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Kappabashi Kitchenware Town: Where
Foodies Who Love to Cook Go to Shop
From high-quality kitchen knives to shockingly realistic food samples, Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® is your go-to place for kitchen goods and gadgets in Tokyo. Once an area primarily for professional chefs and others who worked in the food service industry, Kappabashi is now a favorite spot for shopping among foodies who love to cook.
Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® is an 800m stretch of road that is home to some 150 stores selling cooking-related goods. Just a ten minute walk from Senso-ji Temple, you’ll know you’ve found it when you see the area’s landmark: the big statue of a cook on top of a store selling tableware. Be sure to pick up a copy of the “Handy Shopping Guide” before you get underway with your shopping. Available from many of the stores, this guide includes useful information like store locations, descriptions of products sold at each store, and where you can get free Wi-Fi in the area. Check out some of the stores below.
If you’re interested in picking up some Japanese-style tableware, check out Wa No Utsuwa Dengama located at the beginning of Kappabashi. This two-story specialty shop offers a huge selection, including fine porcelain from the famous manufacturing areas of Arita and Kutani. While you might expect these gorgeous pieces to carry a hefty price tag, you’d be surprised. Many of the small pieces range in price from 500 to 700 yen while pieces like teacups go for around 1,200 to 1,500 yen.
Wa No Utsuwa also carries a variety of distinctive nanbu iron teapots ranging in price from about 5,000 to 10,000 yen.
Next up is Kamaasa Shoten. This store has been selling traditional Japanese cookware like knives and nanbu iron teapots for over one hundred years. The store divides its inventory into two showrooms located across the street from each other. You have cookware like kettles and pots in one and knives in the other. It’s the latter of the two that is particularly popular with visitors from overseas. Each knife is carefully crafted by a skilled blacksmith. Considering the attention to detail and fine craftsmanship, it’s not surprising to hear it said that these knives are popular with chefs abroad. Kamaasa Shoten also has descriptions of their knives available in both English and French so you can be sure you’re getting one that suits your needs.
About halfway down the street, you’ll come to a store that’s nearly bursting with all sorts of cooking supplies. Congrats, you’ve found Iida-ya. What makes this store special isn’t just that they stock lots of different kinds of kitchen supplies, but that they have dozens of different styles for you to choose from. For example, let’s say you want to get a peeler. When you head off to the peeler section, you’ll find super-sharp top-class peelers, peelers for fish (yes, these are a thing), peelers for corn, peelers for tomatoes... basically a peeler for every food that could conceivably be peeled. It’s easy to spend hours here checking out the almost fanatical variety of goods in this shop. By the way, popular items for tourists here include frying pans made in Japan, nanbu iron kettles, special pans for making takoyaki, and wasabi graters.
No trip to Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® is complete without checking out plastic food samples. Most often used by restaurants to display what kind of food they serve in hopes of attracting hungry customers, these plastic meals are often astonishingly realistic. If you want to see some great examples, check out Sato Sample. Using the production methods they’ve developed in the more than 90 years this veteran store has been in business, it can be hard to tell the models they produce from real meals! If you’re not in the market to take back a life-size bowl of fake ramen, Sato Sample has other items like rings and keychains that make great souvenirs.
As you walk through Kappabashi Kitchenware Town®, you'll probably notice a little green creature hanging out here and there. This guy is a kappa, a kind of demon or youkai from Japanese legends that is thought to live in rivers and ponds. According to legend, good luck comes to anyone who manages to see a real kappa. Maybe all of the statutes will count towards a little good fortune?
Make a little detour to a side street near the end of Kappabashi to check out a stylish shop called Kakesu Zakka-ten. This store stocks only made-in-Japan goods. They have a large selection of colorful teapots and cups from ZERO JAPAN, a brand from Gifu Prefecture that’s been gaining popularity abroad. One thing that makes ZERO JAPAN such a popular choice is that they offer products in a total of 60 different colors.
Bring your successful day of shopping to a close with a drink at Kappabashi Sake no Sanwa. Here you can try 720ml of two different kinds of sake (nihonshu) or shochu for just 500 yen. There’s an English menu available, making this place popular with visitors from overseas.
Have you ever been to Kappabashi Kitchenware Town®? If so, is there a store or a must-have item you’d like to recommend? Let us know in the comments!
Address: From Nishi Asakusa to Matsugaya in Taito-ku, Tokyo
Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® is approximately a 10 minute walk from Senso-ji Temple.
Access: （varies by store）
3~10 min walk from Exit 3 of Subway Tawaramachi Station
5~10 min walk from Exit 2 of Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station
Website: http://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/index.html
Wa No Utsuwa Dengama | 和の器 田窯
Address: 1-4-3 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00am~7:00pm
Closed January 1~3
Kamaasa Shoten | 釜浅商店
Address: 2-24-1 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Kitchenware Showroom)
2-23-9 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Knife Showroom)
Hours:
Mon-Sat 9:30am~5:30pm
Sundays and national holidays 10:00am~5:30pm
Closed during the New Years holidays
Iidaya | 飯田屋
Address: 2-21-6 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00am~7:00pm
Sun and national holidays 10:00am~6:00pm
Sato Sample | サトウサンプル
Address: 3-7-4 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours:
Mon-Sat 9:00am~6:00pm
Sun and national holidays 10:00am~5:00pm
Closed Fridays unless a national holiday
Kakesu Zakka-ten | カケス雑貨店
Address: 3-24-2 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am~6:00pm
Closed Wednesdays
Kappabashi Sake No Sanwa | 合羽橋 酒のサンワ
Address: 3-17-11 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 12:00pm~6:00pm
Closed Wednesdays and national holidays
Chef marks the spot: the start of Kappabashi
You know you've found the right place when you spot this guy.
Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® is an 800m stretch of road that is home to some 150 stores selling cooking-related goods. Just a ten minute walk from Senso-ji Temple, you’ll know you’ve found it when you see the area’s landmark: the big statue of a cook on top of a store selling tableware. Be sure to pick up a copy of the “Handy Shopping Guide” before you get underway with your shopping. Available from many of the stores, this guide includes useful information like store locations, descriptions of products sold at each store, and where you can get free Wi-Fi in the area. Check out some of the stores below.
The map categorizes the stores based on the kind of merchandise they sell.
Gorgeous ceramics at a reasonable price
A collection of bowls from all over Japan.
If you’re interested in picking up some Japanese-style tableware, check out Wa No Utsuwa Dengama located at the beginning of Kappabashi. This two-story specialty shop offers a huge selection, including fine porcelain from the famous manufacturing areas of Arita and Kutani. While you might expect these gorgeous pieces to carry a hefty price tag, you’d be surprised. Many of the small pieces range in price from 500 to 700 yen while pieces like teacups go for around 1,200 to 1,500 yen.
You can find teacups with beautiful Japanese patterns, tea pots, and more here.
Wa No Utsuwa also carries a variety of distinctive nanbu iron teapots ranging in price from about 5,000 to 10,000 yen.
The store's display of pottery outside of the building makes it easy to find.
Chop veggies in samurai-style
These kitchen knives are both practical and beautiful.
Next up is Kamaasa Shoten. This store has been selling traditional Japanese cookware like knives and nanbu iron teapots for over one hundred years. The store divides its inventory into two showrooms located across the street from each other. You have cookware like kettles and pots in one and knives in the other. It’s the latter of the two that is particularly popular with visitors from overseas. Each knife is carefully crafted by a skilled blacksmith. Considering the attention to detail and fine craftsmanship, it’s not surprising to hear it said that these knives are popular with chefs abroad. Kamaasa Shoten also has descriptions of their knives available in both English and French so you can be sure you’re getting one that suits your needs.
The knowledgeable staff helps shoppers choose the kitchen knife that suits their needs. Knives range in price from around 5,000 to 30,000 yen.
On the cookware floor, you can find items like these oven-safe nanbu iron pots and skillets. Prices range from 6,000 to 8,000 yen depending on size.
More cooking gadgets than you knew existed
With so many different tools, it'd be easy to spend a day just browsing here!
About halfway down the street, you’ll come to a store that’s nearly bursting with all sorts of cooking supplies. Congrats, you’ve found Iida-ya. What makes this store special isn’t just that they stock lots of different kinds of kitchen supplies, but that they have dozens of different styles for you to choose from. For example, let’s say you want to get a peeler. When you head off to the peeler section, you’ll find super-sharp top-class peelers, peelers for fish (yes, these are a thing), peelers for corn, peelers for tomatoes... basically a peeler for every food that could conceivably be peeled. It’s easy to spend hours here checking out the almost fanatical variety of goods in this shop. By the way, popular items for tourists here include frying pans made in Japan, nanbu iron kettles, special pans for making takoyaki, and wasabi graters.
A very a-peel-ing selection of more than 50 kinds of peelers. Prices range from 500 to 1,500 yen depending on the product.
If you find yourself getting a little overwhelmed by the selection, the store staff can help you find the best product for you.
The second floor is packed with all kinds of baking goods like these cute cookie cutters.
Looks good enough to eat
Careful! These sushi may look delicious, but they're actually food samples made of plastic.
No trip to Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® is complete without checking out plastic food samples. Most often used by restaurants to display what kind of food they serve in hopes of attracting hungry customers, these plastic meals are often astonishingly realistic. If you want to see some great examples, check out Sato Sample. Using the production methods they’ve developed in the more than 90 years this veteran store has been in business, it can be hard to tell the models they produce from real meals! If you’re not in the market to take back a life-size bowl of fake ramen, Sato Sample has other items like rings and keychains that make great souvenirs.
Is there anyone who wouldn't love a bread ring? These range from 972 to 1,620 yen. Sushi keychains are priced around 776 to 1,404 yen. Each piece looks incredibly close to the real thing.
You can pay in USD or Euros at Sato Sample.
A friendly reminder that no matter how delicious these pieces look, you cannot eat them.
What’s a kappa, anyway?
This golden statue of a kappa named Kawataro was created to celebrate the 90th birthday of Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® back in October of 2017.
As you walk through Kappabashi Kitchenware Town®, you'll probably notice a little green creature hanging out here and there. This guy is a kappa, a kind of demon or youkai from Japanese legends that is thought to live in rivers and ponds. According to legend, good luck comes to anyone who manages to see a real kappa. Maybe all of the statutes will count towards a little good fortune?
There’s bound to be a kappa in one form or another wherever you look.
Cute and made in Japan
Teapots in all sorts of colors.
Make a little detour to a side street near the end of Kappabashi to check out a stylish shop called Kakesu Zakka-ten. This store stocks only made-in-Japan goods. They have a large selection of colorful teapots and cups from ZERO JAPAN, a brand from Gifu Prefecture that’s been gaining popularity abroad. One thing that makes ZERO JAPAN such a popular choice is that they offer products in a total of 60 different colors.
From sugar pots to tea cups, the smooth Japanese designs of each item are charming. Prices range from 600 to 5,000 yen depending on the piece.
Bonus: sake time!
Nihonshu stylishly served in a wine glass.
Bring your successful day of shopping to a close with a drink at Kappabashi Sake no Sanwa. Here you can try 720ml of two different kinds of sake (nihonshu) or shochu for just 500 yen. There’s an English menu available, making this place popular with visitors from overseas.
The English menu.
Sake no Sanwa also sells sake by the bottle. Prices of their extensive selection range from those that sell for a reasonable 1,000 yen each to ones that cost hundreds of thousands of yen.
Have you ever been to Kappabashi Kitchenware Town®? If so, is there a store or a must-have item you’d like to recommend? Let us know in the comments!
Information
Kappabashi Kitchenware Town®Address: From Nishi Asakusa to Matsugaya in Taito-ku, Tokyo
Kappabashi Kitchenware Town® is approximately a 10 minute walk from Senso-ji Temple.
Access: （varies by store）
3~10 min walk from Exit 3 of Subway Tawaramachi Station
5~10 min walk from Exit 2 of Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station
Website: http://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/index.html
Wa No Utsuwa Dengama | 和の器 田窯
Address: 1-4-3 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00am~7:00pm
Closed January 1~3
Kamaasa Shoten | 釜浅商店
Address: 2-24-1 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Kitchenware Showroom)
2-23-9 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Knife Showroom)
Hours:
Mon-Sat 9:30am~5:30pm
Sundays and national holidays 10:00am~5:30pm
Closed during the New Years holidays
Iidaya | 飯田屋
Address: 2-21-6 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00am~7:00pm
Sun and national holidays 10:00am~6:00pm
Sato Sample | サトウサンプル
Address: 3-7-4 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours:
Mon-Sat 9:00am~6:00pm
Sun and national holidays 10:00am~5:00pm
Closed Fridays unless a national holiday
Kakesu Zakka-ten | カケス雑貨店
Address: 3-24-2 Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00am~6:00pm
Closed Wednesdays
Kappabashi Sake No Sanwa | 合羽橋 酒のサンワ
Address: 3-17-11 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 12:00pm~6:00pm
Closed Wednesdays and national holidays
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 08 19,2016 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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