Knife Laws in Japan: What to Know When Buying Japanese Kitchen Knives

Buying a kitchen knife, carrying it around Japan and taking it on a flight involve different rules. If you plan to shop for a knife during your visit, check each part of the journey before purchasing.

Japanese Kitchen Knife Laws for Tourists

Official guidance checked October 1, 2026.

Can tourists buy kitchen knives in Japan?

Tourists can buy ordinary kitchen knives. Tokyo Metropolitan Police guidance distinguishes everyday utensils, whose possession is not generally prohibited, from regulated swords and other weapons. There is no blanket permit requirement simply because an ordinary kitchen knife has a blade longer than 15 cm.

Can I carry a purchased kitchen knife in Japan?

The police explain that carrying a blade longer than 6 cm generally requires work or another justifiable reason. Their examples include taking a newly purchased knife home. Shorter blades can also be regulated under other rules. Read the official explanation of carrying restrictions before making travel plans.

A shop seal or receipt does not create a tourist exemption. Opening a retail box is not the legal test described in the police guidance: the purpose and circumstances of carrying matter.

How should I transport my purchase?

Ask the seller for protective packaging and keep the receipt to document the purchase. Plan the journey back to your accommodation, rather than leaving the knife in your day bag for sightseeing. These practical steps do not replace the requirement for a justifiable reason to carry it.

Can I take a kitchen knife on a plane?

Kitchen knives must not go in cabin baggage. For example, ANA's international baggage guidance directs passengers to check knives in and notes that other airlines and countries may apply additional restrictions. An unopened shop package does not make a knife acceptable in the cabin.

Before buying, confirm the operating airline's checked-baggage conditions and the rules for your destination and any connections. Protect the blade in a sheath or sturdy box so it cannot injure baggage handlers or damage luggage.

For help planning the shopping itself, read our Kappabashi kitchen knife district guide. For a particular legal question, consult the relevant authorities rather than treating shop packaging as permission to carry a blade.