One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from JOC readers is what cookware and tableware they should buy when they visit Japan. With limited suitcase space, I understand I can’t suggest everything. Living in the U.S., I have trouble finding certain Japanese cookware and tableware from local stores or online stores, so I made a recommended list here for you. My suggestions are really for someone who enjoys cooking Japanese food frequently and appreciates Japanese household items. If that’s not you, these items also make great gift ideas for that person in your life who loves Japanese culture and cuisine! If you’re lucky, you may be able to purchase these items easily where you are, but generally, these items are pretty difficult to find and can be very expensive compared to the prices you pay while you’re in Japan. I hope you find the list helpful and insightful.
Cookware and Kitchen Items to Get From Japan
1. Rice Bowls & Miso Soup Bowls お茶碗・お味噌汁椀
Rice bowls and miso soup bowls are essential items for Japanese families, used daily. In Japan, there are countless variations of rice bowls and miso soup bowls. High-quality wooden miso soup bowls made in Japan can be hard to find in the US. While you’re traveling in Japan, consider picking up some wooden bowls. They are light, easy to bring back, and can add a touch of fun and elegance to your daily miso soup! I personally bought rice bowls adorned with Mount Fuji drawings in assorted colors. They bring a smile to my children and me every day. Whether it’s a bowl with a cute cat drawing, beautiful cherry blossoms, or the right color that attracts you, find the one that brings a smile to your face.
2. Ramen Bowls
Are you a huge ramen fan (see my ramen recipes) and enjoy serving ramen at home? If so, you must get some ramen bowls when you’re in Japan. Good-quality and good-looking ramen bowls can be hard to find in the U.S. I got mine at Kappabashi Kitchen Town. On the other hand, if you love donburi dishes, consider getting a variety of donburi bowls. Donburi is a very common meal in Japan, hence we have SO MANY kinds of beautiful donburi bowls.
3. Chopsticks & Chopstick Rests
Even years before I started photo shooting my recipes, I’ve been a collector of chopstick rests. Something about them that is so attractive. Maybe because they are small and I love everything miniature. If you are in Japan, you will see a lot of cute stores that sell kitchen and home goods. I love to stop by to check out some unique chopstick rests and chopsticks whenever I get a chance. Instead of buying a set of 4-5 pairs, I only buy one chopstick rest and a pair of chopsticks that I love from each store. I enjoy picking out which chopsticks and chopstick rests that would go well together, and everyone would have a different set. The mismatch is supposed to be fun!
4. Magewappa Bento Box
Bento (lunch box) is not only for children, adults can also enjoy it at school, work, or even at home. These wooden bento boxes, called the Magewappa (曲げわっぱ), not only is environmentally friendly, but they also make your lunches so much more appetizing and presentable. It’s a lot more inexpensive to buy bento boxes in Japan than trying to buy online. You can purchase Magewappa at any tableware and bento stores, but it’s a lot easier to go to Tokyu Hands or a bento box section of the kitchen floor in department stores. I forgot to mention. Bento box for adult is also great for portion control and perfect for those who try to lose some weight (aka me…).
5. Adjustable Stainless Steel Otoshibuta (Drop Lid) 落とし蓋
Otoshibuta or drop lid is an essential Japanese cooking gadget for all kinds of simmered foods. It’s a kitchen tool that is not so common outside of Japanese cooking, hence it’s hard to find it in kitchen shops in the U.S.
6. Tamagoyaki Pan 玉子焼きフライパン
7. Ladles お玉
You may think I’m silly for listing a ladle on your Japan shop list. But true story… I had a really hard time finding the perfect ladle for serving miso soup. All the ladles I purchased in the U.S. are a bit too big to serve into standard size miso soup bowls. I may sound picky, but I’ve purchased enough ladles to try and all the ladles that I end up keeping are all from Japan. Let me say this, the size, shape, angle of the stem, and the material of these ladles from Japan are just perfect. I rest my case. Here I took the picture at Kappabashi Kitchen Town. So many different sizes, shapes, and utility of ladles! I also recommend visiting supermarkets (especially the one that has a 2nd floor for home and kitchen goods), Tokyu Hands, and even department store kitchen floor. Try holding the ladles and see the difference!
8. Bamboo Baskets
Bamboo products are so much easier to find in Asia. Japan offers amazing hand-woven bamboo products that are made in Japan. There are a lot of bamboo specialized stores and you might spot them while traveling, especially when you visit Kyoto, Takayama, Kamakura, and more traditional cities.
9. Chiffon Cake Pans
I love baking chiffon cakes, so several years ago I bought two different cake pans (17cm and 20cm) in Japan and brought them home with me. Japanese chiffon cake pans are affordable and SUPER easy to use. I like that they come with a slim and tall shape, which are great when comes to making beautiful looking chiffon cakes compared to a flatter angel food cake pan. This aluminum chiffon cake pan from Asai Shoten (浅井商店) is VERY famous and you can go to the store in Kappabashi Kitchen Town to find them. With these pans, you can make my Meyer Lemon Chiffon Cake, Green Tea Chiffon Cake, Orange Chiffon Cake, and Earl Grey Chiffon Cake.
10. Plates & Bowls
Some people enjoy shopping for clothes and shoes, but I enjoy getting new kitchen gadgets, pots and pans, and my endless love – plates and bowls. I especially love ceramics from Japan that are so delicate, unique, and of course, handmade. Some of the plates and bowls are from my grandmother, so they are sentimental pieces to me. My mom kept them in boxes for me knowing that I would need these for Just One Cookbook. I am just happy that I can continue to use this special heirloom tableware. If you’re curious about how I pack and bring them back home, you can see my Instagram Stories titled “Packing” in my profile, where I explained some tips on wrapping the ceramics and packing them in the boxes. The picture below – Things I brought back in 2019: This year we got to visit and shop in Imari, Arita and Imbe (Bizenware). The picture below – Things I brought back in 2019: A square copper tamagoyaki pan, different sized Yukihira pots and Shokupan pan were on my list. The picture below – Things I brought back in 2018: Mostly from my mom and grandma’s collections and a few gifts from my friends. The picture below – Things I brought back in 2018: These are actually from Thailand – I brought them to Japan, and then brought them back to the US. The picture below – Things I brought back in 2018: These white plates are all from Le Baise in Kappabashi Kitchen Town in Tokyo. The picture below – Things I brought back in 2018: Unfortunately, this happened a few times, even though I had carefully wrapped them individually. The picture below – Things I brought back in 2017: Ceramics from my trip to Bangkok on top and the rest are Japanese ceramics. The picture below – Things I brought back in 2016: Majority of ceramics are from a department store Takashimaya in Yokohama. The rest are from my mom.
Where to Find Japanese Tableware in Tokyo Area?
The easiest place to find Japanese ceramics and kitchen items is to go to the kitchen floor (usually 7th or 8th floor) of the nearest department stores or Tokyu Hands. If you are looking for one of kind ceramics, there are some shops that sell unique ceramics made by artists. Here’s a small list of popular ceramic shops in Tokyo.
Allegory Home Tools in Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku Amahare in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku Aoba-do in Shirakawa, Koto-ku At Kiln Aoyama in Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Beniya Mingeiten in Komaba, Meguro-ku Bloom & Branch in Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Bondo in Kichijoji Hon-cho, Musashino-shi Casica in Shinkiba, Koto-ku Chidori in Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku CLASKA Gallery & Shop “DO” in Chuo-cho, Meguro-ku Dengama in Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku FALL in Nishiogikita, Suginami-ku Fragile in Ginza, Chuo-ku Gyokusendo in Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Japanese Pottery shop (Aritayaki Yakimono Ichiba) in Hiroo, Shibuya-ku Jokogumo in Shirogane-cho, Shinjuku-ku Kagure Omotesando in Jingumae, Shibuya-ku Kahahori in Kichijoji Minami-cho, Musashino-shi Kakesu Zakkaten in Kappabashi Kitchen Town, Asakusa, Taito-ku Kappabashi Kitchen Street in Asakusa, Taito-ku KnulpAA Gallery in Shakujiimachi, Nerima-ku Koharuan in Yarai-cho, Shinjuku-ku Kohoro in Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku La Ronde d’Argile in Wakamiya-cho, Shinjuku-ku Lion Pottery in Chuo-cho, Meguro-ku MARKUS in Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi Migo Labo in Gohongi, Meguro-ku Migratory in Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku Mist∞ in Kichijoji Kitamachi, Musashino-shi Monsen in Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku Outbound in Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi Pond Gallery in Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku POTPURRI in Shirakawa, Koto-ku Proto Tablewares and Precious in Kuramae, Taito-ku Roundabout in Uehara, Shibuya-ku Rozan in Nishiogikita, Suginami-ku Shouan Bunko in Shouan, Suginami-ku SML in Aobadai, Meguro-ku Sonomono in Nagasaki, Toshima-ku Sora in Himonya, Meguro-ku Spiral Market in Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Style Hug in Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku Syuro in Torigoe, Taito-ku Takahashi Sohonten in Kappabashi Kitchen Town, Asakusa, Taito-ku Takumi in Ginza, Chuo-ku Tasogare-do in Nezu, Bunkyo-ku Tenoha in Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku Teshigoto in Todoroki, Setagaya-ku Touan Yabukita in Kappabashi Kitchen Town, Asakusa, Taito-ku Utsuwa Aoba-do in Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Utsuwa Daifuku in Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Utsuwa Dokoro Kurumi in Kamiogi, Suginami-ku Utsuwa Kaede in Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Utsuwa Kenshin in Shibuya, Shibuya-ku Utsuwa Shizen in Jingumae, Shibuya-ku Utsuwa Party in Komaba, Meguro-ku Vada Antiques in Kichijoji Hon-cho, Musashino-shi Wise Wise Tools in Akasaka, Minato-ku Yuyujin in Takaban, Meguro-ku Zakka Tsuchi no Kioku in Asagaya Minami, Suginami-ku
Japanese Online Shop
Japanese Pottery Shop (ships internationally) Monsen Tojian Tableware East Uchill Utsuwaya Nishiyama
Have you brought back anything for your kitchen while visiting Japan? What are your favorites? Comment below and share your stories with us!
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