What To Buy In Tokyo's Kappabashi

Above, Kappabashi's Giant Chef. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my 2014 trip to Japan, one of the places in Tokyo I explored was the Kappabashi district.

Kappabashi is known as "Kitchen Town" where food preparation products can be bought. I bought three chef's knives while there.

Above, I bought 3 knives at Kamaasa Knife Co. in Kappabashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times has posted an article on Kappabashi.

They begin with:

In Kappabashi, a roughly 800-meter-long strip between Asakusa and Ueno, locals and tourists alike spill out from a dense row of nearly 170 kitchenware shops. Their shopping bags tell the story — knives, chopsticks, cake molds and plastic sushi souvenirs.

No wonder they call this place “Kitchen Town.”

To read more, go here. 

Kappabashi, All Things Kitchen

Above, the giant chef bust tells visitors that they're in Kappabashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Longtime regular readers of this blog have read blog posts about Kappabashi, known as "Kitchen Town" in Tokyo.

Kappabashi is near Asakusa in Tokyo and the district has everything a cook, professional or otherwise, may need or want. 

Above, knives on display at the Kamaasa Knife Co. shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I first went to Kappabashi in February 2014 to pick up some chef's knives. Following my purchases, I wandered around the district to see what other things were available. I returned there a year later to pick up some more goods.

Japan Today has a nice detailed article about Kappabashi that would be useful for future visitors.

They begin it with:

TOKYO - To spend a few hours wandering the Tokyo neighborhood of Kappabashi, not far from Asakusa, is not just a fun shopping experience, it is also a lesson in how many different kitchen toys exist in the world. This neighborhood, and especially its main drag, is jammed with shops that sell everything imaginable for the kitchen, whether it’s a home kitchen or a professional one. It makes sense that a city as obsessed with good food as Tokyo would be home to one of the largest shopping districts for kitchen implements in the world.

The breadth of items available in the more than 170 shops in the area is astounding. There is everything imaginable, and a few things one could never imagine (unless, perhaps, you are a professionally trained chef).

The principal shopping street of Kappabashi, a strip less than a kilometer long, is just a few dozen meters from Tawaramachi station on the Ginza subway line. Its entry is marked by a gigantic bust of a chef atop the Niimi Building on the corner, home of a shop selling dishes.

To read more, go here. 

Best Shops In Tokyo's Kappabashi "Kitchen Town"

Above, you know you're in Kappabashi when you see the giant chef. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whether or not one is a big food fan (or "foodie), everyone has to eat and that means good food preparation tools are a must-have.

There's a section in Tokyo, Kappabashi, that is known as "Kitchen Town" where food preparation and other goods are sold in a pretty large cluster of specialty shops. I first visited there in 2014 and bought some chefs knives.

Above, my favorite cutlery shop, Kama-Asa Shoten. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Time Out Tokyo has an article on what they consider to be the "best shops" in Kappabashi. The cutlery shop where I bought the chefs knives, Kama-Asa Shoten, is one of their favorites.

They begin the article with:

Asakusa's Kappabashi is a haven for homecooks and professional chefs. If you’re in the market for kitchen utensils, you will want to set aside at least half a day to explore the roughly 800m-long street as there are hundreds of shops catering to every conceivable cooking, baking, dining, drinking and serving need – and that’s not counting the side streets, which have dozens more speciality shops. 

While the selection may be overwhelming, the prices are reasonable. You can easily spend less than ¥100 on a cheap pair of chopsticks and around ¥10,000 for a proper Japanese kitchen knife that you can personalise on the spot and which will last you a lifetime. You will find items you never thought you needed – think mini frying pans for single eggs, spoons in all shapes and sizes, kawaii branding irons for toasts and pancakes, and all the fake food you can imagine. 

As most stores in Kappabashi tend to cater to restaurateurs or wholesale buyers, we’ve narrowed down a list of our favourite shops for casual shoppers, whether you’re a dab hand in the kitchen, keen to learn or just looking for that perfect souvenir.

To read more, go here. 

Buying Kitchen Tools In Tokyo's Kappabashi

Above, the giant chef in Tokyo's Kappabashi "Kitchen Town". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2014, I was planning a trip to Japan. One of the places I wanted to visit was the Kappabashi district (known as "Kitchen Town") of Asakusa in Tokyo.

Jessica, my roommate, was attending a culinary school at the time and wanted a Japanese chef's knife. I checked around and settled on the Kama-Asa knife shop. On that trip and in 2015, I made some purchases there and was never disappointed in what I bought.

ANI News has an article on Kappabashi and Kama-Asa.

It begins with:

Foreign tourists thronged the Kappabashi street in Tokyo to buy Japanese-image tableware, and kitchen tools such as plates and chopsticks. The street is lined up with specialty shops containing products such as tableware and kitchen tools and much more.

Above, the Kama-Asa knife shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who like to cook with quality kitchenware should make a stop in Kappabashi. Once one sees the giant chef at a Kappapashi street corner, they'll know they're in the right place.

To read more, go here. 

100 Best Shops In Tokyo

Above, Kama-Asa Shoten is my favorite source or Japanese cutlery and is on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the favorite pasttimes for visitors to Japan is to go shopping.

Tokyo has shops specializing in all kinds of goods from toys, cutlery, clothing, books and "you name it" items.

For first time visitors and experienced Japan travelers, Time Out Tokyo has a guide to "100 Best Shops In Tokyo". I've been to many of the places listed, such as Mandarake and Nakano Broadway.

They begin it with:

You don't know the meaning of retail therapy until you've shopped in Tokyo. And to prepare you for the ultimate shopper's high, we've rustled up, oh, just 100 of the best shops in Tokyo, from brand-spanking new fashion shops to a range of both well-known and underground spots to satisfy vintage hounds, decor dreamers, paper sniffers and vinyl fiends. And even if you're just in the market for holiday souvenirs, we've got you covered, too.

To read more, go here. 

Three Shops To Buy Japanese Kitchen Knives In Kappabashi

Above, the giant chef marks the entrance to Kappabashi "Kitchen Town". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2014, I made a stop in Kappabashi to pick up a chef's knife for my then-roommate Jessica. It was during that trip I was stuck on a train overnight during a snowstorm.

After I checked into my hotel, I went via taxi to Kappabashi, known as "Kitchen Town", Tokyo to get the knife. Since then, I have bought chef's knives for my daughter and myself at Kama Asa Shoten (or Kamaasa Knife Co.) while in Tokyo. I've also mail-ordered cutlery from them.

Above, Kama Asa Shoten's knife shop in Kappabashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Goin' Japanesque has an article on three shops where visitors can buy quality Japanese knives. One of them is where I bought ours, Kama Asa Shoten.

They begin with:

Kappabashi Dogu Street (Map), located in Asakusa, is the number one shopping arcade in Japan for kitchen implements. Frequented by many professional chefs, there are about 170 shops lined up across 800 meters of street. Today, we’d like to tell you about some shops where you can pick up high-quality Japanese kitchen knives. Be sure to use this information if you’re picking up gifts for people back home. Just going to have a look at these incredible knives makes for a great experience.

Above, Jessica's knife from Kama Asa Shoten. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Kappabashi and Kicking Back Day

Today is the day of taking it easy.

My legs and feet were pretty sore last night after going to Tokyo DisneySea. So, today is just relaxing before tomorrow's departure to Los Angeles.

However, I did go over to the nearby Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" district to pick up some gifts. I picked up paring and butcher knives for my former roomie Jes and daughter Amber. The paring knives are for meats and vegetables. I bought them from my favorite place in Kappabashi, Kama-Asa Knife Company.

The last time I was there was the day after the February 8, 2014 blizzard. The photo of the store at top was taken last year. It was a lot drier this year.

Japanese Nickel Damascus Knives

Above, the chef's knife I bought for my roommage Jes a year and a half ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A year and a half ago, I purchased a chef's knife at Kama-asa Knife Company in Tokyo's Kappabashi (Kitchen Town) district for my roommate Jes.

Earlier this year, I ordered two more knives from them. One went to my daughter Amber and the other is at home in the galley of my motorhome.

Each of these knives were in the Damascus style of knives. Many people aren't familiar with Damascus knives. Fortunately for them, RocketNews 24 has an article on Damascus knives.

They wrote (in part):

Moreover, these knives are forged in the Damascus style based on the legendary swords of the Middle East and West Asian regions. Although the exact method of making those blades has been lost, experts are getting closer to reproducing it. Nevertheless, the term “Damascus” is still used to describe the rippled effect in the blades that makes your knives look like gateways to another dimension. 

Each knife is an elegant combination of Japanese sharpness with Western durability and Middle Eastern strength. Their blades are tempered from VG-10 Nickel Damascus and are available in a variety of types.

Above, the model knife I bought for Amber and The Beast.

I can tell you first-hand that these knives are terrific to work with!

To read more, go here.

Knife Shopping In Kappabashi

Above, the Kamaasa Knife Co. knife store in Kappabashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, one of my tasks to do in Japan was to pick up a chef's knife for my roommate Jessica. Prior to my trip to Japan, we checked online for a quality knife shop in Tokyo's Kappabashi ("Kitchen Town") section and settled on the Kamaasa Knife Company's store. They had quality knives at reasonable prices.

We were so pleased about the knife that I bought two more from Kamaasa this year, one for my daughter and one for use in the new motorhome.

Above, as this view of the Kamaasa Knife Co. store from the outside
 shows, there's plenty of knifes to choose from. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Savvy Tokyo has an article on "Knife Shopping In Kappabashi" which focuses on two knife shops, one of which is Kamaasa.

They begin their article with:

ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING SHOPPING TRIPS IN TOKYO WOULD HAVE TO BE TO THE AREA CALLED KAPPABASHI, OR KITCHEN TOWN. HERE THE MAIN STREET IS LINED WITH STORES SELLING THE MOST WONDERFUL ARRAY OF ITEMS TO STOCK ANY KITCHEN OR RESTAURANT. IT IS ALONG THIS STREET THAT TWO RIVAL KNIFE SHOPS, ONLY A BLOCK APART, OFFER THEIR WARES. UNLIKE MANY OF THE SMALLER ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SELL KNIVES IN KAPPABASHI, THE KAMAASA AND KAMATA STORES SELL TOP-OF-THE-RANGE, ARTISAN-MADE JAPANESE STEEL KNIVES.

If you are looking to buy fine Japanese cutlery or are just curious about Kappabashi, the article is an excellent read.

To read the article, go here. 

Where To Shop At Kappabashi Kitchen Town

Above, you know you're in Kappabashi when you see the giant chef. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you happen to be a chef, culinary student, serious home cook or just an ordinary foodie, a stop in Tokyo's Kappabachi Kitchen Town is a must.

I went to Kitchen Town last year to pick up a chef's knife for my roomie Jes. Recently, I purchased two more chef's knives, one for my daughter and one for the motorhome kitchen from my favorite source for Japanese knives, Kamaasa. Kamaasa gets a big plug in a new article in The Passport Lifestyle.

Along with Kamaasa, the article tells where to shop in Kappabashi. Additionally, there are plenty of photographs to go along with the article.

It begins with:

Today I went to Kappabashi-dori, better known as Kitchen Town here in Tokyo. I absolutely love this part of town. It’s close to Asakusa and Tsukiji so it has a much older Asian feel to the neighborhood. But Kappabashi is essentially one very long street consisting of nothing but restaurant supply stores. Many stores are very old, but some are newer. Years ago when I first heard about this place, I mistakenly assumed it consisted of mostly a bunch of food model stores and useless restaurant supplies you only find here in Japan. This is why it took me a few years to care to go there, because it’s famous for where you go to buy food models. But since then, I’ve been back three different times, each time bringing home a quarter of my weight in kitchen supplies and glassware. You can find literally anything.

To read more, go here. 

Knives and A Cobra

The new motorhome is pretty much fully equipped.

The Japanese chef's knives (one for the RV and one for my daughter) arrived today from Kamaasa Shoten Knife Co. in Kappabashi, Tokyo. I am very pleased with mine and I am certain my daughter will enjoy hers.

Also arriving today was a handheld citizens' band radio I ordered. It is a Cobra HH Roadtrip Handheld CB Radio (pictured at right). I had a citizens's band radio in the motorhome I owned 25 years ago. It served two purposes: for assistance in case of a vehicle breakdown in the middle of nowhere (where there's no cellular service) and for entertainment. Sometimes, I got tired of listening to AM or FM radio or CDs (or, back then, cassette tapes), so the CB radio would be switched on. It was fun to listen in on chatter, especially if a convoy of 18-wheeler trucks were nearby. The new radio will serve those same purposes.

Additionally, it has a feature where weather report channels can be immediately picked up.

Speaking of the motorhome, it will be getting its first roadtrip workout next week when I take a little jaunt to Las Vegas.

Getting A Japanese Chef's Knife For The Motorhome

Above, the motorhome's galley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the past few weeks, I've been purchasing gear and equipment for exclusive use in the new motorhome. This is so that I won't have to pack things up whenever we're to leave on a camping trip. I figured I'd buy everything now so I won't have to bother doing so later on.

Some of which are kitchenware including a cutting board, dish drainer, pots, pans and other things. Some items, I've had already in my camping gear boxes and are still usable. Others, unfortunately, were rendered useless due to rust or some gunk that leaked on them.

The latest was the need to order a chef's knife. I ordered it from the Kamaasa Shoten knife shop in Kappabashi, Tokyo. Last year, I bought a chef's knife for Jessica while I was in Japan. The original intent was get the same knife for the motorhome since we liked the knife so much, but Kamaasa was out of them and they don't expect a new shipment until four months from now.

Fortunately, they presented me with a couple of alternatives and I decided to go with one of them. While I was at it, I decided to buy another for my daughter.

This is it:

It is a V10SP Chef Knife Hammered 210 (in case you want to get one for yourself).

I was advised this morning that the two chef's knives have been shipped.

If you are in the market for fine cutlery or just a chef's knife, I recommend Kamaasa Shoten. When I was in Kappabashi last year, I saw several cutlery shops. But most were empty, except for one or two people. Kamaasa Shoten had a crowd inside their store. That told me that I came to the right place.

Their website: http://www.kama-asa.co.jp/en/

Dollar Briefly Tops 107 Yen In Tokyo

Above, Japanese goods such as knives are more affordable with the dollar's rise. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Things monetarily are looking better for American tourists to Japan, according to an article in the Mainichi Shimbun.

According to the article:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The U.S. dollar briefly rose above 107 yen for the first time since September 2008 in Tokyo on Thursday, amid expectation the monetary policy directions of the Bank of Japan and U.S. Federal Reserve are set to diverge further. 

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 106.86-87 yen compared with 106.82-92 yen in New York and 106.63-64 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday. It moved between 106.64 yen and a nearly six-year high of 107.04 yen during the day, changing hands most frequently at 106.77 yen.

Vacations to Japan become more affordable for Americans when the dollar buys more yen.

To read more, go here.

Top 15 Kappabashi Souvenirs

Above, you know you're in Kappabashi when you see this giant chef. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As previously mentioned, when I went to Japan in February, one of my tasks was to pick up a chef's knife in Tokyo's Kappabashi (known as Kitchen Town) for my roomie.

It took a while to get there as I didn't reach my hotel until 22 hours after I landed in Narita International Airport due to snow. But once I checked into my hotel, I hailed a taxi and headed over to Kappabashi.

Above, a view of the Skytree from Kappabashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Time Out Tokyo has an article on 15 fun and easy-to-carry items visitors to Kappabashi can pick up for the folks back home as a gift or a souvenir for yourself.

They start the article with:

Asakusa's Kappabashi, better known to English-speakers as 'Kitchen Town', is heaven for cooking enthusiasts, professional chefs, and tourists shopping for interesting gifts to bring back from Tokyo. The hundreds of shops here cater primarily to restaurateurs, as is evident from the unbelievably diverse selection of pots, pans, cutlery, decorative items and so on. Prices are also comparatively low, so the area is well worth a visit every time you need kitchen-related tools and equipment. For the casual traveller, however, it may not be very practical to choose cast-iron frying pans or sword-like kitchen knives as souvenirs, so we've put together this list of 15 fun and easy-to-carry items that also make perfect gifts for your folks back home.

The last item suggested is getting a kitchen knife from Kamaasa Shoten, which is where I picked up my roomie's chef's knife. This link tells about the shop, which was founded in 1908.

Above, the Kamaasa Shoten knife store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To see the other 14 suggestions, go here.

Kamaasa Shoten Co. Blog Post Picked Up By The Japan Daily

Tonight, The Japan Daily picked up the blog post on my newest article at JapanTravel on the KamaasaShoten Co., Ltd.'s knife store in Kappabashi-dori (Kitchen Town) in Tokyo.

Kitchen Town is the place in Japan for professional or home cooks and chefs to buy all kinds of kitchen goods.

To see The Japan Daily, go here.

Kamaasa Shoten Co., Ltd. Knives

Above, you know you're in Kitchen Town when you see the giant chef. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My latest article (or opus) for JapanTravel has just been posted.

This time, it is not about kaiju movie locations but, instead, it is on the Kamaasa Shoten Co., Ltd. cutlery (or knife) store in Tokyo's Kappabashi-dori section (better known as Kitchen Town) where I bought my roomie a chef's knife.

Above, the Kamaasa Shoten Co. knife store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read it, go here.

The First Use of the New Chef's Knife

Above, the knife. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As mentioned previously, one of the tasks I had to do while in Japan was to get a chef's knife at Tokyo's Kitchen Town (Kappabashi-dori) for Jes, my roomie.

We had pre-selected the knife before I headed over with Marina Menini of Kama-Asa via email. When I got there, I met up with Marina and had the knife personally engraved in no time.

Today, Jes felt well enough to do some cooking (linguini and clams) and used the knife for the first time. She liked how light it felt and it cut excellently.

I recommend Kama-Asa for your cutlery needs. Their website is www.kama-asa.co.jp. They will also ship internationally.

Mission Accomplished: Visiting Tokyo's Kitchen Town

Above, this giant chef's head will tell the visitor that they have entered Tokyo's Kitchen Town. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

22 hours after landing at Narita International Airport, I checked into my hotel room. The long delay made me scrub my plans for what was to be my first full day in Tokyo, but I managed to accomplish something I promised Jes, my roomie.

I went to Tokyo's Kitchen Town to get her a personalized chef's knife at Kamaasa Knife Co. The shop is situated in-between Ueno and Asakusa. It was a short taxi ride from my hotel.

Above, the knife shop of the Kamaasa Knife Co. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once I got there, I met up with Marina Menini, with whom I had been emailing about the knives they had to offer, and she took care of Jes's knife immediately. The knife shop has a wide selection of kitchen knives and a separate store only a few feet away for other kitchen equipment.

Above, Kamaasa's shop of other kitchen equipment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The whole Kitchen Town area caters to supplying cooking equipment for home cooks, chefs and restaurants. One who is into the culinary arts would enjoy spending the day going through the many shops.

Above, one can easily see from the outside that Kamaasa has plenty of knives to choose from. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It didn't take long to pick up the knife. Marina did an excellent job of engraving the knife to Jes's specifications. The knife shop was the busiest shop in Kitchen Town. There were other knife shops in Kitchen Town, but they were either empty or had one or two people inside. I think we picked the right one, judging by the crowd inside Kamaasa Knife Co.

Above, how would you like to live or work in a place whose
balconies are coffee or tea cups? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is interested in the culinary arts and would like to purchase kitchen ware and equipment, Tokyo's Kitchen Town is definitely the place to go to.