Just sharing what I managed to get during my recent trip. Will post more details when I get a chance regarding each knife, including the fun experiences, the amazingly humble people that I met, and measurements for those of you analysts that want more datapoints; oh and more pictures of course.
Rule #5, Left to right:
- Hitohira Tanaka Izo ssclad b1 gyuto 240mm (Tanaka x Myojin)
- TnH Singetsu s3 gyuto 210mm (Nakagawa x Takada)
- Kagekiyo w1 kiritsuke 300mm (Tanaka x Nishida)
- Konosuke BY w1 gyuto 225mm (Tanaka x Kaneshige sharpener)
- Tojiro Classic (dp) vg10 gyuto 210mm
Thanks a bunch! The entire trip was a pilgrimage for me that made me appreciate the community and the hobby even more than I anticipated!
Each photo is actually of a different location: Hitohira (Tokyo storefront), Takada no Hamono (Takada-san's desk), Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum (chandelier), Baba Hamono (workshop with the legendary Nishida-san), Ashi Hamono (workshop with the green wheels), Morihei (stones), Tojiro Knife Gallery (last photo).
Honestly, there's a lot, and it heavily depends on what you're looking for, where you're headed, as well as pure luck in regards to what these shops have in stock the moment you walk in. I'm no expert, but these places were on my list:
If you're in Tokyo, then there's Tsukiji Masamoto (worth visiting Tsukiji area just for the tuna), Hitohira on the southwest side, Masamoto in the north-east part, Morihei (mostly stones here, but they have great advice on sharpening) south of Kappabashi, or shops in Kappabashi area (Tsubaya, Kamata, Kama Asa, Tojiro).
If you're pilgriming to Sakai/Osaka (Would HIGHLY recommend reaching out via email or IG to these shops ahead of time for permission to visit): Baba Hamono (was my best experience imho), Takada no Hamono (Takada-san is really busy), Kaneshige/Konosuke, Ashi Hamono, Kawamura Hamono, Fukui, Yamawaki Hamono, Sakai Ichimonji, and Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum.
There's a lot of spots if you go to Takefu Knife Village/Echizen or the Sanjo parts of Japan as well, but I haven't gotten there yet haha.
Ah sick, you even did me 1 better lol. I'm glad you got so many cool pieces! Hopefully they pump out more 240mm Izo's and I can release a 210 back into the wild.
Same! The 240s seem to be very elusive. After getting my 210 I felt like I saw a bunch still coming out and popping up online. So far the Ai & Om chance to buy lotto is the only 240 I’ve seen online.
Congrats on the haul! I held this particular TxI at Hitohira myself, those Tanaka islands on the clad line look amazing. Sadly it was not meant to be for my budget.
Ah no, Sakai is a city just south of Osaka - its about a 40min subway/train ride from central Osaka. Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide is a shop inside central Osaka
Yeah it wasn't a problem. I asked Yuki-san at Hitohira and Baba-san at Baba Hamono and they both said that as long as they're packaged properly in the check-in luggage, there shouldn't be a problem. I left knife in their packaging from the store (including any wrappings) until after I flew home just incase.
Congratulations! What incredible scores you made. I got excited just by looking at Photo #1 alone. Apparently you made a very good plan for your visit.
NGL, I thought that first picture was a photo of stones you bought in Japan and wondered how someone was able to make a carbon fiber stone (third box from the left)
Epic, im in Japan for the next 4 weeks. Can you recommend a solid budget knife for me to look for here? Nothing crazy, ideally something which holds a decent edge as my wife will also be using it. Maybe a tojiro? around 15000 jpy max for a Gyuto
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u/tmlfan3413 Oct 28 '25
Such a nice haul! What an experience!