Visit Kappabashi to purchase kitchen items
Outline
Kappabashi, located near Asakusa, is the biggest dougugai (meaning “a tool street,” a street lined with tool stores) for professional chefs in Japan. You can buy every kind of goods related to food, including Japanese kitchen knives, cookware, tableware, kitchen equipment, baking supplies, food samples, uniforms, and signs. About 170 stores line the street for 800 meters and have been attracting Japanese chefs and those involved in a food service business since the old days.
How to get to Kappabashi?
The nearest station is one stop before Asakusa Station on the Ginza line.
After going through the gate, use Exit 3 to get out of the subway station. Outside the station, you will find Kotobuki 4 intersection behind you, so turn right there. Pass APA Hotel on your right and in a few minutes, you will find Kikuyabashi intersection. There is a big sign of chef, which marks the main street of the Kappabashi area. For 800 meters from this point, almost all of the stores sell goods for a restaurant business.
Pass APA Hotel on your right and in a few minutes, you will find Kikuyabashi intersection. There is a big sign of chef, which marks the main street of the Kappabashi area. For 800 meters from this point, almost all of the stores sell goods for a restaurant business.
When should I go?
The stores usually open from 10:00 to 17:00. Almost all of the stores open Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, a little more than 90% of the stores open and about 30% on Sundays and national holidays. Since the stores tend to be crowded with local customers on weekends, I recommend that you go there during the weekdays.
Shopping Tips
Payment by credit cards
The stores frequented by foreigners accept credit cards, but some may not. It is better to have cash as well.
Overseas Shipping / Tax Refund / Money Exchange
The staff fluent in English will help you with tax exemption application and overseas shipping for what you bought at affiliated stores in Kappabashi. There is also an exchange machine to convert foreign currency to Japanese yen.
Shop Information
Tax Refund Counter
Address: 3-17-5 Matsugaya Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-18:00
ATM
If you do not have cash, you may be able to withdraw cash from an ATM at a convenience store, depending on the type of cards you have. Walk on the Kappabashi main street toward Iriya and you will find Family Mart.
Shop Information
Family Mart Iriya 2chome Branch
2-1-8 Iriya Taito-ku Tokyo
Free Wi-Fi
Some stores offer FREE Wi-Fi. You can also use Free Wi-Fi available throughout Taito-ku.
Shopping
Since I cannot introduce all the 170 stores, I would like to feature some on this page.
As for their location, please see the map below.
(I will introduce the stores in the order shown in the map.)
Dengama
The store specializes in tableware collected from local potters all over Japan. The dishes decorate your table with the sense of each season.
Shop Information
Dengama
Address: 1-4-3 Nishi-Asakusa Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-19:00
For more details of dengama
Niimi
The prestigious store of tabelware and kitchen equipment was established in 1907. It is well known for its big chef statue standing at the entrance of Asakusa Kappabashi Tool Street.
Shop Information
Niimi
Address:1-1-1 Matsugaya Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-17:30 (Monday to Saturday)
Kitchen World TDI
The store collects a wide range of goods from up-to-date cooking utensils to professional equipment.
Shop Information
Kitchen World TDI
Address: 1-9-12 Matsugaya Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:30-18:30
For more details of Kitchen World TDI
Rice Cooking Net 1,630JPY (About 15USD)
Takahashi Shoten Cookware Store
The store deals with a rich variety of cookware, from a big Zundo pot (a big cylinder-shaped pot), noodle mashine, yakiori grill, okonomiyaki grill to a small tong.
Shop Information
Takahashi Sohonten Cookware Store
Address: 1-1-11 Matsugaya Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:45-18:00
For more details of Takahashi Sohonten
Noodle Making Machine 64,800JPY (About 590USD)
Yakitori Grill 27,500JPY (About 250USD)
Okonomiyaki Grill 123,000JPY (About 1,118USD)
Okashi No Mori
The store sells more than 10,000 items of baking essentials.
Shop Information
Okashi No Mori
Address: 1-1-10 Matsugaya Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 9:30-17:20
Holiday 10:00-16:50
For more details of Okashi No Mori
Ramacom
The showroom features professional kitchen equipment, chest freezers, refrigerated showcases, bakery ovens, and so on.
Shop Information
Remacom Kappabashi
Address: 2-1-13 Matsugaya Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-17:00
For more details of Remacom
Tuna freezer 128,196JPY (About 1,165JPY)
Kamata Knife Shop
The store specializing in kitchen knives has more than 800 kinds of strictly selected items all the time. The knives range from those crafted by an artisan with traditional Japanese techniques to those produced in the modern facilities under the strict oversight.
Shop Information
Kamata Knife Shop
Address: 2-12-6 Matsugaya Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-18:00
For more details of Kamata Knife Shop
Kama-Asa
The store specializes in cookware and kitchen knives for more than 100 years. It boasts well-designed and functional items, which attract both local and foreign customers. There is a branch in Paris opened in 2018.
Shop Information
Kama-asa
Address: 2-24-1 Matsugaya Taito-ku Tokyo 111-0036
Hours: 10:00-17:30
For more details of Kama-Asa
Kondo Shoten
The only store specializing in bamboo goods on the Kappabashi street. It sells a rich selection of items, including tableware for commercial use, bamboo skewers, tableware and kitchen utensils made of bamboo, bamboo goods for display, and other items related to bamboo.
Shop Information
Bamboo Specialty Store Kondo Shoten
Address: 3-1-13 Matsugaya Taito-ku Tokyo
Hours:
Monday to Friday 9:30-17:30
Saturday 12:00-16:30
Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya
Food samples were nurtured by the rich restaurant culture in Japan and became a promotional tool that aims to tell the charm of the restaurant with an instant visual appeal. The samples are now supposed to look not only realistic but also “tasty.” Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya is one of the leading companies among food sample makers. If you visit the store with someone who can speak Japanese, you can participate in a workshop on making food samples.
Shop Information
Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya
Address: 3-7-6 Nishi Asakusa Taito-ku Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-17:30
For more details of Ganso Sample-ya
Propack Kappabashi
The five-storied store sells items such as ingredients for commercial use, food wrappers, paper products, stationeries and other necessities. I recommend the store for those who want to bulk buy ingredients or get other restaurant-related items.
Shop Information
Propack Kappabashi
Address: 3-7-5 Nishi Asakusa Taito-ku Tokyo
Hours:
9:00-17:30
For more details of Propack Kappabashi
Coffee Union
The store has been selling equipment for cafes for more than 50 years. It deals with various coffee beans and tea leaves as well as brewing equipment for both commercial and home use.
Shop Information
Coffee Union
Address: 2-22-6 Nishi Asakusa Taito-ku Tokyo
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 9:00-18:00
Sunday and National Holiday 10:00-17:00
Tsubaya
The store sells more than 1,500 kinds of kitchen knives, including Japanese and Western kitchen knives, single- and double-bevel knives, knives for home/professional use, or soba (buckwheat noodle) knives.
Shop Information
Tsubaya
Address: 3-7-2 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00-17:45
Sunday and National Holiday 9:00-16:45
For more details of Tsubaya
Asahiya
The store has been specializing in shugi-bukuro (a special envelope used for celebration) and cards for more than 100 years. I recommend the store’s shugi-bukuro for tourists from Asia, where there is a custom to send money as a gift on such an occasion as Old New Year.
Shop Information
Asahiya
Address: 3-6-1 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00
Curry Land
The store was established by a curry aficionado who has eaten more than 1,900 kinds of local curry all over Japan. The store specializes in retort curry (pre-packaged curry topping) and you will find “10 Most Popular Retort Curry” on the front shelf right when you step in the store.
Shop Information
Curry Land
Address: 2-24-7 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00-19:00
Closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and occasionally other days for stocking
Soba Hitsuru
This is a department store of soba-related items, including rolling pins, koma-ita (a board to hold soba dough), kiri-ita (a cutting board for soba), kitchen knives, and soba choko (a cup to hold soba dipping sauce).
Shop Information
Soba Hitsuru
Address: 2-22-7 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00-17:30
Sunday and National Holiday Closed
For more details of Hitsuru
Iida
Chefs gather from all over the world at this store, which is packed with more than 8,000 kinds of professional cooking utensils, such as peelers and graters.
Shop Information
Iida
Address: 2-21-6 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00-19:00
Sunday and National Holiday 10:00-18:00
For more details of Iida
Kanaya Brush
The store specializes in brushes, including pastry and basting brushes. There are diverse brushes with different materials or with a handle of different sizes. You can also order a brush custom-made by artisans.
Shop Information
Kanaya Brush
Address: 1-5-9 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:30-17:30
Going to Asakusa
It takes about 10 minutes on foot from Kappabashi to Asakusa. Walk east on the street by the corner of Seven Uniform on the main street.
Go straight through Kaminarimon 1 intersection and you will find Kaminarimon, a landmark of central Asakusa on your left.
