Err

Landscape designer, trainer and consultant, Japanese garden specialist

Japanese tools for weeding and tillage

Japanese tools for manual weeding and soil cultivation

Designed for manual weeding and surface soil work, Japanese gardening tools are renowned for their precision, efficiency and durability.
At Niwashi, our selection brings together traditional, ergonomically designed tools that allow you to loosen the soil, control unwanted plants and maintain a healthy soil structure, season after season.

What is manual weeding in the garden?

Manual weeding consists in controlling unwanted plants that may compete with cultivated plants for water, nutrients and light. This practice plays a key role in the overall health of plantings, the preservation of soil structure and the visual balance of the garden.
By favouring a gentle and targeted mechanical action, manual weeding makes it possible to avoid the use of pesticides and chemical weed killers, which can damage soil life and disrupt the biological balance of the garden. Working by hand, at the right time and with appropriate tools, helps limit regrowth over time while respecting micro-organisms, neighbouring roots and biodiversity.
This approach relies on the use of specific hand tools — hoes, sickles, hand weeders or fine blades — selected according to soil type and the level of precision required. It is particularly well suited to flower beds, containers, vegetable gardens, borders and sensitive areas, where careful and controlled action is essential.
At Niwashi, we select Japanese weeding tools designed to combine efficiency, durability and respect for the soil. Forged from high-quality steels and shaped for accurate hand movements, these tools also allow light surface soil work, improving aeration without disturbing the soil, and fully support a chemical-free gardening approach.

Japanese tools for manual weeding and soil care

Discover a selection of Japanese market-garden and gardening tools designed for manual weeding and precise surface soil work. Shaped to support accurate hand movements, these tools allow effective intervention while preserving soil structure and soil life.
 
Japanese spade
Ergonomic and highly durable, Japanese spades are characterised by their German-style handles, which encourage close-to-the-body work and improved power transfer. The models selected by Niwashi come from the renowned Tombo brand and are available in two formats — mini (65 cm) and maxi (97 cm) — to suit a wide range of gardening tasks.
 
Japanese hoe
Versatile by nature, the Japanese hoe (Kuwa) is well suited for transplanting, surface scraping, soil loosening, setting young plants and cutting superficial roots or bamboo rhizomes. Depending on the model, it can also be used as a dibber, gouge or surface soil tool. Niwashi offers several designs, each developed for a specific use.
 
Japanese sickle (Kama)
An emblematic tool for manual weeding, the Japanese sickle — or Kama — stands out for its sharp, precise cutting edge, efficiency and versatility. As a pioneer of Japanese sickles in Europe, Niwashi offers the widest range on the European market, covering a broad spectrum of blade shapes, hardness levels and gardening applications.
Among these models, the Nejiri kama holds a special place. Specifically designed for surface weeding, it allows extremely precise work, efficiently cutting unwanted plants roots without turning the soil. Its ergonomic shape and angled blade make it an essential tool for maintaining flower beds, paths and vegetable gardens.
Selected for their steel quality, durability and working comfort, Niwashi’s Japanese kamas fully support a manual, soil-respectful and chemical-free gardening approach.
 
Hori Hori
A truly versatile garden knife, the Hori Hori is a highly effective Japanese weeding tool. Its blade features two cutting edges — smooth on one side, serrated on the other — enabling weeding, cutting roots, bulbs and rhizomes, pot removal, soil loosening and work in compact soils. The slightly concave blade also makes it easy to handle small quantities of soil or substrate. Two versions are available: stainless steel or carbon steel.
These Japanese tools for weeding and soil care are intended for demanding gardeners and professionals seeking a manual, durable and chemical-free gardening practice, in line with the spirit of Japanese gardens.
Designed to support precise hand movements and long-term use, the Japanese tools presented below are intended for gardeners who wish to weed and work the soil manually, without chemical inputs.
Each product page provides detailed information on recommended uses, blade characteristics and selection guidance, helping you choose the tool best suited to your garden and working practices.
Nejiri Kama Japanese weeding sickle for right hand, brand Hiyokko
21.00_EUR
Japanese weeding sickle, called Nejiri kama, made of high carbon steel with twisted tang.
Ideal for weeding flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, rock gardens and weeding in general...

Brand : HIYOKKO.
Made in Japan.
Japanese pruning sickle
70.00_EUR
Pruning sickle or Nobori Kama, a sort of carbon steel pruning sickle used by Japanese gardeners to prune by climbing trees. Very useful also for brushcutting. 

Made in Japan.
Japanese multipurpose stainless steel weeding sickle
26.00_EUR

Japanese weeding sickle. Excellent weeding tool. At the same time scraper, weeder, sickle, weeding knife, edger... Must be discovered !


Made in Japan.
Nejiri Kama japanese weeding sickle for right hand, brand UEDA
20.00_EUR

Japanese weeding sickle Nejiri Kama for right-handed users, made of high carbon steel with a twisted blade and tang.

Ideal for general weeding purposes in flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and rockeries...


Brand : UEDA.

Made in Japan

Nejiri Kama japanese weeding sickle for LEFT HAND
21.00_EUR

Japanese weeding sickle Nejiri Kama for left-handers, made of high-carbon steel with a twisted blade and tang.

Ideal for general weeding purposes : flowerbeds, vegetable patches and rockeries...


Brand : Masakiyo.

Made in Japan

Japanese shovel Mini 65, Silver serie, Tombo brand.
40.00_EUR
Ultra compact Japanese shovel in indestructible hardened steel from the famous brand TOMBO.
Silver serie, Mini format 65 cm. Ideal for planting and trenches.
A must selected for you by Niwashi.

Made in Japan.
Japanese round shovel, Gold Series Tombo Brand
50.00_EUR
Japanese compact shovel in indestructible hardened steel from the famous brand TOMBO.
Gold series, large format 97 cm. Ideal for plantings and trenches.
A must selected for you by Niwashi.

Small Japanese hoe
21.00_EUR

Small Japanese hoe or transplanting tool for one-handed use, forged in extremely hard and resistant Japanese steel, with an 8 cm wide blade, perfect for transplanting seedlings, and for stripping and loosening the soil in small areas (vegetable patch, window boxes, etc.).

Made in Japan


Small Japanese hoe with a wide and a narrow blade
26.00_EUR

Small Japanese hand-forged hoe combining a wide blade and a narrow blade. Perfect for loosening the soil, planting seedlings, digging furrows, repotting...

Made in Japan.



Small Japanese hoe with a long, narrow blade.
21.00_EUR

Small Japanese hoe for one-handed use, forged in extremely hard and resistant Japanese carbon steel, with a long narrow blade, perfect for making furrows, deep loosening, transplanting vegetables, cutting roots, serving as a gouge, etc.

Made in Japan.


Small Japanese three-toothed claw
21.00_EUR

Small Japanese hand-forged claw with 3 sharp carbon steel teeth.

Perfect for loosening and breaking up the soil in your vegetable patch, planters, weeding... even in the heaviest soil.

Made in Japan.


Small japanese hoe and claw with 4 large teeth
26.00_EUR

Small Japanese hoe with claw side for one-handed use, forged in extremely hard and resistant Japanese carbon steel, combining a 73 mm wide square blade on one side and 4 sturdy 7 mm wide tines on the other, perfect for disentangling roots, transplanting seedlings, hoeing, weeding, loosening and crumbling the soil in small areas (vegetable patches, window boxes, containers, etc.)

Made in Japan.


Nejiri Kama weeding sickle for LEFT-HANDED users, Hônen brand
21.00_EUR

Japanese weeding sickle Nejiri Kama made of carbon steel with twisted blade and tang. Model for left-handers.

Ideal for weeding flower beds, vegetable gardens, rockeries and general weeding, as a hoe or scraper...

Hônen Brand.

Made in Japan.

Small stainless steel weeding sickle
20.00_EUR
Small Japanese stainless steel sickle for weeding or picking.

Small carbon steel weeding sickle for RIGHT Hand.
20.00_EUR
Small Japanese sickle in carbon steel for weeding or picking
Model for RIGHT hand.
Small carbon steel japanese sickle for LEFT-HANDED USERS
20.00_EUR

Small Japanese carbon steel sickle for weeding or picking. LEFT HANDED model


Sickle for picking vegetables, lavender and aromatics.
31.00_EUR
Sickle for picking vegetables, lavender and aromatics. Very light but effective tool. Made in stainless steel.
Forged in Japan.
Sickle for picking, market gardening and aromatics in carbon steel
26.00_EUR
Japanese sickle for picking, market gardening and aromatics, in SK-5 carbon steel.

Kama, authentic Japanese sickle
51.00_EUR
Kama, a real traditional Japanese sickle, for mowing or cutting brambles and small woody plants, split bamboos...

Made in Japan.
Mini stainless steel Hori Hori knife, KEN KATABAMI brand.
35.00_EUR

Mini Hori Hori, small Japanese stainless steel garden knife.

KEN KATABAMI brand.


Made in Japan.


Stainless steel hori hori knife, KEN KATABAMI brand.
39.00_EUR

Hori Hori, Japanese stainless steel garden knife.

KEN KATABAMI brand.


Made in Japan.


Hori Hori in stainless steel.
30.00_EUR
Hori Hori, Japanese garden knife in stainless steel.

Made in Japan.
Hori hori in carbon steel
25.00_EUR
Hori Hori, Japanese garden knife in carbon steel.

Made in Japan.