Kappabashi-dōri

Asakusa & Sumida River


If you're after something for the kitchen or dining room table, head to Kappabashi-dōri Japan’s largest wholesale restaurant-supply and kitchenware district. Gourmet accessories include bamboo steamer baskets, lacquer trays, neon signs and chōchin (paper lanterns). It's also where restaurants get their freakishly realistic plastic food models.

If you'd like to buy some plastic food as a souvenir, head to Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya. For fine Japanese-crafted knives and other classic pieces of kitchen equipment, Kama-asa is an ideal choice.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Asakusa & Sumida River attractions

1. Higashi Hongan-ji

0.1 MILES

This large temple offers peace and quiet inside the main hall. The temple was founded in the 17th century; the current building is a reconstruction from…

2. Asakusa

0.17 MILES

Worth searching out is this quirky 40-sq-metre exhibition space in an unmarked old house, hiding down a narrow alley. It's run by contemporary art curator…

3. Taiko Drum Museum

0.2 MILES

There are hundreds of drums from around the world here, including several traditional Japanese taiko. The best part is that you can actually play most of…

5. Five-Storey Pagoda

0.43 MILES

On the grounds of Sensō-ji, this 53m-high, five-storey pagoda is a 1973 reconstruction of a pagoda built by Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1648. The current…

6. Awashima-dō

0.44 MILES

This subtemple of Sensō-ji dates to the late 17th century. The deity enshrined here is a guardian of women and the temple is the site of a curious ancient…

7. Kaminari-mon

0.45 MILES

The Sensō-ji temple precinct begins at this majestic gate, from which hangs an enormous chōchin (lantern); look under this to see a beautiful carved…

8. Hōzō-mon

0.46 MILES

At the end of Sensō-ji's Nakamise-dōri, this gate is flanked by two fierce guardian deities. On the gate’s back side are a pair of 2500kg, 4.5m-tall…