Kappabashi Street (Kappabashi Dogugai)
Kappabashi Street (Kappabashi Dogugai)
4
About
The stores in this neighborhood sell kitchen equipment and paper supplies to the city's restaurants. Of note are the specialty plastic food items, which are placed in restaurant windows to show passersby what goodies are being served inside.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
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Neighbourhood: Ueno, Asakusa
Traces of the history and culture of the Edo (old Tokyo) era remain vividly in Ueno and Asakusa. Spacious Ueno Park is a great place to relax and visit a variety of different museums and galleries. At Ameyoko which starts in front of Ueno station, the grocery stores and clothing shops are crammed alongside fishmongers. It gets particularly busy at the end of the year, when many people go on shopping sprees. The town of Asakusa, developed around Sensoji temple, has many shops selling goods and clothing from old Japan, making it a great place for souvenir hunting. It's also known for various annual festivals, and the whole district gets involved with the huge Sanja Festival in May.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
1,317 reviews
Excellent
478
Very good
624
Average
199
Poor
14
Terrible
2
The Wandering Reviewer
Melbourne, Australia12,179 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Whatever you’re after in the cooking department you’ll find it here. Menus, chopsticks, cutlery, ceramics, napkins, brooms and so on. It’s all here with the best items being knives. The most amusing places are the ones selling plastic food.
Not far from Ueno Station, with about a 20 minute walk, you will enjoy walking in and around the area discovering the different little shops and stores. Prices aren’t negotiable so don’t think of trying to try and haggle.
Staff are helpful and please be patient as not everyone has great English.
Not far from Ueno Station, with about a 20 minute walk, you will enjoy walking in and around the area discovering the different little shops and stores. Prices aren’t negotiable so don’t think of trying to try and haggle.
Staff are helpful and please be patient as not everyone has great English.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karenpammy2016
San Francisco, CA1,233 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
This is the kitchenware town area of Tokyo as all the stores here are focused on kitchen supplies and related. It is worth a walk down here after you are finished walking down Tanuki Dori St. (where there are different lucky tanuki statues seen). There are a variety of personal kitchen /restaurant related items that are interesting to view such as the many plastic foods used in window displays throughout Japan. They are very realistic looking! Don't miss the giant chef with the white hat located directly above the Niimi Building on the corner of Kappabashi Street.
Written August 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TassieTripping
Hobart, Australia531 contributions
Sept 2019
Almost a kilometre long, this street is lined on both sides by shops both small and large selling catering supplies including tableware, utensils and appliances and sample food. There is a English diagram that shows every shop and type of products for sale which you can get from some shops. Easy to spend a long time here depending on what you’re interested in. Staff were very helpful.
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K T
Toronto, Canada1,252 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Visited Kappabashi street in January 2020. This is the kitchen district of Tokyo. You can find any cookware, kitchen equipment, or food samples in this area. If you are cooking enthusiast, this is a must. The shops close early around 5 pm, so take note. We wish we had more time to spend. Within walking distance to Asakusa temple. Highly recommend.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yu Ying
Singapore, Singapore1,873 contributions
Nov 2019
An entire area selling everything related to cooking you can find. But some shops look like they have been around since forever and some items are quite old/dated. It is walking distance from Akihabara, quite easy to reach. Each shop has unique specialty items such as ceramics, wooden plates/bowls, fake menu food replica, chef outfit, coffee maker, chopsticks etc. I can easily spend one whole afternoon there.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JeffE65
East Molesey, UK118 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
An amazing district filled with an overwhelming amount if cookery shops. Knives, fake food, tableware and anything food related you can think of.
Tax free shopping for tourists is available but you must bring your receipts to the Tax Free Office in the middle of Dougu Street where your tax will be refunded to you in cash.
For a foodie that loves cooking this area is a must when you are in Tokyo. Easy to get to on public transport.
Tax free shopping for tourists is available but you must bring your receipts to the Tax Free Office in the middle of Dougu Street where your tax will be refunded to you in cash.
For a foodie that loves cooking this area is a must when you are in Tokyo. Easy to get to on public transport.
Written December 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
skystew30
Chiicago25 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
Went to visit Kappabashi knife stores and had a great purchase at Union Commerce knife store with Mr.Sasaki ( Gentlemen with nice white hair) whose English was excellent but most importantly so kind, helpful, personable & patient to find the perfect knife for your personal use. Best to bring cash and if one makes a larger purchase, he may offer you a decent discount and a great little gift.They will engrave both carbon or stainless steel knives.They even offered me a small cup of great cold coffee.
I did not find the same experience across the way at Tsubaya knives.They seem to get more tourists but their customer service was arrogant and unkind. It is almost like they do not like to deal with foreign tourists but more with the Japanese customer. If there is anyone you need to talk to then pick the young man named "Leeky" & he was very helpful and kind.Unfortunately, he went on lunch breaj when I returned.The two taller, over 6 feet tall, younger sales guys ( one with orange hair) the other with dark black hair sort of spiked up, were arrogantly cold and sadly rude. I have been in the service and customer service and travel all over the world including India and China and these two young men appeared they could not even be bothered with attitude.Sad that the actual owner does not know about their poor attitude. The older helpers in the back of the store were very nice. Several of us left the store and went to Union instead.We were strangers but agreed that their customer service was poor.
All of us bought over $600 worth of knives, and those kids could care less across at Tsubaya.
A kind reminder that there are only a couple company that makes blades.Then these stores put their own brand and handles on them.
If you really need top-of-the-line custom knives for professional chefs then one may need to visit the 3 shops at Tsujiki market.They are the best knives in the world but not as decorative.They only engrave the carbon steel knives, not the stainless ones.They are all very nice and helpful there too.Make certain to grab some of the freshest sushi at any small stall/restaurant there.
Hope this review helps one have a good experience with such a great investment for your kitchen!
I did not find the same experience across the way at Tsubaya knives.They seem to get more tourists but their customer service was arrogant and unkind. It is almost like they do not like to deal with foreign tourists but more with the Japanese customer. If there is anyone you need to talk to then pick the young man named "Leeky" & he was very helpful and kind.Unfortunately, he went on lunch breaj when I returned.The two taller, over 6 feet tall, younger sales guys ( one with orange hair) the other with dark black hair sort of spiked up, were arrogantly cold and sadly rude. I have been in the service and customer service and travel all over the world including India and China and these two young men appeared they could not even be bothered with attitude.Sad that the actual owner does not know about their poor attitude. The older helpers in the back of the store were very nice. Several of us left the store and went to Union instead.We were strangers but agreed that their customer service was poor.
All of us bought over $600 worth of knives, and those kids could care less across at Tsubaya.
A kind reminder that there are only a couple company that makes blades.Then these stores put their own brand and handles on them.
If you really need top-of-the-line custom knives for professional chefs then one may need to visit the 3 shops at Tsujiki market.They are the best knives in the world but not as decorative.They only engrave the carbon steel knives, not the stainless ones.They are all very nice and helpful there too.Make certain to grab some of the freshest sushi at any small stall/restaurant there.
Hope this review helps one have a good experience with such a great investment for your kitchen!
Written June 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin509
Florida20 contributions
Oct 2012
if you have time..check out Kappabashi. I can spend an afternoon here shopping for pottery. you will even see the "fake plastic" food that the restaurants display. something for everyone! crowded on weekends..best to go on weekday if possible. Metro information.. Ginza Line. Tawaramachi Station...exit 3
Written October 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric J
Wels, Austria5,535 contributions
Apr 2012 • Solo
"Kitchen Town" in English but known in Japanese as Kappabashi ("Kappa Bridge") - any way you call it, this quiet section of Tokyo is packed with shops that supply most of Tokyo's restaurants with - you name it. Plastic sushi. Plastic beers - so realistic, with foam and bubble streams in the "beer" that if you pretend to trip while carrying one, everyone expects to get soaked. Giant rice cookers. Chopsticks of every variety and available in packs of 500 or 1,000 and only a couple of cents per pair. Beautiful ceramic plates. I think you could completely outfit a restaurant, from the signage to the tables and place settings to the order pads to the cookers, all in Kitchen town. They are happy to sell one or two of anything to the public.
To get there, take the Ginza Line towards Asakusa Station and get off one stop from the end, Tawaramachi Station. Go out exit 1, which will point you in the right direction along Asakusa Dori. After a couple hundred meters you'll see a giant Chef's head on top of a building at the intersection with Kappabashi-Dori. That is the beginning of Kitchen town - just cross the street there and have fun discovering.
Many sushi lovers know about kappa maki, a roll with a center of cucumber, and mistakenly think that "Kappa" means cucumber. It does not. A Kappa is a mythical creature, sort of humanoid but scaly like a fish, and lives in rivers. It's a kind of Boogeyman story that parents tell their children to keep them from playing near the river so they don't end up drowning. The Kappa will grab children playing near the water's edge and drag them under the water. The myth is actually quite elaborate, and a part of it is that Kappas' favourite food is cucumbers. So sometimes a parent will go to the river with their child, carve the child's name on a cucumber, and throw it into the river. This is to appease the Kappa who, having been fed his fave food, will then remember and spare the child whose name was carved onto the cucumber. If you walk down Kappabashi-Dori about 400 meters on the left is a golden statue of a Kappa.
At the end of your tour, go back to Tawaramachi station and continue on the one stop to the end. Emerging from Asakusa Station you'll see the Asahi Brewery (the building with the famous golden doo-doo) where you can slake the thirst you built up looking at all the too- realistic plastic beers!
To get there, take the Ginza Line towards Asakusa Station and get off one stop from the end, Tawaramachi Station. Go out exit 1, which will point you in the right direction along Asakusa Dori. After a couple hundred meters you'll see a giant Chef's head on top of a building at the intersection with Kappabashi-Dori. That is the beginning of Kitchen town - just cross the street there and have fun discovering.
Many sushi lovers know about kappa maki, a roll with a center of cucumber, and mistakenly think that "Kappa" means cucumber. It does not. A Kappa is a mythical creature, sort of humanoid but scaly like a fish, and lives in rivers. It's a kind of Boogeyman story that parents tell their children to keep them from playing near the river so they don't end up drowning. The Kappa will grab children playing near the water's edge and drag them under the water. The myth is actually quite elaborate, and a part of it is that Kappas' favourite food is cucumbers. So sometimes a parent will go to the river with their child, carve the child's name on a cucumber, and throw it into the river. This is to appease the Kappa who, having been fed his fave food, will then remember and spare the child whose name was carved onto the cucumber. If you walk down Kappabashi-Dori about 400 meters on the left is a golden statue of a Kappa.
At the end of your tour, go back to Tawaramachi station and continue on the one stop to the end. Emerging from Asakusa Station you'll see the Asahi Brewery (the building with the famous golden doo-doo) where you can slake the thirst you built up looking at all the too- realistic plastic beers!
Written May 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheLeongOhana
United States7,505 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
This area had shop after shop selling all types of kitchenwares. Some of the larger stores stocked practically everything for use in a kitchen while others just specialized in one category like plastic food replicas, knives, etc. Many of the knife shops would sharpen and engrave your knives as you waited. Some of those knives were selling for a couple hundred dollars so hopefully they were worth it!
One hint, I found out that not all of the best deals were visible from the sidewalk so go inside and look around. I ended up buying more than expected.
Also don’t miss the big chef statue and the building with teacup balconies. Easiest way is to exit #1 from Tawaramachi Station and head straight down Asakusa Dori for about 3 blocks. You will get a great view from across the street.
One hint, I found out that not all of the best deals were visible from the sidewalk so go inside and look around. I ended up buying more than expected.
Also don’t miss the big chef statue and the building with teacup balconies. Easiest way is to exit #1 from Tawaramachi Station and head straight down Asakusa Dori for about 3 blocks. You will get a great view from across the street.
Written January 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What time do stores usually open and close both on weekdays and weekends?
Written April 9, 2019
good morning ,shps in kappabashi usually open at 10.00 am and close around 5.30,,,,6,00 pm 6 days a week
Written May 22, 2019
Nearest subway stops? I'll be staying in Asakusa for a few days in a week or so.
Thank you!
Written February 3, 2019
If you're staying in Asakusa, you'll be right there. Just walk to Kappabashi. :)
Written February 3, 2019
I want to buy an empty sake barrel. Any tips Thankx
Written January 4, 2019
hallo there you can find anykind of item for the kitchen in kappabashi ....take your time and stay almost a day ,there 's a huge variety of staff .
Written January 20, 2019
dipap159
Brisbane, Australia
Can you pay for the knives by credit card or do you have to pay by cash? Thank you
Written August 24, 2018
Either method is fine however if the shop seems small or traditional, it may only accept cash only.
Written August 24, 2018
Hello,
I'm interested in the knives sold at this particular shopping area. Are we able to pack knives bought into our check-in luggage? Or do we have to mail them? Thank you for your help.
Written August 11, 2018
We brought knives back to Australia in checked luggage and had no problems
Written August 26, 2018
Do the shops mail pottery back to the States? If so, is it costly?
Written May 13, 2017
Some do - I found some dinner plates in a little shop on Kappabashi St and asked if they mailed them overseas. The ladies didn't have a lot of english but showed me a price list (in english) of postage costs. I paid, gave them my address and a couple of weeks later, my plates arrived home in perfect condition. Japanese people are very honest and pack things carefully.
Written June 1, 2017
Is there a similar kitchen town near Shinjuku JR station?
Written January 17, 2017
I haven't seen anything similar near Shinjuku station.
Written January 17, 2017
Hello, do the shop around the street accept credit card or mostly in cash terms?
Written September 29, 2015
Roland C., I have not been to Kappabashi for a year but did not see any stores which carry foreign goods; many beautiful baskets and bamboo goods, amazing plastic foods, wonderful cast iron pots, pans, teapots, ladles, etc. however I doubt they sell Le Creuset. I use Le Creuset in my kitchen and if I had seen any would have happily purchased some. If you do find it, please write a review so we know where to go next time. Have fun!
Written October 1, 2015
In general what are the shop hours? Are they open in the evening, say until 8:00 pm?
How do I get to it from the Senso-ji temple?
Written February 15, 2015
"In general", most shops in Kappabashi are open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, some shops might be closed on Sat and most shops are usually closed on Sun unless there is a festival in the area then.
One of the nearest subway station to Kappabashi is a station called "Taharamachi", but if you start from Sensou-ji ("ji" in Japanese in this respect means a temple) or anywhere in Asakusa, you can easily get to Kappabashi on foot: about 10 to 20min.
Written February 16, 2015
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