Kappabashi (Kitchen Town)

The basics

Kappabashi is Tokyo’s longest street devoted to all things culinary. The shops here sell everything that a chef or restaurant owner might need, from knives and chopsticks to aprons and uniforms. Though it’s not specifically a tourist attraction, it is popular with travelers and food lovers looking for a quirky shopping or browsing destination. People often visit Kappabashi before or after visiting the nearby Asakusa neighborhood, and some guided tours include both areas.

Things to know before you go

• The southern end of Kappabashi Street features a very noticeable landmark on the roof of the Niimi building—a large bust of a chef wearing a chef’s hat.
• As the focus of Kappabashi is one long, straight shopping street, it’s hard to get lost in Kitchen Town.
• Perhaps surprisingly for a district devoted to food, there aren’t very many places to grab a meal, so it’s best to plan to eat in nearby Asakusa or Ueno.

How to get there

Kappabashi lies between the lively Ueno and Asakusa neighborhoods. The easiest way to get there is to get off at the Tawaramachi Station on the Ginza subway line. Alternatively, Ueno station on several JR train lines is about a 15-minute walk away.

When to get there

Visit Kappabashi during normal business hours on weekdays, when the shops will be open. Most shops will also be open on Saturdays, but just a few on Sundays and public holidays.

Visit Asakusa

Near Kappabashi is the old neighborhood of Asakusa, a very popular district with tourists because of its traditional craft shops and the ancient Senso-Ji temple. It’s a good idea to visit Kappabashi and Asakusa on the same day, as you can walk between the two areas. Plus, Asakusa is a great place to grab lunch or dinner because there are many traditional izakaya restaurants and yakitori (grilled meat) stalls.