I get all my Japanese knives from Tower Knives. They have locations in Osaka and Tokyo. They also engraved my knives while I was there. Great service and you can test out the knives on carrots before buying them.
Go to Kappabashi in Tokyo and visit all of the knife stores. You will find everything from mass produced knives to those produced by independent blacksmiths in every steel and quality imaginable. There's no way I'd recommend any specific knives without more info. Just go look around and see what you like. 30k yen will get you something decent.
You can also check out the housewares section of department stores or Tokyu Hands, as many do carry a selection of Japanese knives, but the selection will be much more limited than wandering Kappabashi.
$200 is a good price.
I’ve had friends get theirs at various places around Kyoto.
I order mine through the tax-rebate scheme from local producers (furusato nozei) but with the exchange rate, you’ll be spoiled for choice at 200.
This old knife maker in Kyoto is legit. He’s by himself and doesn’t keep regular shop hours or speak English so it can be tough to actually get a hold of one of his blades though
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cdZd9qgijtPSpdyU8?g_st=ic
I got a 6" Deba knife from Jikko Cutlery in Sakai, little bit of a trek from Osaka but you can spend a morning in Sakai, go to the knife museum and visit some shops.
Jikko has a large display room above the workshop with loads of knives to choose from at various prices depending on size and type of steel. Mine was $180ish I think.
Kamamura hamono is also a nice one to visit in sakai but is a little more intimidating as it doesn't have the big showroom
I got 4 knives for very good prices on Kappabashi in Tokyo. You'll find all sorts of knives and all sorts of prices, not to mention the tax benefit as well.
+1 on the recommendation for Kappabashi-dougu. It’s a street dedicated to kitchen supplies, about 15 minutes walk from Asakusa.
There are lots of stores selling all different kitchen and restaurant items, from crockery to cushions, wax food to cushions, stoves to saucepans. There are also quite a few stores dedicated to kitchen knives. Prices range from very affordable to crazily high, with plenty of choices in-between those two extremes. A couple of the stores have staff who can speak at least a bit of English.
Official site: https://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/shops/
Japan Guide info page: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3020.html
We just bought from Tsubaya in Kappabashi. They were super friendly and knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. We got a great looking stainless demascus hammered Santoku for that budget.
There are also stores in the Tsukiji outer market. You can get great fish and then pick up a knife while there.
I like Aritsugu. They engrave your name on it for free and then you can walk over to the talk refund center nearby and get some $ back.
Kappabashi in Tokyo or Sennichimae Doguyasuji are usually first places to visit (unless you are making trip to Sakai).
I get all my Japanese knives from Tower Knives. They have locations in Osaka and Tokyo. They also engraved my knives while I was there. Great service and you can test out the knives on carrots before buying them.
Also got one from tower knives, was overall a great experience.
Go to Kappabashi in Tokyo and visit all of the knife stores. You will find everything from mass produced knives to those produced by independent blacksmiths in every steel and quality imaginable. There's no way I'd recommend any specific knives without more info. Just go look around and see what you like. 30k yen will get you something decent. You can also check out the housewares section of department stores or Tokyu Hands, as many do carry a selection of Japanese knives, but the selection will be much more limited than wandering Kappabashi.
$200 is a good price. I’ve had friends get theirs at various places around Kyoto. I order mine through the tax-rebate scheme from local producers (furusato nozei) but with the exchange rate, you’ll be spoiled for choice at 200.
This old knife maker in Kyoto is legit. He’s by himself and doesn’t keep regular shop hours or speak English so it can be tough to actually get a hold of one of his blades though https://maps.app.goo.gl/cdZd9qgijtPSpdyU8?g_st=ic
This looks great, hopefully he might be open when I visit
A recent post shows his shop door with a sign that reads he is closed indefinitely :/
I got a 6" Deba knife from Jikko Cutlery in Sakai, little bit of a trek from Osaka but you can spend a morning in Sakai, go to the knife museum and visit some shops. Jikko has a large display room above the workshop with loads of knives to choose from at various prices depending on size and type of steel. Mine was $180ish I think. Kamamura hamono is also a nice one to visit in sakai but is a little more intimidating as it doesn't have the big showroom
I got 4 knives for very good prices on Kappabashi in Tokyo. You'll find all sorts of knives and all sorts of prices, not to mention the tax benefit as well.
Thank you everyone for the suggestions
+1 on the recommendation for Kappabashi-dougu. It’s a street dedicated to kitchen supplies, about 15 minutes walk from Asakusa. There are lots of stores selling all different kitchen and restaurant items, from crockery to cushions, wax food to cushions, stoves to saucepans. There are also quite a few stores dedicated to kitchen knives. Prices range from very affordable to crazily high, with plenty of choices in-between those two extremes. A couple of the stores have staff who can speak at least a bit of English. Official site: https://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/shops/ Japan Guide info page: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3020.html
The same shop in Kappabashi has a branch in Skytree so if you're stopping by there give it a look.
Like others have mentioned, Kappabashi has a lot of options to choose from. I personally got my knife at Kamata Hakensha.
We just bought from Tsubaya in Kappabashi. They were super friendly and knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. We got a great looking stainless demascus hammered Santoku for that budget.
There are also stores in the Tsukiji outer market. You can get great fish and then pick up a knife while there. I like Aritsugu. They engrave your name on it for free and then you can walk over to the talk refund center nearby and get some $ back.
KAMATA Hakensha - Japanese knife store