Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We are based in Tokyo, Japan, and operate entirely online without a physical storefront. We ship worldwide via Japan Post EMS or DHL.

We offer a wide variety of Japanese knives, including gyuto, santoku, bunka, nakiri, petty, yanagiba, and more. We also have a selection based on your budget; if you are new to Japanese knives, we recommend this collection. Also, check out our list of Japanese knife brands such as Nakagawa, Yu Kurosaki, Masamoto, among others.

We typically receive new inventory almost every month, though not on a fixed schedule. Specific items may restock at different times based on availability from our suppliers. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates when your desired knife becomes available.

For your first Japanese knife, we usually recommend multipurpose ones like gyuto or bunka/santoku. Check out our Beginner's Guide for more information. If you need further assistance, our team is always ready to help.

Simply add items to your cart, proceed to checkout, enter your details, and complete your purchase. You'll receive a confirmation email once your order is placed.

We accept:
- Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Shop Pay
Note: We do not offer Cash on Delivery (COD).

We process and ship orders within 24-48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). Once your order has been shipped, we will email you a tracking link so you can monitor your package's progress.

U.S., Australia, and Canada:
• Shipped via DHL
• Estimated delivery: 3-5 days

Asia and Middle East:
• Shipped via EMS
• Estimated delivery:
Asia: 2-5 days
Middle East: 5-10 days

Europe:
• Shipping method varies by country (DHL or EMS)
• Estimated delivery:
DHL: 3-5 days
EMS: 5-10 days

Note: These estimates are averages and not guaranteed delivery times. The actual number of days may vary due to factors such as transport, customs, and handling conditions in the destination area.

All orders include online tracking. Once your order is shipped, we'll email you a tracking number and link. You'll also receive email notifications from our shipping partner (DHL or JapanPost EMS).

Yes, both DHL and EMS deliver directly to your door. Your package will be delivered to the address you provide, and both carriers handle all customs procedures. You simply wait for delivery and pay any applicable fees when required.

EMS delivery note: While EMS typically delivers to your door, in rare cases packages may need to be picked up from your local post office. This is a standard practice that can occur in any country due to local delivery conditions.

Yes, we can ship to your hotel when you are here in Japan via Yamato Transport or JapanPost. Delivery typically takes 1-2 days.

For hotel deliveries, include your exact check-in and check-out dates and the full name used on your hotel reservation in the order notes or email this information to info@zahocho.com. The recipient must be the registered guest for smoother delivery.

We cannot ship to Airbnbs as most hosts do not accept deliveries.

Import taxes, GST, VAT, and similar local charges are not included in our prices. These fees are determined by your country's customs authorities and may be collected upon delivery. We cannot predict or estimate these charges as they vary by country.

Our prices are the same for all customers, regardless of their location. While we're based in Japan, we don't add Japanese consumption tax to our listed prices. The price you see is the actual price you'll pay, whether you're in Japan or ordering internationally.

Our base prices are in Japanese Yen (JPY). If you're viewing prices in another currency, you may notice small variations day-to-day as global exchange rates fluctuate.

Yes, we offer a Price Match Guarantee. We have always aimed to provide the best prices, but if you find the same product at a lower price from another authorized retailer, we will match it and beat it. For full details, please see our Price Match Guarantee policy.

Yes, we offer free gift-wrapping. Simply request this service in the order notes when placing your order.

We do not offer engraving or personalization services for our knives.

The size displayed in the product name (e.g., "Masamoto KS gyuto 240mm") is what we call a nominal or standard reference size used by knife makers. However, the actual blade length can vary slightly from this displayed size due to several factors:

1. Crafting process: Each knife is handcrafted, which can lead to small variations in length.
2. Traditional sizing: Some sizes are based on traditional Japanese measurements that don't precisely match modern metric units.
3. Brand & regional variations: Some regions consistently produce knives that are longer or shorter than the nominal size (e.g., Sakai knives tend to be undersized, while other brands or regions might produce longer. Of course, there are true-to-size knives as well).

For example:

• 240mm Masamoto KS gyuto - actual blade length is 251mm
• 210mm Nakagawa honyaki ktip gyuto - actual blade length is 199mm
• 210mm Takamura SG2 gyuto - true-to-size blade length at 210mm