Can I Bring Knives Back from Japan? What You Need to Know

Let's cut right to the chase. Yes, you can bring home the knife you bought in Japan. However, there are a few things you need to be careful of. 

But before that, let’s explore why buying a knife in Japan is better than doing so from your home country.

1/ What are the pros of buying a kitchen knife in Japan?

 

• Stroll around the legendary kitchenware and knife street of Tokyo

Japanese kitchen knives are revered worldwide for the quality of their material and the expertise of the craftsmen who make them drawing on a long tradition of swordsmithing.

Whether you're an experienced cook or searching for the perfect gift to bring home, buying a knife in Japan is a great choice. Tokyo even has a street dedicated to Japanese kitchenware and its legendary knives: Kappabashi-dori, or Kappabashi Street.

This famous street is home to around 170 stores dedicated to cooking utensils and kitchen blades, including 3 Musashi Japan stores! 

Our main store is located just north of Kappabashi and showcases the largest sample from our collection of kitchen knives. Here, you’ll also find a newly renovated sake bar on the second floor, where you can browse and purchase artisanal art pieces on display. You can also buy bottles of local Japanese sake sourced from breweries across the country.

Our second store, Minami-Kappabashi, is just a short walk away and features traditional Japanese elements such as washi tansu (Japanese chests) and bonsai for a more zen shopping experience.

Finally, our third shop located on Shin-Nakamise Street is the perfect stop for tourists, since it’s adjacent to Senso-ji temple, a must-see place for first-timers in Japan.

• Gain valuable and exclusive knife knowledge from our team of experts

When coming to our stores, you will be greeted by our knowledgeable store staff. All our staff have completed a comprehensive course on traditional Japanese knives, including a written test.

Some have even been expert users for years, sharpening their knives and cooking skills as chefs in restaurants, now sharing their passion and knowledge for knives with other knife aficionados. And as all of our staff are multilingual, they will happily listen to you and help you find the knife best suited to you.

In addition to learning more about Japanese knives through our experienced staff, you can also hear from the craftsmen themselves who’ve collaborated with Musashi Japan to share their knowledge through video interviews, which can be seen playing through our stores and can also be found online.

• Try out the knives you like to find the one you want to adopt

Shopping online often feels like taking a gamble. You can never be completely sure of what you'll actually get in the end.

But rest assured, whether you buy online or in-person, with Musashi Japan you can trust that you will receive a premium kitchen knife made by Japan’s most talented craftsmen. And as all of our knives are crafted by hand, you will get a unique knife each time, and it might not perfectly match the knives you've seen in our pictures.

Purchasing a Japanese knife at one of our stores is a different experience than browsing online as we always let you try the knives before you buy. You can feel the weight of each knife,discover which handle type and colour suits you best, and even see which knife finish is your favourite.

Once you’ve found your perfect match, our staff will see if we have any additional stock of your perfect knife, and if so you can choose which handmade knife looks best. Take a moment then to admire your chosen knife before it's expertly packaged as you won’t be able to open it before reaching your home country.

2/ What you need to be careful of after you buy your dream knife

 

• Keep your knives sealed until you are back in your home country

As you may have guessed, Japan, like many other countries, has strict laws regarding the transportation of what can be used as a weapon. While the renowned Japanese kitchen knife serves a simple purpose, you aren’t allowed to carry it in public. In fact, you can't carry a pocket knife with a blade longer than six centimeters either.

However, Japan understands that many tourists want to take home one of its legendary kitchen knives. Thus, their knife law has some provisions that take into account this particular situation on some conditions. The knives must remain in the sealed box!

To ensure there are no issues, you must keep the knife in its sealed box and refrain from opening it until you've left Japan. To avoid any complications, we recommend taking your time in the store to admire your knife and take some photos.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to purchase the knife towards the end of your trip to Japan to prevent any unnecessary trouble.

 

• Put the knives in the checked luggage and check with your airport representatives 

Before heading to the airport, make sure that you have put your kitchen knives in your checked luggage, and not in your carry-on. Since you haven’t used them, the seal on the box should still be intact.

The TSA hasn’t issued restrictions so far on sharp objects being placed in checked luggage, but rules may vary according to country and airlines, so we always recommend checking with your online representative. In any case, it’s better to stay on the safe side by voluntarily informing them of your purchase.

3/ How to take care of your Musashi knife from abroad

 

• Head to our website for any questions on how to take care of your knife

Buying a Musashi knife in Japan doesn’t mean that you will be left unassisted if you encounter a problem back at home. Our dedicated customer support team can help you from a distance. Just head to our website,send us your questions, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Additionally, you’ll find on our website a complete beginner’s guide on how to use and care for your knife. And if you have any doubts about the proper technique or manner of holding your knife, you can also take a look at our YouTube channel to learn more:

And if you love your new Japanese knife and want to buy another one from Musashi Japan, you don't have to come back all the way to our store to make another purchase. You can simply browse our site from wherever you are in the world, and if you would like detailed recommendations you're more than welcome to message our customer support team for advice.

 

• Use your knife well and in return, it will last you a lifetime.

When buying a traditional Japanese knife, you are buying a piece of history. It’s an investment that can last you a lifetime, but only if you use your knife for its intended purpose. 

Don’t use it as a can opener, screwdriver, hammer, or shellfish opener. All these items can be bought at your local hardware store for a lot less than the price of your Japanese knife, and using a knife for these purposes will almost certainly damage it!

Do not attempt to cut, hit or chop frozen products, bones, hard seeds or any other hard vegetables or fruit as this could cause the blade to chip or break. Frozen items must be completely defrosted before cutting.

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