Comparison: Best Cutting Board For Japanese Knives (Updated | Dec 8th)
If you’re using Japanese knives, you already know they’re precision tools that deserve the right partner in crime—a cutting board that protects their razor-sharp edge and feels great to work on. But with so many options out there, how do you pick the best one? We’ve tested wood, plastic, and composite boards to find which truly shines alongside your prized santoku or gyuto. Spoiler: not all boards are created equal. Let’s dive into the top contenders that chefs and home cooks swear by for performance, durability, and knife care.
- Best for premium large hinoki: Shun Cutlery Large Hinoki Cutting Board
- Best for compact hinoki classic: Shun Hinoki Cutting Board – Medium – 15.75″ x 10.75″ x 0.5″
- Best for high-soft pro large: Yoshihiro Hi Soft High Performance Professional Grade Cutting Board Japanese Sashimi Chef’s Tool Made in Japan (Large)
- Best for high-soft medium: Yoshihiro Hi Soft High Performance Professional Grade Cutting Board Japanese Sashimi Chef’s Tool Made in Japan (Medium)
- Best for small hinoki charm: Shun Cutlery Small Hinoki Cutting Board
- Best for scented hinoki large: Hinoki Japanese Cypress Wood Cutting Board
- Best for durable ldpe large: Japanese Cutting Board 19.6 x 10.6 x 0.8 High Soft High Performance Professional Grade Sashimi Cutting Chopping Board Chef Tool Large Dishwasher for Kitchen Restaurants Home Sashimi Meat Vegetables
- Best for authentic hinoki core: Yoshihiro Hinoki Cypress Cutting Board
- Best for uji hinoki mini: YAMASAN KYOTO UJI Japanese Hinoki Cutting Board – Small – Natural Cypress Wood Cutting Board
- Best for slim reversible hinoki: BOUMBI Hinoki Wood Reversible Cutting Board (17.3 x 9.8 x 0.55 Inch_Slim Large)
Product Comparison: Best Cutting Board For Japanese Knives
Shun Cutlery Large Hinoki Cutting Board, 17.75″ x 11.75″ Large Wooden Japanese Chopping Board for Kitchen, Medium-Soft Wood Preserves Knife Edges, Forest Stewardship Council Certified
- LARGE CUTTING BOARD: The Shun Cutlery Large Hinoki Cutting Board is expertly designed to be the perfect cutting surface for any knife. Medium-soft wood “gives” as you cut, helping to preserve knife edges.
- PREMIUM MATERIALS: This Shun wood cutting board is made from hinoki, a type of Japanese cypress long-renowned for its beauty and delicate natural fragrance. Forest Stewardship Council certified for sustainable forest management practices.
- VERSATILE DESIGN: The large size and double-sided functionality of this kitchen cutting board makes it perfect for a variety of uses – from food preparation tasks to showcasing as a wooden charcuterie board at gatherings.
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: To resist staining, dampen the board before each use. Clean with a mild detergent, towel dry, and then air dry away from direct sunlight. For stubborn stains, rub a cut lemon over the area to restore its beauty.
- JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP: Each Shun knife is meticulously handcrafted in Japan, reflecting a legacy of traditional knife-making expertise and a dedication to superior quality.
Shun Hinoki Cutting Board – Medium – 15.75″ x 10.75″ x 0.5″
- MEDIUM CUTTING BOARD: The Shun Cutlery Medium Hinoki Cutting Board is expertly designed to be the perfect cutting surface for any knife. Medium-soft wood “gives” as you cut, helping to preserve knife edges.
- PREMIUM MATERIALS: This Shun wood cutting board is made from hinoki, a type of Japanese cypress long-renowned for its beauty and delicate natural fragrance. Forest Stewardship Council certified for sustainable forest management practices.
- VERSATILE DESIGN: The medium size and double-sided functionality of this kitchen cutting board makes it perfect for general-purpose tasks while remaining compact and easy to store.
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: To resist staining, dampen the board before each use. Clean with a mild detergent, towel dry, and then air dry away from direct sunlight. For stubborn stains, rub a cut lemon over the area to restore its beauty.
- JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP: Each Shun knife is meticulously handcrafted in Japan, reflecting a legacy of traditional knife-making expertise and a dedication to superior quality.
Yoshihiro Hi Soft High Performance Professional Grade Cutting Board Japanese Sashimi Chef’s Tool Made in Japan (Large)
- Size Dimension: Large 19.6″ x 10.6″x 0.8″(50cm x 27cm x 2cm)
- A cutting board has a significant impact on knife edge durability, more so than the food itself.
- The Hi Soft cutting board is constructed to be the best cutting surface for high carbon steel knives.
- Features a high quality synthetic material specifically designed to minimize stress on your hand and impact on the blade, resulting in better edge retention and a longer lifespan for your knives.
- Allows for easy cleaning and provides odor resistance.
- Size: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-A, XX-Large, XXX-Large available. Made in Japan.
- Not made of wood. Made with LDPE Plastic.
Yoshihiro Hi Soft High Performance Professional Grade Cutting Board Japanese Sashimi Chef’s Tool Made in Japan (Medium)
- Size Dimension: Medium 17.3″ x 9.8″x 0.8″(44cm x 25cm x 2cm)
- A cutting board has a significant impact on knife edge durability, more so than the food itself.
- The Hi Soft cutting board is constructed to be the best cutting surface for high carbon steel knives.
- Features a high quality synthetic material specifically designed to minimize stress on your hand and impact on the blade, resulting in better edge retention and a longer lifespan for your knives.
- Allows for easy cleaning and provides odor resistance.
- Size: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-A, XX-Large, XXX-Large available. Made in Japan.
- Not made of wood. Made with LDPE Plastic.
Shun Cutlery Small Hinoki Cutting Board, 10.75″ x 8.25″ Small Wooden Japanese Chopping Board for Kitchen, Medium-Soft Wood Preserves Knife Edges, Forest Stewardship Council Certified
- SMALL CUTTING BOARD: The Shun Cutlery Small Hinoki Cutting Board is expertly designed to be the perfect cutting surface for any knife. Medium-soft wood “gives” as you cut, helping to preserve knife edges.
- PREMIUM MATERIALS: This Shun wood cutting board is made from hinoki, a type of Japanese cypress long-renowned for its beauty and delicate natural fragrance. Forest Stewardship Council certified for sustainable forest management practices.
- VERSATILE DESIGN: The small size and double-sided functionality of this kitchen cutting board makes it perfect for general-purpose tasks while remaining compact and easy to store.
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: To resist staining, dampen the board before each use. Clean with a mild detergent, towel dry, and then air dry away from direct sunlight. For stubborn stains, rub a cut lemon over the area to restore its beauty.
- JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP: Each Shun knife is meticulously handcrafted in Japan, reflecting a legacy of traditional knife-making expertise and a dedication to superior quality.
Hinoki Japanese Cypress Wood Cutting Board, Large
- Made from Hinoki (Japanese cypress) which is known to have a lovely scent
- Gentle on your knives
- Protects against knife chipping and dulling due to unique soft wood density.
- Hand wash with soap and water and dry immediately after use
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 10.6 x 1″ – Ultra-lightweight
Japanese Cutting Board 19.6 x 10.6 x 0.8 High Soft High Performance Professional Grade Sashimi Cutting Chopping Board Chef Tool Large Dishwasher for Kitchen Restaurants Home Sashimi Meat Vegetables
- Large Surface for Efficient Preparation: with dimensions of 19.7 x 10.6 x 0.8 inches/ 50 x 27 x 2 cm, this cutting board offers ample space for handling various ingredients; Its wide surface ensures stability during cutting tasks, while the non-slip texture reduce movement during use; The design reduces strain on the hands, making it suitable for extended food preparation sessions in diverse settings
- Knife-friendly Ldpe Plastic Construction: crafted from high soft high performance LDPE plastic material, this cutting board mitigating impact on knife blades during use; The resilient surface helps maintain blade sharpness by reducing wear from repeated cutting actions; This feature supports a smoother cutting experience while contributing to the longevity of kitchen tools
- Stain and Odor Resistance:The non-porous construction resists moisture absorption, which helps prevent lingering food odors that promotes a hygienic surface. Its composition allows for thorough cleaning in the dishwasher without warping or damage. The material retains its shape and integrity even with repeated exposure to heat and moisture
- Dual-side Food Safety Design: both sides of the board are available for use, enabling separate handling of raw and cooked foods; This thoughtful separation ensures the integrity and pure taste of each ingredient, preventing unwanted flavor transfer. The seamless construction can be maintained with easy cleaning methods
- Scratch-resistant Long-lasting Surface: the elastic LDPE plastic material withstands daily cutting actions without developing deep grooves; Even after exposure to intensive use, the surface maintains its smoothness and recovers from minor marks; This characteristic helps reduce food particle retention and supports consistent hygiene standards
Yoshihiro Hinoki Cypress Cutting Board, Japanese Hinoki Wood, Knife Friendly, Professional Grade (X-Large)
- Authentic Japanese cutting board, handcrafted from Hinoki Cypress wood
- Knife-friendly surface protects blades and helps maintain sharpness
- Maple anti-twist core prevents warping for long-lasting durability
- Naturally prevents odor absorption
- Available in three sizes: Large 15.75″ × 9.53″, X-Large 17.72″ × 10.24″, XX-Large 19.69″ × 11.81″; Thickness is 2.5cm on all sizes.
YAMASAN KYOTO UJI Japanese Hinoki Cutting Board – Small – Natural Cypress Wood Cutting Board, Kitchen Chopping Board, High Durability, Made in Japan (14.17×8.66×0.59 inch) (Small)
- Hinoki
BOUMBI Hinoki Wood Reversible Cutting Board (17.3 x 9.8 x 0.55 Inch_Slim Large)
- [Natural] Solid reversible hinoki wood cutting boards are made by Hinoki from the natural forest in Korea
- [Technoloy] Each board is dried in a vacuum chamber at a low temperature with a high-frequency heating to prevent the wood from the potential split and losing inherent properties such as strength or aroma
- [Construction]Boumbi hinoki cutting board is made from joined pieces to avoid splitting and deformation
- [Comfort] Soft grain of hinoki wood make it a cutting that won’t dull your knives, and you can handle it easily because it is very slim and lightweight
- [Scent] Hinoki will give forth the scent of a forest and the beautiful tree age-ring will bring cleanness and comfort to your kitchen
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What type of wood gives the best protection for Japanese knives?
Hinoki, a Japanese cypress, is prized for its soft, fine grain that gently yields under a blade, helping to preserve sharpness. Boards like the Shun Large and Medium Hinoki models and the Yoshihiro Hinoki Cypress board provide this knife‑friendly surface. Compared to harder woods, Hinoki reduces edge micro‑chipping while still offering durability.
How does board size influence cutting performance with Japanese knives?
Larger boards (e.g., Shun Large 17.75″ × 11.75″ or Yoshihiro Hi Soft Large 19.6″ × 10.6″) give ample space for long, precise strokes and keep the blade away from the edge, reducing accidental dulling. Medium and small boards are easier to store but may require more frequent repositioning of food, which can stress the blade. Choose size based on your kitchen space and typical prep volume.
Are synthetic cutting boards like Yoshihiro Hi Soft as gentle on blades as Hinoki wood?
Yoshihiro Hi Soft boards are made from a high‑performance LDPE plastic engineered to mimic the softness of wood while offering superior stain and odor resistance. They are rated as knife‑friendly and can be gentler than some hardwoods, but they lack the natural fragrance and aesthetic of Hinoki. For chefs who prioritize hygiene and easy cleaning, Hi Soft is a strong alternative.
What care routine keeps a Hinoki board looking and performing its best?
Dampen the board before each use, wash with mild detergent, towel‑dry, and air‑dry away from direct sunlight to prevent warping. For stains, rub a cut lemon over the area, and periodically oil with food‑grade mineral oil to maintain moisture balance. Avoid soaking or putting Hinoki boards in the dishwasher, as excess water can damage the wood.
How do price and overall value compare between Shun Hinoki boards and Yoshihiro synthetic boards?
Shun Hinoki boards tend to be priced higher due to premium FSC‑certified wood and Japanese craftsmanship, offering natural scent and visual appeal. Yoshihiro’s Hi Soft boards are generally more affordable and provide excellent durability, stain resistance, and easy sanitation. If aesthetic and fragrance matter, Shun offers higher perceived value; for practical, low‑maintenance use, Yoshihiro delivers better cost efficiency.
Does a reversible cutting board provide any food‑safety benefits?
Reversible boards, like the Shun Large Hinoki and the Boumbi Hinoki models, let you dedicate one side to raw proteins and the other to cooked foods, reducing cross‑contamination risk. This separation also extends the life of each surface by limiting wear on a single face. Look for boards that are easy to flip and have smooth, sealed edges to maintain hygiene.
Which board offers the strongest odor and stain resistance for heavy daily use?
Synthetic boards such as Yoshihiro Hi Soft and the high‑soft LDPE board (B0FPF8MMBK) are non‑porous, resisting moisture absorption, stains, and lingering odors. While Hinoki boards naturally resist odor absorption, they can develop stains if not cleaned promptly. For chefs who work with strong‑smelling ingredients daily, a synthetic option may stay cleaner longer.
Why should I consider FSC certification when buying a wooden cutting board?
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification ensures the wood comes from responsibly managed forests, supporting sustainable harvesting and biodiversity. Boards like the Shun Hinoki series carry this label, giving environmentally conscious shoppers confidence in their purchase. Choosing FSC‑certified wood also often reflects higher quality control standards.