A knife specialty store popular among foreign tourists

Cool Knife store near Tsutenkaku Tower

In Osaka, there are several popular spots among foreign tourists, such as Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, and Universal Studios Japan. However, ‘Shinsekai, known as the “New World District”, where you can experience the deep local culture of the downtown area, is also gaining popularity.

Shinsekai is a bustling downtown area in Naniwa Ward, and attractions like Tsutenkaku and Janjan Yokocho in that area are always lively with people. Famous Osaka foods like kushikatsu and doteyaki, along with a lineup of the area’s famous eateries offer a taste of the local culinary scene.

Ever since I saw ‘Tower Knives,’ located right near Tsutenkaku in Shinsekai district on TV, I had been thinking of visiting it.

If you’re someone who enjoys cooking, you know that using a dull knife to cut tomatoes or similar items can cause stress. It becomes difficult to make clean cuts, resulting in a messy outcome.

With the current favorable exchange rates, I saw it as an opportunity to invest in a good knife and decided to pay a visit to the Tower Knives Osaka Store.

The majority of customers were foreign tourists, with Japanese visitors being a minority. The staff at the shop were also multilingual, catering to English and Chinese-speaking customers as well.

Inside the store, a wide variety of knives are neatly displayed, ranging from professional-grade ones costing several hundred thousand yen to more affordable options. Among them, the one displayed near the ceiling in the photos is a knife (or should I say, sword?) used for slicing tuna. The price was mentioned to be around a million yen for this particular knife.

Test the sharpness

The staff at the store were all kind and helpful, offering various advice on finding the right knife for me. While they had specialized knives such as a chef’s knife and Deba, which is used for fish, I decided to go with a Santoku knife, which was perfect for everyday usage. The staff provided detailed explanations about knives that fit my budget and purpose. Two knives caught my interest, priced at around 22,000 yen and 16,000 yen including tax. I was informed that I could try a demonstration cut with these knives.

First, the staff compared them to regular knives and demonstrated cutting a carrot. The difference in sharpness was immediately apparent from the cross-section. Even when touching the cross-section, the regular knife left a rough texture, while the Santoku knives left a smooth and even texture.

Afterwards, I tried the cutting myself. It was important to see if the knife felt comfortable in my hand, and the sensation of the handle is a crucial factor. Being cautious due to the sharpness, I proceeded with the test cuts. Both knives exhibited an incredibly smooth cutting experience. After some hesitation, I decided to go with the 22,000 yen knife that initially caught my eye. Since I had brought my tax-free documents, the tax was exempted, resulting in the final price to be about 20,000 yen or approximately 130 USD. Overall, I was very pleased with the purchase, as it turned out to be a great shopping experience.

Near the Tower Knives Osaka store, within walking distance, you’ll find attractions such as Abeno Harukas, Ten-Shiba (a relaxing area in the Abeno-Tennoji district), and the Tennoji Zoo. With these options, you can enjoy a full day of activities.

Originally, Tower Knives had its main store in Osaka. However, they now also have a Tower Knives Tokyo branch, which is situated near the Tokyo Skytree. Both stores are positioned on the ‘tower’ side.

For those who can’t make it to Osaka, I recommend stopping by the Tokyo store. Having a sharp knife can greatly enhance the joy of cooking.

KIE staff member K.B.