Kappabashi Dougugai Kitchen Town — Attraction in Tokyo

This is a fabulous place for anyone interested in cooking. Knife and kitchen shops galore! Some notes: there are 2 metro stations « nearby » but both require a walk. One is I believe 10 min and the other is 15 min. The stores close at 5 pm!! Despite what you read elsewhere, the majority close at 5 pm. Tax free office closes at 6 pm. Beware not all stores are selling items with a focus on Made in Japan (which is a mark of stellar quality). You should have a photo with the characters for made in Japan (日本製) or ask when in doubt - « Nihonsei deska? »

The tax free office is also towards the end on the left hand side if Nimi store is behind you. Not all the stores participate, and some do their own instantly which is convenient. Others allow you to combine receipts from other stores.

There are a few favourite shops. The large Nimi shop with the huge chef head on display on the roof is a hit. They do not do tax free, but they do have a toilet. always end up buying loads from here, particularly because the store is large and has everything including knives. Staff speak English, French and gestures to get the point across. Some of their staff have been working there for 30+ years. The old grandpa is a favourite, and very sweet and so is the man who can parle français.

The store in my 2nd photo- look for the duck sign. Yoshida’s Co. They do not do vat back but their prices are competitive and they have some of the kindest and gentle employees working there. If you have questions, they are very eager to help, will try to answer and make you feel welcome. The shop is small but it goes in deeper towards the back and you will definitely find things you cannot live without. They do have a large section on baking goods and procure a majority of made in Japan goods.

Iida- this store is large but packed full to the brim. Everywhere your glance lands, your eyeballs will fight to focus on the hundreds of items to be processed in your cerebrum. Even if you look up, there are sieves hanging from the ceiling! The aisles are tiny, and you will feel a bit claustrophobic especially when it’s busy. BUT. It’s a haven for chefs. They have such a large selection of products to choose from. Need a tamago pan? Here, choose from a wall full of them! Need a sieve? They have an entire section dedicated to it. Also they do the vat instantly which means no having to trek anywhere after. Don’t forget they have an upstairs section as well.

My advice is to start in the morning. Bring the carryon suitcase (if going with a friend who can take turns to wait with it outside if the store is too small and you know you are going to go crazy) to fill it to the brim. Bring water and a banana or lunch as you will be so busy trying to hit every single shop, and inevitably end up starving yet desperate to continue on. 2 hours is not enough time for here. You could easily spend the whole day here but at least allocate 4-5 hours, and plan to come back if you are crazy about kitchenware.

Asakusa is a short 10 minute walk from here, with the shrine, loads of restos, shopping, etc. I would do Kappabashi first and then head to Asakusa when you get hungry. Remember It is massive, and there are hidden streets and areas. Don’t forget to venture further to the area where the traditional senbei are made! Update: 10/8-10/14 had some kind of festival with all the stores having special prices on front stands. I went on 10/14 and it was sheer madness. Every store had deals- the patisserie store Majimaya Confectionery had 10% off storewide. Found another public bathroom in the public library kitty corner and north of the tax...

Kappabashi Dougu Street, also known as Kappabashi Kitchen Town, is a popular shopping street located in Tokyo, Japan. It is situated between Ueno and Asakusa and is known for being a mecca for restaurant and kitchen supplies.

Kappabashi Dougu Street is lined with numerous shops that specialize in a wide range of kitchenware, cooking utensils, and restaurant equipment. Whether you're a professional chef or a cooking enthusiast, you can find just about anything you need for your kitchen here. The street is particularly famous for its plastic food replicas, which are commonly seen in restaurant displays throughout Japan. These realistic food replicas are meticulously crafted and allow restaurants to showcase their menu items in a visually appealing way.

Apart from plastic food replicas, you can find an extensive selection of cookware, cutlery, tableware, baking supplies, and other kitchen gadgets in the shops along Kappabashi Dougu Street. From traditional Japanese kitchen tools to modern cooking appliances, the street offers a wide variety of options to suit different culinary needs.

In addition to kitchen supplies, Kappabashi Dougu Street also features shops that sell restaurant furniture, signage, and interior decorations. This makes it a popular destination not only for chefs but also for restaurant owners and operators.

While the primary focus of Kappabashi Dougu Street is on professional kitchen supplies, it has also become a tourist attraction in its own right. Visitors can stroll along the street, browse the shops, and soak in the unique atmosphere. Some shops even offer workshops or demonstrations where visitors can learn about traditional Japanese cooking techniques or food carving.

Kappabashi Dougu Street is easily accessible by public transportation, with Tawaramachi Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line) and Asakusa Station (Various lines) located nearby. The street is typically open during regular business hours, and it's a good idea to check the specific opening hours of individual shops before visiting.

Whether you're a food lover, a cooking enthusiast, or simply interested in exploring a unique shopping street in Tokyo, a visit to Kappabashi Dougu Street offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of kitchenware and culinary...

This is heaven 😍 If you are after Japanese made kitchen/ cooking/ baking products this is the place. Look for the Kappabashi street sign (in Japanese) with yellow and green duck along the road that mark the area. Even if you just want to look around, come at least before 3pm as some shops closed as early as 4.30pm, only a couple open until 6pm.

Shops open at around 9am-11am ish. Many closes on Sunday but that kinda reduces the choice fatigue plus eliminates the small ones as more great sellers and big shops are still open.

If you are really serious about baking or cooking, come after lunch or even dedicate an entire day. Most shop let you browse around, touch the products and take pictures. But be careful not to break things as they might as you to pay for it. Most if not all shops have very small aisles, it won’t fit prams or wheelchairs. Not much stairs around but a step or two and some stores have multiple floors.

Hence this place is only suitable for adults, as kids won’t be interested and they might touch or break things. let your partner take the children somewhere and come to this heaven 😉

Mainly there are thee kind of shops: tax free shop inside the shop itself where they will do the tax deduction and you need to spend 5000yen inside that shop. (Mostly bigger and more modern shops) Shop that participates in the tax free scheme in Kappabashi area. There is a tax refund counter opens until 6pm and they have the list of which shop participates in the tax free scheme- this means you don’t have to buy 5000yen in one shop and you can go to the tax refund counter once you finished shopping and buy over 5000yen from all participating shops (see pic for list) and see store stickers or you can ask the shop before buying. (Medium-big old school shops) Shops that don’t do neither. In saying that, some non tax free shops sometimes sell the same items with better prices. And many items here aren’t cheaper than buying from tourist spots. Do some research and compare with amazon jp to get...