Kappabashi Dougu Street

The Kappabashi Dougu Street began with the opening of several trading stores specializing in tools and wares around the Taisho Era. There are now about 170 shops in the area, making it the most impressive concentration of culinary tool shops in all of Japan. Kappabashi Dougu Street is nearly 800 m long and walking the area you can see a wonderful variety of items essential to the culinary arts. From cooking utensils, dishes and kitchen equipment, to lacquerware, food samples, chef's clothing, and more can be found along the stretch between Asakusa and Ueno. In addition to tourists, the area is popular with professional chefs who come to purchase tools for their trade, and shops dealing with kitchen utensils used by ordinary families have increased. The green mythological river dwelling creature ”Kappa Kawatarō" is the area's mascot, and a statue was built in commemoration of the area`s 90th anniversary in 2003.