Located in a quiet, unremarkable-looking building just off Nihonbashi Bridge, Kuroeya has been supplying exquisite lacquerware for several centuries now. No matter your budget, you’ll find something to love and take home here.
Kuroeya Japanese Lacquerware - image © Florentyna Leow
Lacquerware specialist Kuroeya is a little tricky to find at first. With little obvious English signage, it doesn’t announce its presence loudly - much like lacquerware, one supposes.
Kuroeya Japanese Lacquerware - image © Florentyna Leow
Once you head up to the second floor of this building, though, you’ll find a small shop full of shelves crammed with beautiful lacquerware.
Kuroeya Japanese Lacquerware - image © Florentyna Leow
There’s not that much rhyme or reason to how items are arranged, which forces you to browse slowly if you’re looking for specific items.
Kuroeya Japanese Lacquerware - image © Florentyna Leow
Still, it’s fun to just look at the extraordinary range of lacquerware available. Whether black or vermillion, there are designs ranging from small, simple koi on palm-sized plates to incredibly detailed gold—etched phoenixes on boxes. In general, the more elaborate the decoration, the more it costs.
Kuroeya Japanese Lacquerware - image © Florentyna Leow
There are even items suited to contemporary living that have been given the lacquer treatment, like tumblers. If you’re shopping on a budget, there’s plenty in the way of well-made but affordable chopsticks, cutlery, and plates to take home.
Kuroeya Japanese Lacquerware - image © Florentyna Leow
Sometimes there are heavy discounts - we saw a beautiful box once marked down from JPY23,000 down to JPY3,000, not to mention prices for lacquer spoons slashed from JPY1,200 to JPY400 - so it’s worth taking your time when shopping here.
English name:
Kuroeya
Japanese name:
黒江屋
English address:
2F Kuroeya Kokubu bldg., 1-2-6 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0027
Japanese address:
〒103-0027 東京都中央区日本橋1-2-6 黒江屋国分ビル2F
Opening hours:
9am-6pm
Price:
Lacquered trays from about Y3,000
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 1-minute walk from exit B9 of Nihombashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Tozai lines, and Toei Asakusa line.
Train: 8-minute walk from Yaesu North exit of Tokyo Station.
Telephone:
+81-3-3272-0948
Website:
Official website (English)
Near To Here:
Kuroeya is located in Tokyo's Tokyo Station and Marunouchi district. See our complete list of things to do in Tokyo Station and Marunouchi, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
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