Starting to build your kitchen for Japanese cooking? Here is my recommendation for kitchen essentials.
Are you living in a small apartment with limited kitchen space or about to start cooking for the first time? I’m here to provide some tips on how to build a kitchen equipped to cook Japanese food at your own home.
I will cover the essentials in each area of the kitchen. Items in italics are not an absolute “necessity”, but I wanted to include them because I use them often and I think they are worth being included. Whether you prefer a minimalist kitchen or a complete kitchen, this framework will be a great guide for you.
How to Build a Kitchen for Cooking Japanese Food
SINK AREA
Extra
- A salad spinner (No more diluted dressing!)
STOVETOP
- A large pot (or Dutch oven)
- A medium pot (or Dutch oven)
- A small pot (or Yukihira Nabe)
- A large frying pan or a cast-iron skillet
- A drop lid (otoshibuta) – An essential tool for simmered dishes. Read more here.
- A fine mesh skimmer
- A stainless steel ladle
- A silicone turner spatula
- A wood spatula
- A set of long chopsticks (all-purpose kitchen utensils!)
Extra
CUTTING STATION
- A wood cutting board
- Plastic cutting board(s) (for meat/seafood)
- A good quality santoku knife
- A vegetable peeler
- A ceramic grater
Extra
WORK AREA
- A set of glass mixing bowls (at least 3 different sizes)
- A set of mortar and pestle
- A silicone spatula
- A large whisk
- A can opener
Extra
- A flat whisk or small whisk
- A cookie scoop (I also use it for savory dishes)
- A garlic press
- A silicone brush
- A pepper grinder
MEASURING TOOLS
Extra
BAKING
Extra
ELECTRIC GADGETS
Extra
- A food processor
- A blender
- An Instant Pot (pressure cooker/slow cooker)
JAPANESE RECIPE SPECIFIC (EXTRA)
– The kitchen tools below will be useful if you have additional space and will be making specific recipes regularly.
- A donabe (earthenware pot)
- A portable butane stove with butane fuel canister
- A tamagoyaki pan (I used to use the T-fal brand (picture above), but not available on Amazon. I currently use and love this copper Tamagoyaki pan)
- A sushi oke set
TABLEWARE (FOR ONE)
Japanese-style
- A rice bowl
- A miso soup bowl
- A medium plate
- A small plate
- A small bowl
- A mini plate
- A set of chopsticks and a chopstick rest
Curious about Japanese tableware? In The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Tableware post, you’ll learn about the important components (what bowls and plates to use, their sizes & functions), and table arrangement on how to set up a Japanese meal.
The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Tableware
Western-style
- Large, medium, and small plates
- Large, medium, and small bowls
- Utensils
Additional Tips (For the Minimalist Kitchen)
1. Build your kitchen based on your lifestyle and cooking habits.
When you have a small space to work with, the most important to do is to have an understanding of your preferred living and cooking habits. Ask yourself questions like:
- What kind of recipes will I be making often?
- Do I need this tool? Will I be using it very often?
- Is this going to be just one-time use? etc.
By asking these questions, it will help you to decide what to get and what not to get.
2. Declutter and access your organizing system.
You may have already heard about the famous Mari Kondo method. It is true that there’s magic in tidying up. Although I have a huge collection of cookware for the work that I do, I believe in the power of decluttering and organizing for efficiency.
If you have some clutters in the kitchen, spend some time getting rid of anything that is way too old or no longer in use. This will free up some space for other more important equipment or breathing room. Once you get rid of certain things, start organizing by categories.
2. Think smart storage.
Creativity comes in when you have to maximize the square footage you have. Have a good inspection around your kitchen and look for any potential storage spaces. Is there any space above your fridge? Can you go vertical by hanging things on the wall? You’ll be surprised how much you can utilize the workable room in your tiny kitchen.
I hope the above guide makes your cooking a little easier.
Now it’s your turn! Do you have any kitchen items you can’t live without? Do you have any tips you’d like to share with anyone who lives in a small space? Tell us about it in the comment below.
If you want to check out easy recipes, read 5 Easy Japanese Recipes to Cook At Home.
I found how to organize your kitchen for Japanese cooking very helpful. And the dishes and their use that are shown are so beautiful. Thank you.
Hi Merika!
Thank you very much for your kind word! We are so happy to hear this was very helpful to you. Thank you for writing to us.😊
Hello Nami!
I’ve been searching for the same rectangle prep plates you use in your cooking both locally and online and have no luck finding something like this. What can you recommend? Thank you!
Hi Carey! Here is the butcher tray I use: https://amzn.to/2IszL5j
I can’t do with out my bamboo scraper…use it to scrap out the ginger and daikon grater, also to scrape the microplane grater and finally use it to scrape the suribashi.
Another useful tool is the fish bone tweezers..
I am enjoying your emails, thank you!
Kale Lani Okazaki
Hi Kale,
Thank you very much for subscribing to our emails and kind feedback!
The bamboo scraper and the Fish Bone tweezers are nice to have in the Kitchen! Thank you for sharing your tips with us! 🙂
HI Nami,
I love your email on How to Build a Kitchen for Cooking Japanese Food – A Beginner’s Guide. I tried to click the link on the Butane Stove but the page could not be found. What is the name of the Butone stove you use? I looks like a copper color and it looks very slim and elegant. Please provide the name and a link to an amazon site or the company directly.
Thank you,
Virgil
Hi Virgil! Thank you for your kind words! It’s too bad that that gold color is not sold anymore on Amazon. There is a different color now: https://amzn.to/3iYdJVw. Iwatani makes great butane gas stove, so I highly recommend it!
Thanks for the tips. have most of the equipment that you suggest. I have collected it over the years since I first started making Japanese food. I do not have a suribachi but hope to get one soon.
Hi Barbara! Wonderful! If you enjoy sesame seeds in your recipes, you would enjoy having Suribachi. So many ground sesame seeds recipes for Japanese cooking. 🙂
Konnichiwa Nami-san,
Wonderful article on Nihon Kitchen Essentials…..thank you. Proud that I have many (not all) of these and have been ready to add a Tamago yaki-ki pan and a Yuki-hira nabe saucepan. A bit confused on recommendations. For the omelet pan, in your Tamagoyaki recipe, you said you really like your new copper pan that has an Amazon link for a 15 cm square pan. In this article you recommend a Korean TeChef teflon pan? Which is the best from your perspective?? For the small Yuki-hira nabe, I see that the link is to a Kotobuki in Amazon. It had mixed reviews, so want to make sure you are supportive of that brand for the small saucepan. Domo arigato gozaimasu.
Bill (Hiroyuki)
Hi Bill-san (Hiroyuki-san)! The tamagoyaki pan in the picture is from T-fal, and they never sell it on Amazon (I got it in Japan), hence I added the most reviewed ones with similar size and non-stick type. I have been using a copper one for almost a year now and I really love it. I added the link to this post as it’s rather new tool in my kitchen and I didn’t update the post. I also updated the Yukihira Nabe with a better review. Some of my kitchen stuff is from Japan, and in that case, I try my best to find a similar product on Amazon so my readers can purchase it. 🙂
Hi Nami,
Thanks for all you do to help keep us cooking delicious Japanese food. Do you recommend a brand of hand-hammered carbon steel wok?
Thanks!
Hi Marianne! Thank you so much for your kind words! This is a wok that I use and love but I don’t think it’s hand-hammered:
https://amzn.to/35dHWK1 (Recently became unavailable on Amazon though)
I used another wok which I didn’t like, and I’m really happy about this wok.
I appreciate all the guidance regarding kitchen equipment for a Japanese kitchen…but where is the recommendation that includes the pantry items (recommended brands) that are needed to cook accordingly!
Hi Holly! I have a pantry page that features some of the important ingredients: https://www.justonecookbook.com/categories/pantry/
I live in San Francisco and there are a few Japanese supermarkets here, but products can be limited, and I may have only one choice of an ingredient. So… I don’t necessarily recommend it but I have to get that brand… If I do have a specific brand that I recommend (such as my favorite miso etc), it’s always mentioned in the post or in the pantry. Or just shoot me an email if you have a specific ingredient in your mind, and I’ll be happy to help you! 🙂
Love Japanese food & would like to know how to make them delicious . This help a lot. Thank you
so much…Ever grateful!!!
Thank you for your kind feedback, Toni!
Thank you so much! I’ve been looking for articles like this for a long time. Thanks again!
Hi Rajaa! I’m glad to hear you find this article helpful. Thank you!!
[…] A beginner guide on how to build a kitchen for Japanese cooking […]
This is an AMAZING site! Thank you for sharing your recipes and your cooking world!!!
Hi Cathykat! Thank you so much for finding my site! 🙂 Welcome to JOC! 😀
Hi,
Great article! Just wanted to let you know that the rice-cooker link leads to a waffle-maker ):
Hi Anna! Thank you so much for letting me know. It’s fixed. 🙂
I was wondering where I could buy a wooden bamboo steamer . I live in Canada
Hi Paige, Have you check your local Asian store? You may able to order from Amason shop as well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L9TJCHC?ref=exp_justonecookbook_dp_vv_d We hope this helps!
[…] How to Build a Kitchen for Cooking Japanese Food – A Beginner’s Guide […]
Thank you for another IP recipe!
I am interested in obtaining a digital scale. Is there one that you could recommend? May I ask which you currently use?
Hi Ryuko! The one I use is listed in this list (https://amzn.to/2lnEvYB) as “extra”. 🙂