Kappabashi: Focus on Tokyo’s Famous Kitchen District

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The official name of Kappabashi is “かっぱ橋道具街” or “kappabashi dougu gai”. English? “Kappa bridge tool district”. Why’s everyone call it Tokyo’s Kitchen district then?! Well, those tools over the years have converted mostly to the kitchen variety. Located in the Taito Ward between Ueno and Asakusa, it’s a great location for unique Japanese gifts and an insight into Japans culinary side.

First though: That name!

Before you get excited, there isn’t a bridge. According to the official website, there are two theories behind the name. Both a little far fetched and have to do one with a guy making shoes and another with a guy reacting to the area flooding frequently. (Honestly, they are a little hard to follow with my limited Japanese!).

Whatever the reason for the original “kappa” part of the name, in honor of its 90th anniversary in 2003, a mythological Kappa statue was erected. The official title being “かっぱ河太郎像” which is “Kappa Kawatarou zou“. That second word? The Japanese word for the mythological water-dwelling creature, kappa. (Zou just means statue). So it’s Kappa’s kappa statue. Why’s that important? Because Japan LOVES homonyms. The mythological creature correlation was added later due to similarities in the area originally being called “Kappa”.

Exploring Kappabashi

Though originally it was probably more general tools as the name implies, today, if you need restaurant equipment? Come to Kappabashi. There are over 170 different stores in the 800 meter long stretch of road, not including the side streets!

There’s bakery equipment, crazy fancy coffee implements, Japanese, Western, and Chinese tableware. Appliances of every sort. Need some good Tupperware items? There’s all sorts of sizes, brands, colors. Even some that will work for miso containers!

Decorative goods for your shop such as pretty curtains (暖簾, noren, are the fancy half curtains that are at the front of restaurant entrances), nice chairs, lanterns. If ramen is your thing, why not get a nice set of bowls and spoons?!

Probably the best place you’ll find “fake” food. You know those cool displays of perfect looking food in front of some shops? Yeah, you can commission your own here! Want to feel like a real chef? There’s coat and apron shops.

What do you really go for though? The knives

As far as a great souvenir for while you are in Japan, the knives are amazing. Kappabashi has PLENTY of stores for you to feast your eyes on. Fun thing as well? A lot of them will engrave the knife with your name!

Kappabashi Tokyo’s Kitchen District Shop Hours

Don’t make the mistake of missing the whole openings! Holidays and Sundays much of the street shops are closed so I don’t recommend going then unless that’s your only choice (I bought my knife on New Year’s eve so there is some luck to be had!). Monday to Friday is a much better time to go and the shops are usually open from 09:00 to 17:00. Saturdays are a pretty good bet as well with most shops open.

Oh yeah, how do you know you’ve made it? Look for Kappa heads all over the place or signs like this one.

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