Japan Travelogue Series: Kappabashi Part 2

In Japanese folktales the kappa is turtle-like aquatic creature that sometimes grabs unsuspecting people as they cross bridges or walk through swamps. People are pulled down into the muck and drown.

In Japanese old wives’ tales, the Kihachi Kappaya received help from a kappa to complete the building of the flood reduction project that included controlled canal water drainage and bridge systems. In other tales, a poor samurai sold kappa raincoats close to the bridge and soldiers would hang their raincoats on the bridge to dry them. The Sōgen-ji Kappa-Dera Temple is said to stand on the exact same spot where these legends occurred. Upon the death of Kihachi Kappaya in 1814, he was honored by being interred at the temple.

Named after the mythical kappa, Kappabashi Street (かっぱ橋道具街, Kappabashi Dōgugai) is a shopping street between Ueno and Asakusa. Kappabashi, commonly known as “Chef’s Paradise”, is where all kitchen tools and tableware can be found up for grabs for any aspiring cook or chef. They can be anything — crockery, ovens, restaurant furniture, kitchen utensils, and more! The prices are reasonable and the area is known for selling the finest quality Japanese chef knives.