Kappabashi Street: 4 Must-Visit Kitchenware Stores in Tokyo

Located between Asakusa and Ueno, Kappabashi Street stretches 800 meters and features about 170 shops. You can find everything from kitchen utensils and chef's knives to cups, bowls, ladles, signs, food models, baking molds, and more!

We are excited to take you on a tour of notable kitchen tool shops. We've also included a specialty store brimming with hand-drip coffee equipment that coffee enthusiasts will go crazy over.

1. DR.GOODS: Specialty Store for Coffee Tools and Kitchenware

DR.GOODS is the overseas brand division established by the local kitchenware brand Kawasaki Shoten, which has been operating for 73 years.

It has been upholding the motto "You can find the tools you want! Meeting the needs of the times!" for over seven decades. It continues to be favored by professional chefs and everyday customers alike.

The person in charge revealed that 20 years ago, there were almost no stores in Japan that specialized in overseas kitchenware brands. As a result, most customers were chefs coming in to make purchases.

As the market gradually expanded, Japan began to recognize the value of Japanese-made and artisan-crafted products, which led to promoting Japanese products abroad.

Currently, the store primarily sells domestically produced items, all carefully selected for durability. After trying these products, many enthusiasts often come back to collect entire sets from the series.

Popular Enamelware Brands: Noda Enamel, Tsuki Usagi, and Staub

Enamel is one of the most sought-after materials for kitchen utensils and tableware. This is due to its excellent heat conductivity, ability to preserve food flavors, and resistance to bacterial adhesion, which makes it easy to clean.

DR.GOODS offers a substantial selection of enamelware items. Despite being a specialty store, it provides a rich variety from which everyone can select.

One of the most renowned brands in Japan is Noda Horo, which has over 70 years of history. The precise manufacturing, high quality, and minimalist design have captivated those who frequently use kitchenware.

The Noda Enamel single-hand milk pot features a compact design that allows for easy portion control, making it ideal for singles or when cooking small quantities of food.

Even if you're not familiar with the Tsuki Usagi brand, you may have seen their hand-drip kettles in coffee shops. Tsuki Usagi is considered a pioneer in elevating Japan's enamelware quality.

Their products combine vintage aesthetics with practicality, handcrafted by artisans using traditional methods. These kettles are a popular choice among many baristas for hand-drip coffee.

This iconic hand-drip kettle features an elegantly slender and smooth curve from the body to the spout, making it easy to hold while exuding a beautiful European aesthetic.

The enamel cast iron pots from France's Staub have become a coveted "magic pot" for many top chefs.

The lid features a patented design with water-retaining points that help lock in the food's natural sweetness, ensuring that the juices do not evaporate. Whether for frying, boiling, stir-frying, stewing, or deep-frying, it serves the purpose of ten different pots!

The 10-centimeter mini enamel cast iron pot is perfect for preparing small side dishes or desserts. This pot serves not just as a vessel for serving but also adds a decorative touch to the dining table, enhancing the presentation of the food.

Best-Selling Kitchenware among Japanese Chefs and Home Cooks

The wooden spatula series from Kobo Aizawa is made from natural Moso bamboo. The handles feature a specially rounded design that provides an excellent grip, allowing you to showcase your culinary skills at home like a professional chef!

The RIVER LIGHT tamagoyaki iron pan has a surface that absorbs oil but is non-stick. This is thanks to a special heat treatment applied to the iron material. This results in excellent heat conductivity, allowing for more aromatic and crispy dishes when cooking.

Dr. Goods

1-4-8 Nishiasakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0035

2. Majimaya: Specialty Baking Supplies Store

The store offers over a thousand high-quality molds, cookie cutters, and baking trays from Japan and abroad. Among its most distinct products are the handcrafted wooden molds for traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi), which were once essential for confectionery production.

However, the demand for these molds has decreased with changing times. As artisans face an aging population, the third-generation president is seeking craftspeople with this skill to allow more people to appreciate the charms of these delicate molds.

Additionally, you can order customized branding iron stamped on dorayaki, bread, and even leather products with your desired designs. Since few stores offer this service, many people specifically come to purchase this item.

Among the various dessert molds available, the Mount Fuji mold is especially popular and often sells out due to its ease of release and versatile design, earning rave reviews from customers.

3. Kama-Asa: A Century of Commitment to Cookware

Since its establishment over a century ago, Kamaasa has been dedicated to carefully selecting high-quality kitchen tools from across Japan to satisfy every cooking enthusiast.

One of their prized items is the Nanbu cast iron cookware from Iwate Prefecture. This item is not only perfect for baking and frying eggs but also for making hamburger patties. It can even be placed directly in the oven, making it incredibly convenient.

The store's best-selling item is the long-handled iron frying pan, produced in collaboration with Yamada Kogyosho.

Made from a single piece of iron hammered thousands of times by artisans, this pan is durable and has excellent heat conductivity. It has received such positive reviews that customers sometimes have to wait over two months to purchase it!

4. Japanese Knife Store Kamata Hakensha: Cooks Searching for High-Quality Chef's Knives

Established for over 90 years, Japanese Knife Store Kamata Hakensha has remained dedicated to selling chef’s knives. It continues to be one of the leading knife specialty stores on Kappabashi Street.

The shop offers over 800 varieties of knives, including uniquely patterned Damascus steel knives and those with natural wooden handles. Whether a novice or a seasoned chef, you can find the perfect knife for your needs here.

The shop also offers knife sharpening services, where you can watch skilled artisans focus on their craft, often drawing the attention of passersby.

Additionally, if you purchase a knife here, ask the staff to engrave your name on it. This service is free!

Find the Best Kitchen Tools in Kappabashi!

Kappabashi Street is where you can glimpse the production process of essential kitchen tools for chefs and cooking enthusiasts.

The customer next to you might even be a chef from a local restaurant who is selecting the perfect kitchen equipment! Visiting here will not leave you empty-handed, allowing you to discover a hidden gem!

In cooperation with DR.GOODS