Gear guide
Best Whetstones for Japanese Knives: Which Grits and Which Stones
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Japanese kitchen knives are harder and thinner than most Western ones and are sharpened at a lower angle, about 10 to 17 degrees per side for double-bevel blades. That thin edge is the reason to skip coarse stones unless a chip needs repair: a medium grit does the sharpening and a finishing grit refines it. In practice that means a stone around 1000, then something from 2000 up to 8000, either as two separate stones or as one 1000/6000 combination stone. The stones in this guide come from Shapton and King, two Japanese whetstone brands, and they differ in grit, thickness and how they take water: one King listing asks for submersion before use, while Shapton stones are the splash-and-go kind that are wetted on the surface and, per Shapton, never soaked for more than 30 minutes. This guide compares seven of them by grit, stone size, soak or splash and what is included, using only what each listing states. Nothing was tested, and single-bevel knives follow their maker's instructions, not a general rule.
Compare the picks
| Pick | Grit | Stone size | Soak or splash | Included | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 King KW65 1000/6000 combination whetstone | 1000/6000 | 8 x 2 1/2 x 1 in | not stated | Plastic base | - | Amazon |
 Shapton K0702 #1000 medium whetstone | #1000 | 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 in | not stated | not stated | - | Amazon |
 Shapton K0710 #8000 finishing whetstone | #8000 | 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 in | not stated | not stated | - | Amazon |
 Shapton Ha No Kuromaku F-set, 4 ceramic stones | #1000, #5000, #8000, #12000 | 8 1/4 x 2 3/4 x 1/2 in | not stated | Boxes double as holders | - | Amazon |
 Shapton K0703 #2000 medium whetstone | #2000 | 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 in | not stated | not stated | - | Amazon |
 King Deluxe No. 2000 whetstone, #2000 grit | #2000 | 8.1 x 2.6 x 1.3 in | not stated | not stated | - | Amazon |
 King Pro Standard whetstone, 800 grit | 800 | 8-1/8 x 2-3/4 x 1-1/4 in | Submerge before use | Instructions and diagrams | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
If you just want one
- Closest match for the jobKing KW65 1000/6000 combination whetstone1000 grit and 6000 grit in one combination stone, so sharpening and polishing are both covered
- Most for the money on paperShapton K0702 #1000 medium whetstoneGrit size #1000, described in the listing as good enough for both rough and medium sharpening
- Most complete listingShapton Ha No Kuromaku F-set, 4 ceramic stonesFour grits in one set: medium #1000, fine #5000 and #8000, and ultra fine #12000 for finishing
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · King
King KW65 1000/6000 combination whetstone
See price on AmazonA 1000/6000 combination stone from King with a plastic base. The listing gives the full size, 8 x 2 1/2 x 1 inches, which suits kitchen knives, and little else: a plain first stone without extras.
What the listing offers
- 1000 grit and 6000 grit in one combination stone, so sharpening and polishing are both covered
- Stone size is stated: 8 inches long, 2 1/2 inches wide and 1 inch thick
- A plastic base for the stone is included in the listing
Limits to know
- No angle guide or flattening stone in the box: the listing names only the stone and the base
- The listing does not say how long to soak the stone or what abrasive it is made from
Pick 2 · Shapton
Shapton K0702 #1000 medium whetstone
See price on AmazonShapton's #1000 medium stone, the grit that does the main sharpening on a Japanese kitchen knife. The listing gives product dimensions of 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches and says it works as a rough or medium sharpener.
What the listing offers
- Grit size #1000, described in the listing as good enough for both rough and medium sharpening
- Stated product dimensions are 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches (210 x 70 mm face)
- Sold as a single #1000 stone, so the finishing grit can be chosen separately
Limits to know
- One grit only: a finishing stone has to be bought separately
- The listing does not say whether to soak or splash, and names no base or holder
Pick 3 · Shapton
Shapton K0710 #8000 finishing whetstone
See price on AmazonA #8000 finishing stone for the last polishing step after a 1000 or 2000 grit. The listing describes a smooth finish like that of a natural whetstone and gives the same 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 inch size as the other single Shapton stones here.
What the listing offers
- Grit size #8000, at the fine end of the polishing range used to finish an edge
- Stated product dimensions are 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches, matching the #1000 and #2000 stones
- Listed by item number K0710 as a finish whetstone, for use after a medium grit
Limits to know
- Finishing only: it will not sharpen a dull knife without a medium stone first
- No soak or splash instructions and no base or case are mentioned in the listing
Pick 4 · Shapton
Shapton Ha No Kuromaku F-set, 4 ceramic stones
See price on AmazonFour Shapton Ha No Kuromaku ceramic whetstones in one purchase: #1000, #5000, #8000 and #12000. The listing names kitchen knives and sushi knives, and each stone has a ventilated plastic box that doubles as its holder.
What the listing offers
- Four grits in one set: medium #1000, fine #5000 and #8000, and ultra fine #12000 for finishing
- Stated work surface is 8 1/4 x 2 3/4 x 1/2 inches (210 x 70 x 15 mm)
- Stones are colored and come in matching ventilated plastic boxes that also serve as stone holders
Limits to know
- No coarse stone in the set, so repairing a chip needs another stone
- Three finishing grits is more than the medium plus one finishing stone a kitchen knife usually gets
Pick 5 · Shapton
Shapton K0703 #2000 medium whetstone
See price on AmazonA #2000 stone that the listing says can be used for both medium and finishing sharpening. A possible single stone for regular upkeep of a Japanese knife; a 1000 grit remains the usual choice for a dull edge.
What the listing offers
- Grit size #2000, described in the listing as usable for both medium and finishing sharpening
- Stated product dimensions are 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches (210 x 70 mm face)
- Listed with its item number, K0703, so the exact stone is easy to identify
Limits to know
- At #2000 it is finer than the usual 1000 grit sharpening stone, so it suits upkeep more than a dull edge
- No soak or splash instructions and no base are mentioned in the listing
Pick 6 · KING
King Deluxe No. 2000 whetstone, #2000 grit
See price on AmazonA thick King stone in #2000 for a medium finish, made in Japan. At 8.1 x 2.6 x 1.3 inches and about 950 g it is more than twice as thick as the single Shapton stones in this guide.
What the listing offers
- Grit size #2000, labelled in the listing title for a medium finish
- Stated size 8.1 x 2.6 x 1.3 inches (207 x 66 x 34 mm), body weight about 33.5 oz (950 g)
- The listing states the country of manufacture: Japan
Limits to know
- The abrasive is described only as a special abrasive material, with no more detail
- No soak instructions, base or holder are mentioned in the listing
Pick 7 · KING
King Pro Standard whetstone, 800 grit
See price on AmazonA medium-coarse 800 grit King stone for dull and damaged blades, a step below 1000. The listing says it must be submerged in water before use and comes with honing instructions and diagrams.
What the listing offers
- Medium-coarse 800 grit, described in the listing as useful for dull and damaged blades
- Stated size: 8-1/8 inches long, 2-3/4 inches wide and 1-1/4 inches thick
- Honing instructions and diagrams are included, and the need to submerge it in water is stated
Limits to know
- One grit only and on the coarse side of medium: a finishing stone is still needed
- No base is mentioned, and the listing does not state the country of manufacture
Read before you buy
- What Grit Whetstone Do You Need?Which whetstone grit to buy: 1000 for one stone, add 3000 to 6000 for two, add 240 to 400 for three. With a table by knife and edge condition.
- Factory Sharpening Angles by Knife BrandFactory sharpening angles for 9 knife brands, each taken from the maker's own page: Wusthof 14 per side, Shun 16, Benchmade 30 to 35 inclusive.
- Sharpening Angle for Japanese KnivesDouble-bevel Japanese knives sharpen at 10 to 17 degrees per side. Maker figures for Shun, Global and Miyabi, plus the rule for single-bevel knives.
More gear for the choose your stones stage
Stone and Strop chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.