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Choose, buy and use a Japanese knife.

Independent guides from an editorial team in Tokyo, in four languages. We bought six santoku in Kappabashi and cut with them side by side, and we map 97 knife shops in 13 areas of Japan.

Knives from our 2026 Kappabashi sharpening test, laid side by side on black cloth
FIG. 1Knives from our 2026 Kappabashi sharpening test. Our own photo.

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Where to Buy Japanese Knives in Miki, Hyogo: Japan's Hardware Town (2026)

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Where to Buy Japanese Knives in Echizen (Takefu, Fukui) — 2026 Guide

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Kappabashi Kitchen Town Guide (2026): Getting There, What to Buy, When to Go

Kappabashi Kitchen Town is an 800-metre Tokyo street of about 170 kitchen and restaurant-supply shops between Ueno and Asakusa. Stations, Sunday closures, what to buy besides knives, the tax-free change on 1 November 2026, shipping home and a half-day route.

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How to Buy a Japanese Knife Online From Japan: Shipping, Duties and Size (2026)

Ordering a knife from a shop in Japan: paying in yen, EMS, FedEx and DHL delivery times, import duty and VAT for the US, Canada, UK, EU and Australia (checked 1 October 2026), knife-specific rules, choosing a size you cannot hold, and returns.

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Japan Tax-Free Shopping From 1 November 2026: What Changes for Knife Buyers

From 1 November 2026, Japan's tax-free shops charge the full price including consumption tax and refund it after a customs check when you leave. What changes for knife buyers in Kappabashi, Sakai, Seki and Kyoto, what the shop will ask, and how to handle the airport.

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