casting Technique

This experience gives you a hands-on look at the tin casting process long used in Japanese metalworking.

Casting is a technique where molten metal is poured into a mold, then removed and shaped once it has cooled and hardened.

Rather than just viewing a finished piece, you'll take part in the entire process of turning liquid metal into a three-dimensional work.

Since a craftsperson explains how to use the tools and the order of steps, no prior casting experience is needed.

Prepare the Mold for Your Chosen Shape

Once you've decided what to make, you'll prepare the mold for pouring the tin.

Since the mold's shape determines the outline of the finished piece, it's carefully adjusted to avoid gaps or misalignment.

Shuriken, kunai, and shogun masks each require different shapes and sizes, so preparation is tailored to your choice.

With guidance from the craftsperson, you'll build the foundation for a successful casting.

Melt the Tin and Pour It into the Mold

The heart of this workshop is the pouring stage, where molten tin is poured into the mold.

Under the craftsperson's guidance, you'll pour the tin—now liquid from heat—into the mold you've prepared.

Watching the metal flow smoothly and fill the mold offers a striking sense of drama unique to casting, quite different from forging or sharpening.

Because molten metal and high-temperature equipment are involved, you'll follow the craftsperson's instructions on positioning and procedure throughout.

Cool It Down and Remove It from the Mold

After pouring, the tin is left to cool for a set amount of time.

The moment the liquid metal solidifies and the outline of your chosen shuriken or kunai appears is one of the highlights of the casting experience.

Once cooled, the mold is opened and the nearly-finished tin piece is carefully removed.

At this stage, rough edges and surfaces remain, which is why shaping and polishing come next.

Refine the Shape with Filing and Polishing

The piece taken from the mold is refined using files and polishing tools to perfect its outline and surface.

Excess material is gradually removed, bringing the piece closer to the recognizable form of a shuriken or kunai.

As you polish, the tin begins to shine, deepening the sense of accomplishment as you shape the piece with your own hands.

Where shape or safety require it, the craftsperson will step in to adjust and assist as needed.

Apply a Protective Finish to Complete Your Piece

Once shaping and polishing are done, a protective finish is applied to the surface of your work.

If you've chosen the shogun mask, this stage also includes gold leaf decoration and cord attachment.

You'll feel the satisfaction of transforming a rough, freshly cast piece into a polished, finished creation made by your own hands.

The specific decorations and finishing details vary depending on the plan you select.

Beginners Welcome with Craftsperson Support

This experience is designed for people with no prior casting experience or specialized knowledge of metalworking.

Experienced staff guide you step by step through melting the tin, pouring it into the mold, shaping, and polishing.

When handling high-temperature metal, the craftsperson manages safety, and participants work within the guided scope.

Even if it's your first hands-on craft experience, you'll enjoy the pleasure of completing a piece made from real metal.

Available in English and Japanese

Guidance is offered in both English and Japanese.

This makes the workshop accessible for travelers visiting Kyoto from abroad, with explanations provided for each step and safety precaution.

If you have preferences about which item to make or how it's finished, letting the craftsperson know before starting will help things go smoothly.

Although it's a group format, support is tailored to each participant's progress.

Take Home Your Finished Metal Creation

The finished shuriken, kunai, or shogun mask serves as a lasting reminder of your hands-on making experience in Kyoto.

Because you know the full process—preparing the mold, pouring the tin, and polishing it yourself—it carries a different kind of attachment than a store-bought souvenir.

You can display it in your room or keep it as part of your travel collection.

If you're bringing it home by air or across borders, be sure to check airline and destination regulations regarding weapon-shaped metal items.

How It Differs from Ninja Weapon Forging

The Kyoto ninja weapon forging experience is a roughly 2.5-hour workshop where you hammer heated steel, then quench and polish it into a shuriken or kunai.

This experience, by contrast, is a casting workshop where molten tin is poured into a mold, then cooled and polished into its final shape.

If you're drawn to the powerful work of hammering steel at the forge, forging is the better fit; if you'd rather enjoy watching liquid metal transform into a piece within a mold, tin casting is for you.

If you're interested in making a practical knife from steel, you might also compare this with the Kyoto authentic knife making experience.

Things to Check Before Booking

• Availability on your chosen date
• Start time and expected finish time
• The approximately 2-hour duration for shuriken/kunai
• The approximately 2.5-hour duration for the shogun mask
• The exact address of studio GIN
• The building's entrance and meeting point
• Access from the nearest station
• The on-site meeting time
• Group size for the session
• Minimum participation age
• Conditions for children joining
• Whether guidance is in English or Japanese
• What item is made in the basic plan
• What's included in the kunai upgrade
• What's included in the shogun mask plan
• Gold leaf decoration and cord attachment
• Which casting steps participants handle themselves
• How much of the tin-melting process you'll be involved in
• How the mold is prepared
• How long cooling takes
• The filing and polishing steps
• What the protective finish involves
• Safety equipment used
• Clothing suitable for getting dirty
• The size and weight of the finished piece
• How the finished piece is packaged
• Airline checked baggage rules
• Regulations for bringing it overseas
• What happens if you're late
• Cancellation conditions
• The latest package details

Molten metal, high-temperature equipment, and shaping/polishing tools are used during this workshop. Please follow the safety instructions given by the craftsperson and staff throughout.

In Summary

The Kyoto tin casting and ninja weapon making experience at studio GIN takes you through melting tin, pouring it into a mold, cooling, shaping, polishing, and applying a protective finish.

Along with shuriken and kunai, some plans let you create a shogun mask decorated with gold leaf.

Enjoy the moment liquid metal takes shape, and complete your own polished metal creation as a memory of Kyoto.