Kiya in Nihonbashi
Kiya Knife Shop 木屋
Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Muromachi 1-5-6 中央区日本橋室町1-5-6
Tel. 03-3241-0110
10:00 – 18:00 (Sunday and holidays 11:15 – 17:45)
www.kiya-hamono.co.jp/english/index.html (English)
The corner shop, opened in 1792, has a sign in English, “World’s Finest Cutlery” over the door. The compact shop displays a shining collection of knives, pots, pans, and many things for the kitchen. Here you will find graters, pepper grinders, tweezers for pulling bones out of fish, as well as scissors and gardening tools. The friendly staff is patient and will help you to find exactly what you are looking for.
Kamata in Kappabashi
Kamata Knives かまた
Taito-ku, Matsugaya 2-12-6 台東区松が谷2-12-6
Tel. 03-3841-4205
www.kap-kam.com/english/ (English)
Kamata has a large selection of Western and Japanese knives, Japanese wet stones for keeping your knives sharp, and other kitchen gadgets. They will also sharpen your knives here if you live in Tokyo.
Tsukiji Masamoto
There are several knife shops in the market. Some of them are friendlier than others. Fifth generation Tsukiji Masamoto (opened in 1891) has always been on the friendly side and has an English speaking staff. Sugimoto Hamono has been in business for over 200 years. If you plan on going to Kyoto, the Aritsugu shop in Nishiki Market has a larger selection of items than the Tsukiji shop and may be worth the wait. Prices at all of the shops are comparable depending on the quality of the knife you are purchasing.
Tsukiji Masamoto 築地正本
Chuo-ku, Tsukiji 4-9-9 中央区築地4-9-9
Tel. 03-3541-7155
www.tukijimasamoto.co.jp/ (Japanese)
Sugimoto Hamono 杉本刃物
Chuo-ku, Tsukiji 4-10-2 中央区築地4-10-2
Tel. 03-3541-6980
www.sugimoto-hamono.com/en/index.html (English)
Sugimoto is another of the knife shops in Tsukiji Market.
Aritsugu 有次
Chuo-ku, Tsukiji 4-13-6 中央区築地4-13-6
Tel. 03-3541-6890
www.aritsugu.jp (Japanese)
Aritsugu has a much larger shop in Kyoto’s Nishiki Market. If you are going to Kyoto then you do not want to miss this store.
Be sure to read this short primer on Japanese knives:
