There is so much to buy in Tokyo. Of course, not every shop sells good stuff and you need to know a few key spots, but this time I discovered the charm of Kappabashi, the street that specialises in kitchenware, and spent a lot of time there.
Kappabashi in the rain
Rain during a trip is never fun, but the streets looked like a black-and-white photo and it somehow put me in a calm mood. Feeling the charm of the old streets everywhere you go is what makes a Tokyo trip special.
Dr. Goods at the entrance to Kappabashi
A stylish kitchenware shop that I love. Their range of overseas brands is overwhelming. Dig around a bit and it is a real treasure trove.
The shop is not big, but the selection is very well curated.
What I bought this time
I bought the Rösle tongs because the mechanism was so clever, but they turned out a bit heavy. Actually, I think it is less about the weight and more that they are short, which makes them hard to grip. The IKEA tongs I used to use were great, but they are still not imported into Korea. Anyway, getting used to the Rösle is going to take a while. I bought the cheese knife because I have been eating a lot more cheese lately, and it is really handy. I have no idea what it costs in Korea, but the 2,200 yen did not feel wasted at all. I bought a butter knife too, but I am on a diet and hardly eating bread these days, so who knows when I will get to use it.
Tsukumo in Akihabara
I had heard rumours that silent keyboards and silent mice were coming out, so I rushed over to Akihabara. When I work late at night, the clatter of the keyboard and the click-click of the mouse really get on my nerves, so I was curious how good the silent models actually are. But Tsukumo, which I was counting on, did not have any silent keyboards on display.. Should I just buy one blind..
I left Tsukumo and moved on to Yodobashi Akiba.
A fun iPad case
It is a clever case that lets you hold the iPad and use it with one hand, but it did not support the iPad 2 or 3. Does the case I want exist anywhere in this world? I will keep waiting a little longer.
Silent mouse
You really can barely hear the click. Beyond the sound, the feel is soft and it takes hardly any force, which I liked. I bought it on impulse right there. Impulse buying is what a trip to Japan is all about.
Then I moved on to Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku.
Electric oven
I have gotten into toast lately and have been thinking about buying a small oven, but too small is awkward to use and too big has nowhere to sit, so it is a dilemma. On top of that, there is nothing with a nice design in Korea.. This oven looked pretty usable, so I will remember the brand and look for it back in Korea.
Cocktail set
Anyone who has been will know that there is very little Tokyu Hands does not have. They have loads of stuff and it is neatly sorted by genre, so I always drop in at least once when I come to Japan. In Korea you have to scour the internet to buy anything, and with things like tools I often want to handle them in person before buying. In the kitchen section they were selling a cocktail set that even comes with a DVD for around 4,000 yen. For a beginner who does not know where to start, a set like this seems like a good idea. Since my visit to Booze my interest in cocktails has shot up, and I am wondering whether I should go for a bartender certification sometime soon.
Back to Kappabashi
This is Kitchen World TDI, my second favourite shop in Kappabashi.
The store is enormous and carries a really wide range of kitchenware. They sell Lodge, they sell Sori Yanagi.. If you are pressed for time in Kappabashi, you could probably just look around here and call it a day.
The cocktail corner
After taking these photos I went around a few bars back in Korea, and they were all using exactly the same products sold here in Kappabashi. The prices are low too, and when I worked out what a set would cost, it looked like about 7,000 yen would get you the bare minimum. Of course, once you start buying, human greed knows no end and you repeat the same mistakes.
Cocktail gear I photographed for the record
My luggage was too heavy this time so I could not bring any back, but next time I definitely will. I have been looking into all sorts of things, and to make cocktails properly it seems I will need every one of them.
Join the Discussion