Thread: Addresses to buy japanese tools in japan?

Thanks Soatoz, do you mean this Nakaya Heiji ( http://nakayaheiji.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ ) from Mito? If this is the address I think I will go there. The wife of my friend is from Mito and maybe she can help me.

RobTro, I am most interested in a carving knife because I really liked to use a knife for carving but I am open to other tools like chisels which I used in my lessons too. Not a whole set because I think I will not use them all but I am interested in some basic sizes and shapes.

Thanks AlexS, I will try to go to Kawagoe too. Do you know how to write the full address in Japanese?

I'm no expert in carving.. Just see a some tools on the auctions here.

I was going to put the address of an auction in Japan here but am unsure of TOS so I won't.

Here is pic of the tools just to give you an idea.
Attachment 50082
But most auctions here don't ship international but you could get a friend or his wife to bid for you.

Anyway that is as much I know.. i leave it with the others to guide you.

Rob

Originally Posted by fjuhec

I will try to go to Kawagoe too. Do you know how to write the full address in Japanese?

No, sorry I don't. Get the train north (about 70km from memory), then a bus to the town. The shop's in the main street. I'll try to find a link to the town.

Well, I want to go there one day, so I did a bit of digging..........

This the place?

Attachment 50163

From someone's blog......

Attachment 50164 Attachment 50165
Details

〒350-0063 川越市幸町7-3 Kawagoe City Minami Machi 7-3
TEL：049-222-1516 Tel 049-222-1516

Google Bilingual Map link to the shop <- I hope that link works...

Hope to go there one day and have a good look around.

Thats the one!!!!!!!!!

This will tell you how to get to Kawagoe from Tokyo
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6501.html

Thanks a lot for the info,

I will go to Kawagoe, it is closer to where I will stay than I thought and looks like a nice place.

Stu, let me know which day is better for you to meet if you want to come to a tool shop. I will be in Japan from August 3rd to September 1st but I believe that I will be in Tokyo only the last half of the stay. You can send me a private message or post here in case anyone else wants to meet us.

Thanks

PM sent!

Hello, I am also new not only to the forum, but also to Australia...if carving knives and tools are your fancy, here is a website for both those and Japanese tools, too. It is in Germany, though! Their service and the variety of woodworking tools is second-to-none anywhere in the world! Fantastic prices, too (NOT cheap, but very reasonable) The website is excellent, and also, of course in English. The address is http://www.dick.biz/

Enjoy!

Peter

Just to dredge up this old thread, Fujhec and I are meeting up tomorrow, Sunday, and heading to the tool shop, will report back with pics and maybe even video.

Cheers!

Hi Fujhec and Stu, you know of course that we will be expecting a lot of pictures, I mean a LOT from you both.

Am a bit envious of you blokes actually. So here we wait for all those photos and explanations. Have a great time.

Cheers
Pops

Hi Stu, In the same street at the other end there is a shop that also stocks planes chisels and saws. It has a makita sign out the front so it should be easy to find.
When you visit Machikan speak to the "little general Takeshi'. He is very helpfull and dont be afraid to drop my name as they might give you mates rates if you decide to purchase something.
Kawagoe is a great place to visit and in this area 'the old street' there are plenty of things to see, do and eat. Ever tried sweet potato beer?

Damien.

Well we had a great time, really great. It was HOT, we were melting walking around for sure. Found Machikan, no problem, and went in, I started chatting with the young guy and I did drop your name, I told him honestly that we had never met, just net friends. The young guy, (grandson?) was telling me how you said to him that you go surfing on Christmas day

Francesc bought a nice carving tool, and then we left and walked around a bit, lots to see, temples etc, and shopping too!

We did find the other tool shop, the certainly have a much larger selection of woodworking tools than Machikan, but the old fellow in there was not so talkative.

I have to admit, I did not take one picture, not a single one...............

But, I did take a lot of video!

I left them a large Japanese type saw I have that was dull, they said 3000 yen ($30) to sharpen it and it would take a month Which is fine with me, I don't use it that often and it gives me another excuse to go back.

After a lot of walking around, we went back to Machikan, as I'd forgotten to buy something, my lovely wife is left handed, and she has always wanted a pair of GOOD left handed scissors, but she could never spend the money, too frugal, so I took some money out of my tool budget and bought her a VERY nice pair of left handed scissors for sewing, they are fairly large. Handmade by a smith who is not longer with us, and after this fellow passed the family stopped making left handed handmade scissors. bargain at 30,000 yen ($300) as I know my wife will use them the rest of her life.

Well I'm for bed, I'll get the videos up tomorrow.

PS Francesc and his girl Jessica are absolutely top drawer people, heck they even bought me lunch!

Cheers!

Hi Stu

I'm also envious of your outing!

Originally Posted by Stu in Tokyo

I'll get the videos up tomorrow.

Any chance of a photo of those special scissors? I would love to be able to see a picy of them and to share with my wife. We have only recently purchased some handmade Japanese scissors (and some laminated kitchen knives...superb handmade tools) and are interested to learn more. Why should we woodworkers have all the good stuff!

Thanks

Neil