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. 

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. 

Kappabashi and Asakusa

Above, the giant chef marks the spot of Niimi, the shop that
 has everything a restaurateur needs. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

Anyone vacationing in Japan should definitely visit Tokyo's Kappabashi ("Kitchen Town") and Asakusa.

Kappabashi is where all kinds of kitchen tools can be found and Asakusa will give one many cultural flavors. People will know they are in Kappabashi when they see the giant chef above the Niimi shop.

Live Japan has an article on both. It even features my favorite Japanese knife shop, Kama-Asa.

They begin with:

You could easily spend an entire day wandering Tokyo’s “kitchen town” known as Kappabashi. Sandwiched between Asakusa and Ueno, Kappabashi consists of 170 specialty shops lining an 800 meter-long stretch of a road called Kappabashi Dougu Street. 

We teamed up with veteran tour guide Kozue Hisaoka of True Japan Tours to give you an exclusive look at 9 must-see shops. As a bonus, we’ll even show you how to enjoy neighboring Asakusa like a local!

Above, Senso-ji temple in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Best Shops In Asakusa

Above, Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For visitors to Tokyo, Asakusa's many neighborhoods are meccas for shoppers. There's everything from traditional to modern goods.

Time Out Tokyo has posted an article on the best shops in Asakusa.

They begin with:

There's a lot more to Asakusa than just Sensoji. From traditional Japanese crafts to kitchenware, there's plenty left to explore in this historic neighbourhood. Take a stroll along the Sumida River for stylish finds in Kuramae or hit up the popular shopping streets of Kappabashi-dori and Nakamise-dori for a real treat. 

And, there's toy shops at Nakamise-dori and Shin-Nakamise where Godzilla toys can be found.

Above, I bought this Bandai 1968 Godzilla at Nakamise-dori in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

The "Best" Way To Enjoy Asakusa

Above, teacup balconies in the Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" section of Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of my favorite Tokyo hangouts is the Asakusa district. 

There's much to see and do in Asakusa and Goin' Japanesque! has a guide on the "best" way to enjoy Asakusa.

They begin with:

Asakusa has become a very popular tourist spot among tourists from outside Japan. With such tourist attractions as Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Engeijo(Vaudeville Hall), the downtown culture and traditional festivals, it is a very attractive tourist destination that represents Japan. 

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the best way and the best route to fully enjoy Asakusa.

To read more, go here. 

A Food Lover's Guide To Japan

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

One of the joys of traveling is to try out the local cuisines. There is no shortage of restaurants of different varieties of food in Tokyo. It is a foodie paradise.

Condé Nast Traveler has an article on "A Food Lover's Guide To Japan" about where to find the best places to eat and to shop.

The article starts with:

Food blogger and recent cookbook author Stephanie Le takes us on a culinary journey through Japan—“they do both simple and complex flavors so well”—with an emphasis on where to find the best eats in Tokyo. 

Above, a couple of jolly restaurateurs near Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A couple of places mentioned I've been to, the Tsukiji Fish Market and Kappabashi-dori in Tokyo. The best sushi I've ever had was in the restaurant and shop area next to the fish market and the place to buy kitchen goods is Kappabashi-dori. I picked up a chefs knife in Kappabashi for my roomie in February. It is such a good knife (and at a reasonable price) that I can kick myself for not buying two of them.

To read the article, go here.

Huff Post: 29 Pictures That Will Make You Want to Visit Japan

Above, a view of the Tokyo Skytree from Kitchen Town (Kappabashi). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Huffington Post's editorial positions are ones, generally, I can do without, but their Travel section does come up with good articles and pictorials. Today is one of those days.

Today, Robert Schrader, writer, photographer and editor of LeaveYourDailyHell.com, has posted photos of Japan that the headline says are, "29 Pictures That Will Make You Want to Visit Japan." They are, indeed, nice pictures.

Here is what he says about them (in part):

Each of the pictures in this post embodies one of the singular moments I savored during the three weeks I was lucky enough to spend in Japan. If you aren't yet planning your own trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, I hope these photos inspire you to take the next plane to Tokyo.

To see them, 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.

Old Tokyo Survives in Asakusa

Above, the Nakamise-dori approach to Senso-ji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of my favorite places to visit in Tokyo is Asakusa. Here, there's plenty to see including wandering around Nakamise-dori and Senso-ji Temple. If shopping is your favorite thing to do, there's plenty of it on Nakamise-dori and the Shin-Nakamise shopping arcade. There are many restaurants at Shin-Nakamise to choose from.

Modern Tokyo Times has a good article on Asakusa's history along with nearby Kappabashi-dori, known as Kitchen Town for its many stores selling kitchenware. I visited Kappabashi-dori last month and bought my roommate a personalized chef's knife there.

Above, a giant chef overlooks Kappabashi-dori ("Kitchen Town") in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article begins with:

Tokyo tourism provides an abundance of options because this highly developed city caters for so many tastes. This applies to amazing Japanese gardens, stunning art galleries, high octane fashion districts, a paradise for gamers, the beautiful Tenno palace, the beach of Odaiba and Rainbow Bridge, Meiji Shrine, mountain range of Takao, and so much more. Therefore, tourists who visit Tokyo are spoilt for choice in this amazing city. 

However, in this article the emphasis is on Asakusa because this lovely district is famous for the stunning Buddhist temple called Senso-ji. This notable landmark in Tokyo is dedicated to the revered bodhisattva Kannon. Also, you have other beautiful temples in Asakusa and throughout the year you have various festivals which highlight the richness of Japanese culture.

Above, a view of Asakusa and the Tokyo Cruise Terminal from the Azuma Bridge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Across the Sumida River from Asakusa are the Asahi Beer Hall and the Tokyo Skytree. The station for Sumida River Cruises is also in Asakusa.

Above, Shin-Nakamise shopping arcade. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 

To read the full article, go here. 

Tokyo's Kitchen Town

Above, you're in the right place when you see this landmark.  Source: Wikipedia.

Besides Tokyo's Book Town, it appears that I'll have to check out another enclave in Tokyo next year: Kitchen Town. I'm certain my "roomie" will insist upon it (since she's a culinary student)!

I just discovered it tonight over at RocketNews24.  I stayed in Ueno in 2005 and spent a lot of time in Asakusa, but this is the first I've heard of Kitchen Town.

According to RocketNews24:

Recently, tourists in Japan have been flocking to Kappabashi-dori, also known as Kitchen Town, before returning to their home countries. They come to the small shopping area located between Ueno and Asakusa, Tokyo in search of a hot souvenir item not entirely unique to Japan. 

For the past two to three years, Kama Asa Shoten, an over 100-year-old shop “bringing together professional cooks and the right utensils,” has seen the number of foreign customers increase. The shop, located in Kappabashi-dori, specializes in crafting specialty cooking knives and it is this luxury item that has foreigners in Japan shelling out several hundred dollars for a single souvenir.

 According to Japan-Guide.com:

You will find specialized stores for dishes, pots, pans, cooking utensils, stoves, tables, chairs, signs, lanterns and more. There are also a few stores which sell plastic and wax food samples, used by many restaurants in their show windows.

To check out Tokyo's Kitchen Town, use the above links.