Where to Buy Japanese Masks in Tokyo: A Visitor’s Guide to KAMENYA OMOTE
Short answer: if you want to buy a Japanese mask in Tokyo, go to KAMENYA OMOTE in Kyojima, Sumida. It is Japan’s only mask specialty store, it is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 13:00 to 18:00, and every mask on the shelves can be tried on. This guide covers what you will find there, how to get there from Tokyo Skytree, and what to do if your trip does not include a weekend.
Cannot make it to Tokyo? These three lines are in our online store and ship worldwide:
Kitsune Fox MasksHandmade by Komendo
Paper Craft Mask KitsFlat-packed, build it yourself
That Face MasksMade to order
At a glance
- Where: 3-20-5 Kyojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo. 6 min on foot from Keisei-Hikifune Station
- When: Saturdays and Sundays, 13:00–18:00 (irregular closures)
- What: kitsune masks, paper craft kits, That Face, one-off pieces not sold online
- Try on and photograph: yes, every mask
- Cannot visit? The online store ships worldwide from Tokyo
What kind of shop this is
KAMENYA OMOTE opened in 2014 as a shop for masks made by contemporary artists. The masks here are one-off or small-run pieces by makers from Japan and abroad, and the shop is the only one in the country devoted entirely to masks. It has been featured by Time Out Tokyo, and its projects have been covered by Reuters and the BBC. The owner, Shuhei Okawara, also organizes TOKYO MASK FESTIVAL, Japan’s largest mask exhibition and sale.
That background matters for a buyer because it decides what is on the shelves. You are not choosing between three colours of the same fox mask. You are choosing between makers.
Where to buy a kitsune or oni mask in Tokyo: what the shop stocks
The physical shop carries a far wider range than our online store. The main things visitors come for:
- Kitsune (fox) masks by contemporary Japanese artists, made with traditional techniques. These are what most visitors reach for first. If you want to compare styles before you come, see our kitsune mask collection and the buyer’s guide to colours, styles and fit.
- Paper craft mask kits by Hayashi Takeo: flat-packed, light, and easy to carry home in a suitcase. You assemble the mask yourself. Good for gifts and for anyone flying with cabin baggage only. See the paper craft kit collection.
- That Face, hyper-realistic copies of real people’s faces. These are the pieces Reuters and the BBC wrote about. See the That Face collection.
- One-off pieces and traditional masks from Japan and overseas that are not listed online at all.
Looking for a specific type, such as an oni or hannya? Stock changes from week to week, so message us on social media or by email before you come and we will tell you what is in the shop that weekend. If you have seen something online and want to see it in person, ask and we will bring it out if it is in stock. For background on the types themselves, read our complete guide to Japanese masks.
Trying on and taking photos
Every mask in the shop can be tried on, and you are welcome to take photos. This is the main reason to visit in person rather than order online: fit and weight are hard to judge from a screen, and a fox mask that looks right in a product photo may sit differently on your face. Try several. The staff will not mind.
A mask shop in Tokyo you can actually visit: address and directions
KAMENYA OMOTE
3-20-5 Kyojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-0046, Japan
Open Saturdays and Sundays, 13:00–18:00. Closed on weekdays.
Tel: +81-70-5089-6271
Open in Google Maps
The shop stands on Meiji-dori, right at the entrance of the Kirakira Tachibana shopping street.
- 6 minutes on foot from Keisei-Hikifune Station (Keisei Oshiage Line)
- 12 minutes on foot from Hikifune Station (Tobu Skytree Line)
- About 25 minutes on foot from Oshiage Station (Tokyo Skytree), or about 5 minutes on the Sumimaru-kun community bus (green north-east route) to the “Kirakira Tachibana Shotengai Iriguchi” stop
If you are already visiting Tokyo Skytree, the shop is a short detour on the same afternoon. Kyojima is an old residential neighbourhood with narrow streets and a local shopping street, so the walk from Skytree is part of the visit.
Closures are irregular. Before you set out, check our website or social media for that weekend.
Japanese masks for sale online if you cannot make it on a weekend
The shop is closed Monday to Friday, so plan around a weekend if you can. If you cannot, two options:
- Order online and have it shipped home. Our online store ships worldwide from Tokyo. Kitsune masks, paper craft kits and That Face are all available, and you do not have to carry a mask through the rest of your trip. Shipping and customs details are on our FAQ page.
- Come back on a Saturday or Sunday. If your itinerary can move, the in-person visit is worth it for the one-off pieces that never go online.
Frequently asked questions
Is KAMENYA OMOTE open on weekdays?
No. The shop opens on Saturdays and Sundays only, 13:00 to 18:00, with irregular closures. Check before you come.
Can I try masks on before buying?
Yes. Every mask in the shop can be tried on, and photos are welcome.
Do you ship overseas?
Yes. This online store ships worldwide from Tokyo. You can also visit the shop, decide in person, and order online later.
How far is the shop from Tokyo Skytree?
About 25 minutes on foot from Oshiage Station, or about 5 minutes by the Sumimaru-kun community bus. The nearest station is Keisei-Hikifune, 6 minutes on foot.
Where can I buy an oni or hannya mask in Tokyo?
Ask us before you come. Oni, hannya and other traditional types come and go depending on what the makers deliver that month, so we cannot promise a specific one will be on the shelf on a given weekend. Message us on social media or by email with what you are looking for and we will tell you what is in stock. Kitsune masks and paper craft kits are always available.
Which mask is the easiest to take home on a plane?
A paper craft kit. It packs flat, weighs very little, and you assemble it at home.
More about the shop and its makers: About KAMENYA OMOTE.
