Buying a high quality kitchen knife in Tokyo/Osaka
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,231
I bought two knives from here: KAMATA Hakensha?Japanese knife specialty store
amazing quality, I bought two exquisitely engraved knives with Japanese handles, except I totally miscalculated the currency difference and spent 10x what I thought, something that I woke up to when I received my tax refund up the street...oh well, but we absolutely love these knives and they cut effortlessly and cleanly vs anything we can buy in the USA.
now I just need to find someone in southern California who can sharpen them, since they are approaching two years old.
amazing quality, I bought two exquisitely engraved knives with Japanese handles, except I totally miscalculated the currency difference and spent 10x what I thought, something that I woke up to when I received my tax refund up the street...oh well, but we absolutely love these knives and they cut effortlessly and cleanly vs anything we can buy in the USA.
now I just need to find someone in southern California who can sharpen them, since they are approaching two years old.
#19
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,634
Perfect Edge Cutlery & Chefs' Supply - Home
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,231
I heard from a friend in the Bay Area that Perfect Edge knows what it is doing. Not sure if that goes for all locations or if there's a specific shop she takes her knives to.
Perfect Edge Cutlery & Chefs' Supply - Home
Perfect Edge Cutlery & Chefs' Supply - Home
#21
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 193
Masamoto, at Tsukiji has always been my go to. Better knives there go for around $100 US. Be warned, though, that it's a cash only shop.
They finish sharpen any knives you buy when you buy them.
They finish sharpen any knives you buy when you buy them.
#22
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NorCal
Posts: 658
Cash only, thanks.
Yeah, I got the sense that good ones are $100+
It's just hard judging from a Google search and YouTube videos what, if any store, is worth going to. I'm still not sure about Tower Knives in Osaka. Starting to wonder if they're just especially good at marketing in English.
Yeah, I got the sense that good ones are $100+
It's just hard judging from a Google search and YouTube videos what, if any store, is worth going to. I'm still not sure about Tower Knives in Osaka. Starting to wonder if they're just especially good at marketing in English.
#23
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
I was in Tokyo looking for just this back around Thanksgiving. I walked to this street, which is away from the tourist areas and in a kitchen supply kind of neighborhood. There were 3-4 knife shops on this street and seemed to have very good selection:
https://www.google.com/maps/search/k....787506,17.26z
(near the top of the map, the cluster around "Tsubaya Cutlery World")
https://www.google.com/maps/search/k....787506,17.26z
(near the top of the map, the cluster around "Tsubaya Cutlery World")
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,634
I was in Tokyo looking for just this back around Thanksgiving. I walked to this street, which is away from the tourist areas and in a kitchen supply kind of neighborhood. There were 3-4 knife shops on this street and seemed to have very good selection:
https://www.google.com/maps/search/k....787506,17.26z
(near the top of the map, the cluster around "Tsubaya Cutlery World")
https://www.google.com/maps/search/k....787506,17.26z
(near the top of the map, the cluster around "Tsubaya Cutlery World")
#25
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,218
Nenohi in Tsukiji is my recommendation, all of our family's high end knives come from that shop: Chef's Knife Manufacturer NENOHI CUTLERY CO.LTD.. I always seem to run in to Michelin-starred chefs at their tiny shop, if that's any indication of quality and reputation.
I believe their location will remain after the inner market closure later this year.
They used to be only available in Japan, but now they are distributing internationally as interest has increased: Korin - Fine Japanese Tableware and Chef Knives
I believe their location will remain after the inner market closure later this year.
They used to be only available in Japan, but now they are distributing internationally as interest has increased: Korin - Fine Japanese Tableware and Chef Knives