Internetwiz, was the small knife shop you visited in Kyoto Shigeharu's near Nijo-jo? I bought a yanagiba there and love it. But it was the overall experience which was so special. It's a very small shop so the inventory is not huge. But if you haven't been there yet it might be worth a trip.

In Kyoto I've bookmarked:-

Shigeharu
Kikuichimonji
Hayakawa Hamonoten (sharpener not maker but does sell small stock)
Kintaka

And obviously Aritsugu though I never felt compelled to buy there, and have already visited twice.

Kavey and ovenbird,
We think the place we got our knife was Kintaka, which was on a smaller street, close to the YMCA if memory serves us right. The guy didn't speak much English but we had pictures. He was able to order what we wanted and had it shipped to our Tokyo hotel so we had it before we left Japan.

We also went to Shigeharu (重春刃物), which is located on Horikawa Dori between Aneyakoja Dori and Sanjo Dori, on the east side.

The other place we went was Kikuichimonji (菊一文字), located in the Sanjo Arcade, just west of the Sanjo and Kawaramachi intersection, not far from Nishiki market.

Obviously we went to Aritsugu, too, but liked the smaller knife shops better.

Please let use know if you like Shigeharu or Kikuichimonji so we might scope them out.

Thanks, will do.
Am not there till second week April but will do, looks like you hit them all already anyway! :-D

Oops. I've been sick. I'm using that as my excuse.

Have a fun time, Kavey. I hope you like Hotel Trusty. It's much nicer than its name implies and is very easy to get to by bus from the train station.

Thanks, I'm getting SOOO excited. (I'm off to Germany tomorrow for a two day press trip to Lubeck but after I get back on Wednesday, I'll be FULL STEAM AHEAD all focus on Japan!)

Oh and Trusty is one that several Fodorites here have given a big thumbs up to, so I booked on that recommendation, the location is so good too!

Internetwiz
Beppu EH? AS some of the first Occupation
troops into Japan I spent two years in and around Beppu Oita and many smaller towns in Kyushu. Among many missions we were assigned to supervise the first free elections in the area of eastern and central Kyushu. Being only 17-18 year old enlistees we thought it was neat duty. Went back for a visit in 2006 to see the bombed out towns being rebuilt. Beppu is amazing.

You heading to Cuba...we visited in 2003. Here's a preview for you. We were on our own approved for delivering much needed meds for the isolated small Jewish community.

Internet wiz

https://goo.gl/photos/mditNSJiDq16EGaE9

Cuba Libre!