Kappabashi Kitchenware Town

Kappabashi-dori is an 800-meter street in Tokyo's Taito ward between Asakusa and Ueno, where more than 200 shops have sold everything for the restaurant trade since the 1920s. From hand-forged hocho knives, ramen bowls and sushi cases to sake glasses and complete kitchen fit-outs, practically every component of a Japanese kitchen can be found here. Kappabashi is especially known for sampuru, the uncannily realistic vinyl food models that small restaurants across Japan display in their windows. Specialist workshops such as Maizuru and Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya have produced the pieces for nearly a century and now offer workshops for visitors. The name Kappabashi recalls the water-sprite-like creatures kappa, with a large kappa statue at the northern end. Today home cooks and international foodies come here to buy Japanese steel knives, cast pans and ceramics directly from specialist retailers.