Kyoto Tin Casting Ninja Weapon Workshop: Make a Shuriken or Kunai

Cast Your Own Ninja Item from Tin in Kyoto

This workshop at studio GIN in Kyoto takes participants through melting tin, pouring it into a mold, cooling, shaping, polishing, and applying a protective finish.

Unlike forging, which shapes heated steel with a hammer, this activity uses casting to turn molten metal into a finished object.

Guests can select a shuriken, upgrade to a kunai, or choose a shogun mask package.

Guidance is available in English and Japanese, and first-time participants receive step-by-step support from experienced staff.

Complete the Main Workshop in Approximately Two Hours

The shuriken and kunai experiences are presented as approximately two-hour workshops.

Participants move through mold preparation, melting, pouring, cooling, removing the cast item, shaping, polishing, and finishing.

The workshop involves more than decorating a premade souvenir and allows guests to observe metal changing from a liquid state into a solid object.

The shogun mask package is listed with an approximate duration of two and a half hours.

Meet at studio GIN in Kyoto

The experience takes place at studio GIN in Kyoto.

It is presented as a meet-at-location group workshop, so guests may work alongside other participants during the same session.

Casting and polishing equipment is prepared at the studio, and craftspeople explain each stage of the process.

Review the exact address, building entrance, meeting time, and transportation route before departure.

Choose a Shuriken, Kunai, or Shogun Mask

The standard package creates a tin ninja shuriken.

An upgraded option allows participants to make a longer kunai-style item.

A premium package creates a shogun mask and includes gold-leaf details and the attachment of cords.

Each item uses a different form and finishing process, so the selected object also affects the workshop duration.

Explore Traditional Japanese Tin Casting

The activity introduces the sequence used to create an object through Japanese tin-casting techniques.

Casting involves pouring molten metal into a prepared mold and allowing it to cool before removing and refining the object.

Participants experience the full transformation rather than seeing only the completed item.

The staff explain the tools, order of work, and handling methods for guests without previous casting experience.

Prepare the Mold

After selecting an item, participants prepare the mold that will receive the molten tin.

The mold determines the principal outline of the finished shuriken, kunai, or mask.

Careful preparation helps the metal fill the intended shape during pouring.

Craftspeople guide participants through the steps needed before the tin is melted and cast.

Melt the Tin and Pour It into the Mold

The central moment of the workshop involves melting the tin and pouring it into the prepared mold.

Under the direction of the craftspeople, the liquid metal flows into the space that will create the selected design.

Watching the mold fill provides a form of excitement different from hammering steel or sharpening a blade.

Because the process uses molten metal and heated equipment, participants follow all instructions regarding position and handling.

Cool and Remove the Cast Item

The filled mold is left to cool while the molten tin becomes solid.

Opening the mold and seeing the outline of the selected shuriken or kunai appear is one of the most memorable moments of the activity.

The newly cast object is removed carefully after cooling.

At this stage, excess material and rough surfaces may remain, so the item continues into shaping and polishing.

Shape and Polish the Surface

Participants use files and polishing tools to refine the outline and surface of the cast object.

Excess material is removed gradually until the shuriken, kunai, or mask takes on a cleaner form.

Polishing reveals the brightness of the tin and gives participants a strong sense of bringing the item to completion themselves.

Craftspeople assist with areas requiring additional adjustment or safety-sensitive handling.

Apply the Protective Finish

After shaping and polishing, the object receives its final protective treatment.

The shogun mask package also includes gold-leaf detailing and the attachment of cords.

The contrast between the rough object removed from the mold and the finished polished piece creates a satisfying conclusion.

Exact decoration and finishing stages depend on the package selected.

Beginner-Friendly Guidance

The workshop is designed for guests without previous casting or specialist metalworking experience.

Experienced staff support the melting, pouring, cooling, shaping, polishing, and finishing stages step by step.

Craftspeople manage the safety requirements around molten metal while participants complete the appropriate hands-on work.

The format allows beginners to experience the excitement of creating a real metal object.

Guidance in English and Japanese

The activity lists both English and Japanese as supported languages.

International visitors can receive explanations about the process and safety requirements while participating.

Guests with questions about the selected design or finishing options can speak with the staff before beginning.

Although the workshop uses a group format, support is provided according to each participant's progress.

Take the Finished Metal Item Home

The completed shuriken, kunai, or shogun mask provides a physical reminder of the Kyoto workshop.

Preparing the mold, pouring the tin, and polishing the object creates a more personal connection than purchasing a finished souvenir.

The item can be displayed or kept as part of a travel collection.

Travelers using aircraft or crossing international borders should review rules concerning metal objects shaped like weapons.

How It Differs from Ninja Weapon Forging

The Kyoto ninja weapon forging experience heats and hammers steel before quenching and polishing a shuriken or kunai during an approximately two-and-a-half-hour workshop.

This experience instead pours molten tin into a mold and refines the cooled cast object through filing and polishing.

Choose forging for the physical rhythm of hammering heated steel, or tin casting to experience liquid metal taking shape inside a mold.

Travelers interested in forging a practical blade can also compare the authentic Kyoto knife-making workshop.

What to Check Before Booking

• Availability for the selected date
• Scheduled starting and finishing times
• Approximate two-hour duration for the shuriken or kunai
• Approximate two-and-a-half-hour duration for the shogun mask
• Exact address of studio GIN
• Building entrance and meeting point
• Transportation from the nearest station
• Meeting time
• Group size
• Minimum participant age
• Conditions for children
• English or Japanese guidance
• Item included in the standard package
• Kunai upgrade details
• Shogun mask package details
• Gold-leaf decoration and cord attachment
• Casting stages completed by participants
• Participation in melting and pouring
• Mold-preparation method
• Cooling time
• Filing and polishing stages
• Protective finishing process
• Safety equipment
• Suitable workshop clothing
• Dimensions and weight of the completed item
• Packaging for the finished object
• Airline checked-luggage rules
• International transport regulations
• Late-arrival policy
• Cancellation conditions
• Current package details

The workshop uses molten metal, heated equipment, files, and polishing tools. Follow all safety instructions provided by the craftspeople and studio staff.

Summary

The Kyoto tin-casting ninja item workshop at studio GIN takes participants through melting, molding, cooling, shaping, polishing, and finishing tin.

Guests can create a shuriken, upgrade to a kunai, or select a shogun mask package with decorative details.

Watch liquid metal become a solid form and complete a polished Kyoto craft item with your own hands.