Tsukiji fish market may be the first destination for foodies visiting Tokyo, and a department store basement food floor is also an essential stop, but one often-neglected attraction is the restaurant-supply district of Kappabashi.

Famous for its plastic food models, Kappabashi offers much more - it's the place where chefs and restauranteurs go when they set up shop, and a playground for anyone who likes to cook. If something is found in the kitchen or dining room, there's likely to be a shop in Kappabashi that sells it.

Rick Bayless, the owner/chef of Topolobampo and Frontera Grill in Chicago, took in Kappabashi while visiting Japan to explore the food culture. He says: "When I travel to other cultures, I want to get as close to real life as possible. Which usually means anything connected to food - groceries and markets, housewares stores and places that sell restaurant goods. Kappabashi was mecca for me ... the perfect peephole through which to view the wonderfully evocative details of Tokyo's everyday life."

1. For lacquerware, you won't want to miss Tanaka. Lacquerware is a traditional craft and an important element of Japanese tableware, and Tanaka sells elegantly crafted soup bowls, serving trays, chopsticks and more.

2. Kondo and Okuda are two shops specializing in products made from bamboo, which is light, durable and easy to take care of. They carry chopsticks and chopstick holders, plus a variety of strainers and baskets.

6. Many restaurants in Japan still display plastic food models in front of their shops, and these are sold at several Kappabashi shops, including the two branches of Maizuru. Maizuru's samples look amazingly real, and on a hot day the cold beer looks good enough to quench your thirst. In addition to plastic models for the restaurant trade Maizuru also sells plastic-food souvenirs such as kitchen magnets, keychains, and even sushi clocks.