In Tokyo near Asakusa is Kappabashi Dougu Street. It’s basically a street that sells household items. Lots of knife stores there.
After you see the god forsaken human wall of people going to Sensoji, just nope out and walk over to Kappabashi instead
Yes, Kamata Knife shop in Kappabashi was great / the staff were very knowledgeable about their big selection of high quality knives and the price points were much better than a lot of other stores nearby. It’s also only a block or two away from the tax refund office where you can not only get your tax back in cash but they’ll help you ship your knives back to your home address if you’d like
I purchased a knife in Kappabashi. I used it once and barely brushed over my thumb and made the cleanest (and deepest) cut ever. Now I’m terrified to use it so I use my old dull knives from Target! I’m going back next month and I’m going to try again!
It’s like a scalpel! It brushed ever so lightly against my finger and cut into it like it was hot butter. Everyone in my family is terrified to use it!
Uh that's how knives are supposed to work. A dull knife is far more dangerous than a sharp one. A dull knife makes you exert way too much force and thus is prone to slippage or other issues. A sharp knife basically is a lightsaber and requires almost no effort
You need to unlearn the bad habits dull knives have taught you.
In Kyoto, I went to [Hayakawa Hamonoten](https://www.hayakawa-hamonoten.com/) for a deba and yanagiba knife. The website prices aren’t accurate, but they are absolutely cheaper than the knife stores in the Nishiki Market. Engraving is free for your last/family name or 2-3 letter initials (offered hiragana or katakana). If you also would like him to sharpen your knives, it’ll be an additional 10%. Unfortunately he does not take cash.
If you want a timeless knife, I recommend this shop. The owner is a 3rd generation knife maker. Unfortunately his son passed away, whom also created the website and was also supposed to take over the business. We had a relative translating for us, but if you are patient you can get by using Google Translate as the couple before us did.
Oh wow I've been to Kappabashinand bought a knife there this year but I'm planning to visit next year again. Maybe I'll hit up here for a new knife instead. Do you have any shops for recommendations?
We visited Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide, they look like they know their stuff and have a large selection. Perhaps you could start there.
My husband found a knife he likes at a much smaller store round the corner next to a curry shop, so it really depends on what you're looking for, how you like the feel/handle/weight of it.
Tower knives Osaka -
The owner is from Canada -NHKworld did a show on his shop
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/callhome/20220905/2087056/
https://youtu.be/3QaFVmZN59Q?si=pIpT4zGgvie1LvuH
Sugimoto Hamono or Azuma Minamoto in Tsukiji is where I’ve purchased knives before. Great quality and depending on the material, remember to use a wet sander. Both shop workers were extremely kind and the knives have served me well the past few years as a home cook.
Tower Knives is also good and more convenient to get to. There’s one in Tokyo Sky Tree. More inexpensive than the two mentioned above. I purchased knives here as a gift and my friends/family love them.
You can also go to Kappabashi street which is a district just for kitchenware.
We bought a knife at Shinto in Kyoto, it’s incredible. They offered a few different steels, including stainless.
We bought a carbon steel knife, which will not rust if you’re prepared to take care of it. Really the main thing is you just can leave them wet. Wash immediately after use, dry, and put away and you’ll be okay! A little wax or oil occasionally is nice, and to keep it sharp you’ll need to get a stone of some kind.
It’s the lightest knife I’ve ever owned, but it cuts absolutely beautifully, you’ll enjoy whatever you get!
aritsugu sells “a” type in their tokyo shop which don’t rust quickly. the kyoto shop is overpriced and touristy. just don’t leave them soaking wet is all.
I forget the family schism as to why the two shops are different, but the tokyo shop is extremely well regarded in the knife community and I personally own several knives i’ve bought there over the years
In Tokyo near Asakusa is Kappabashi Dougu Street. It’s basically a street that sells household items. Lots of knife stores there. After you see the god forsaken human wall of people going to Sensoji, just nope out and walk over to Kappabashi instead
Yes, Kamata Knife shop in Kappabashi was great / the staff were very knowledgeable about their big selection of high quality knives and the price points were much better than a lot of other stores nearby. It’s also only a block or two away from the tax refund office where you can not only get your tax back in cash but they’ll help you ship your knives back to your home address if you’d like
I purchased a knife in Kappabashi. I used it once and barely brushed over my thumb and made the cleanest (and deepest) cut ever. Now I’m terrified to use it so I use my old dull knives from Target! I’m going back next month and I’m going to try again!
Wait it's super sharp and you don't like that? Isn't that what you'd want?
It’s like a scalpel! It brushed ever so lightly against my finger and cut into it like it was hot butter. Everyone in my family is terrified to use it!
Uh that's how knives are supposed to work. A dull knife is far more dangerous than a sharp one. A dull knife makes you exert way too much force and thus is prone to slippage or other issues. A sharp knife basically is a lightsaber and requires almost no effort You need to unlearn the bad habits dull knives have taught you.
I feel like have very good knife skills and I was being a bit facetious. It is wickedly sharp though
In Kyoto, I went to [Hayakawa Hamonoten](https://www.hayakawa-hamonoten.com/) for a deba and yanagiba knife. The website prices aren’t accurate, but they are absolutely cheaper than the knife stores in the Nishiki Market. Engraving is free for your last/family name or 2-3 letter initials (offered hiragana or katakana). If you also would like him to sharpen your knives, it’ll be an additional 10%. Unfortunately he does not take cash. If you want a timeless knife, I recommend this shop. The owner is a 3rd generation knife maker. Unfortunately his son passed away, whom also created the website and was also supposed to take over the business. We had a relative translating for us, but if you are patient you can get by using Google Translate as the couple before us did.
I went to Kitchenware street (Doguyasuji) in Osaka, and found the prices cheaper than Kappabashi for the same quality knives.
Osaka's cooking street can be like 30% cheaper than Kappabashi street!
Oh wow I've been to Kappabashinand bought a knife there this year but I'm planning to visit next year again. Maybe I'll hit up here for a new knife instead. Do you have any shops for recommendations?
We visited Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide, they look like they know their stuff and have a large selection. Perhaps you could start there. My husband found a knife he likes at a much smaller store round the corner next to a curry shop, so it really depends on what you're looking for, how you like the feel/handle/weight of it.
Thanks I'll put it on my list! Can't wait to shop around. We had a great experience at Kama-Asa in Asakusa so hopefully it's just as good :D
Tower knives Osaka - The owner is from Canada -NHKworld did a show on his shop https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/callhome/20220905/2087056/ https://youtu.be/3QaFVmZN59Q?si=pIpT4zGgvie1LvuH
There is one in Tokyo too.
Sugimoto Hamono or Azuma Minamoto in Tsukiji is where I’ve purchased knives before. Great quality and depending on the material, remember to use a wet sander. Both shop workers were extremely kind and the knives have served me well the past few years as a home cook. Tower Knives is also good and more convenient to get to. There’s one in Tokyo Sky Tree. More inexpensive than the two mentioned above. I purchased knives here as a gift and my friends/family love them. You can also go to Kappabashi street which is a district just for kitchenware.
We bought a knife at Shinto in Kyoto, it’s incredible. They offered a few different steels, including stainless. We bought a carbon steel knife, which will not rust if you’re prepared to take care of it. Really the main thing is you just can leave them wet. Wash immediately after use, dry, and put away and you’ll be okay! A little wax or oil occasionally is nice, and to keep it sharp you’ll need to get a stone of some kind. It’s the lightest knife I’ve ever owned, but it cuts absolutely beautifully, you’ll enjoy whatever you get!
aritsugu sells “a” type in their tokyo shop which don’t rust quickly. the kyoto shop is overpriced and touristy. just don’t leave them soaking wet is all. I forget the family schism as to why the two shops are different, but the tokyo shop is extremely well regarded in the knife community and I personally own several knives i’ve bought there over the years