Kappabashi is only a few minutes walk from the famous Asakusa, yet doesn’t get much attention from the general crowds. If you enjoy going to kitchen supply stores like Sur la table or upstairs in Zabar’s, you will love Kappabashi. It was once known for selling old tools and hardware about a century ago. Now, with over 170 stores in less than half a mile strip, you can find anything that might belong in any kitchen, and some things that you didn’t even know that should: dinnerware, silverware, drinkware, cookware, bakeware, tableware, utensils, knives, aprons, chef hats, kitchen gadgets, containers, restaurant equipment, menu boards, sales tickets and even the fake foods that you often see in front of many Japanese restaurants. If you didn’t notice, the picture of meat above is in fact fake!
Prices you see here are much better when compared to the ones in a department store, because a lot of them are sold at wholesale prices. If you are like me, anticipate that you may need a box to ship it home, especially when buying a Japanese knife.
And if you are looking for a good Japanese knife, stop by Tsubaya. All of their knives are handmade and is as sharp as a razor blade. Prices range anywhere from $50 to over $6000 for a single piece. Regardless of the price, the craftsmanship is hard to beat. They also have special knives for slicing fish, cutting noodles, cutting octopus, fugu, or for disembowelment (just kidding), none of which I had ever seen before, and many others that I didn’t even recognize.
This store is located right across the street from Tsubaya, specializing in soba equipment. I had no idea what I was looking at for the first few minutes. They have rolling pins of all different sizes, made with a variety of materials. It’s a tiny store and never saw a single soul while there. Perhaps the soba masters were busy making noodles for the lunch rush.
If you are interested in visiting Kappabashi, here is a map that shows you how to get there. Most stores are open Monday through Saturday. Avoid Sundays and Japanese holidays. Click on Kappabashi – third, blue circle from the right.