Shintou — Local services in Kyoto

My favourite knife shop in Kyoto, hands down. When buying knives, it is important to me that the person I'm dealing with is able to convey accurate and proper information about knife material and care. I've been cooking for more than 20 years, half of that in a professional capacity.

I have visited a number of knife stores in and around Kyoto and Japan in general and I think this store is easily the best I've been to in terms of service and knife quality. They have a very big, healthy selection of knives across all the major Japanese styles in a variety of materials. Care information is prominently displayed and they are able to go into more depth if you ask as well (we spent some time discussing the appropriate oils for oiling the blade today).

In case we have some esoteric questions, the knifemaker himself is on hand to help. They were able to answer all the questions my brother (who worked in several Michelin starred teams) had, very in depth ones about the materials used vs HRC, and did so very comfortably. This denotes the deep well of knowledge they have when it comes to knifemaking.

For English speakers, they are well prepared for you. There is a lovely English lady who has been working at the shop for at least the last year or so and she is also very knowledgeable about the knives and is obviously more than able to communicate. This has made things extremely easy when dealing with this store.

To date, I've bought maybe 8 knives from them in 3 years. It has become a thing for me now where every time we're in Kyoto, we need to visit Shintou and it is like coming home, but a cooler home where the walls are lined with the most...

I had a go-to knife master in Kyoto for over a decade who held a catalog of how I hold my knives; how I cut and over the years, how I have improved with my knife skills. The knives he made me had their own page and details that we have compiled into a small book. But sadly, he passed last year and I am still going through the grief of losing a good friend.

I don’t know who else to get my knives from then-on. I made a trip to Kyoto just this September to pay my respect on his first death anniversary, and along the way I stumbled across Shinto. Something about the shop front reminded me of Tanaka-San, and walking in gave me even more of a nostalgic feeling. But it was picking up a knife that I oddly felt an old feeling.

I held up two, and instantly I knew the one I wanted. It is a beautiful knife - clean lines; light as a feather; cuts like butter. It was sharp, smooth, and precise! It is workmanship that you know that has heart and soul poured into it.

I left with a big smile and almost a tear in my heart. Like Tanaka-san, this knife master handed my knife over (after engraving) with a gentle reminder, “no hard object; keep clean; sharpen once a month.”

I think I found my...

Simply a gorgeous knife, one I plan on having for a long, long time. They had a wonderful selection and lots of knives at difference price points. I got a blue steel knife for much cheaper than I would in North America. The knife master (I regrettably didn’t get his name) put so much care into each blade. His English was much better than my Japanese, and when purchasing the knife he gave me instructions on how to care for it and keep it in good condition. I could tell that the knife I got was more than just a kitchen appliance to him, it was a piece of art and a labour of love.

The knife is exquisitely designed, custom engraved with my name, and sharper than anything I’ve used before. I highly recommend checking out this shop if you’re in the area and have thought about getting a Japanese knife before. Every time I’m slicing and dicing vegetables in the kitchen I’ll think back to our wonderful trip to Japan. I was thinking of getting a new knife for about a year and made the perfect choice by stumbling...