Toyama Hamono shears guide
How to choose Japanese garden shears
Secateurs, snips, bonsai, Okubo and ikebana shears compared by task, steel, grip and size, so you get the right pair the first time.
- Handmade in Japan by Toyama Hamono
- Same-day dispatch from Sydney before 12pm
- Rated 4.92 / 5 from 3,500+ customer reviews
Five things decide the right pair
- 1TaskWhat you cut most often
- 2TypeSecateurs, snips or a specialist pair
- 3SteelHigh-carbon edge or easy-care stainless
- 4GripHandle shape and material
- 5SizeYour hand and the reach you need
Step 1
Start with what you'll cut most
Most gardeners own one pair that does 80% of the work. Choose it for your most frequent job, then add a specialist pair later.
Step 2
Compare the types
Cutting capacity is the thickest green stem each type handles cleanly. Cut near the pivot (the base of the blade) for thick stems, and use the tips for fine work.
| Type | Best for | At the tip | At the base | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secateurs | Branches, woody stems, everyday pruning | Up to 5 mm | Up to 15 mm | View |
| Snips | Flowers, herbs, houseplants, deadheading | Up to 5 mm | Up to 10 mm | View |
| Bonsai scissors | Thinning foliage, fine twigs, tight spaces | Up to 5 mm | Up to 10 mm | View |
| Okubo shears | Bonsai roots, twigs and leaves | Roots and fine twigs | View | |
| Ikebana shears | Thick flower stems, floral design | Up to 5 mm | Up to 10 mm | View |
Going thicker than the base capacity? Reach for a pruning saw instead. Forcing a cut strains the pivot and can damage the edge.
Shears finder
Three taps to your pair
Step 3
High-carbon or stainless?
Neither is better. It comes down to the edge you want and how much care you're happy to give.
Laminated high-carbon steel
A hard carbon-steel core forged between softer layers. It takes a very keen edge, cuts with less effort and is easy to resharpen.
- Choose it for the cleanest cuts and the classic Japanese feel
- Care wipe dry after use and oil now and then, or it will rust
- In our range most Toyama secateurs and snips
Stainless steel
Resists rust and sap staining, so it suits humid gardens, coastal air, wet greenery and anyone who wants to cut and put away.
- Choose it for low maintenance and humid or coastal conditions
- Care a quick wipe is usually enough
- In our range 165 mm secateurs, Koeda, Okubo snips and ikebana shears
Step 4
Pick a grip you'll enjoy holding
If you prune for long sessions, the handle matters as much as the blade.
Handle shape
- Traditional symmetrical
- Works in either hand and lets you turn the pair freely. Light and nimble for detail work.
- Broad and rounded
- Spreads pressure across the palm, as on our Okubo scissors, for comfort over long sessions.
- Curved
- Follows the natural line of the hand, as on our curved-handle snips, for less wrist strain when deadheading.
Handle material
- Metal
- Slim, durable and easy to clean. The traditional choice for bonsai and ikebana.
- Leather wrapped
- Warm, cushioned and grippy, and softens to your hand over time. Tan or black.
- Bubinga wood
- Dense African hardwood with a rich grain. Our heirloom pairs and a favourite gift.
Step 5
Choose your size
Not sure? 180 mm is the best starting point for most people.
Smaller hands, detail work. Light and precise for herbs, deadheading and tight spots.
The all-rounder. Comfortable for most hands with enough leverage for small branches.
Larger hands, more reach. Extra leverage for thicker stems and long pruning sessions.
Sizes are the overall length of the closed pair. Snips run a little longer than secateurs of the same hand feel because of their long, fine blades.
Shop the Toyama range
Every pair is handmade in Japan. Prices, stock and reviews are live.
Secateurs
The everyday pruning pair, from 140 to 200 mm.
- For
- Herb harvesting, Budding and deadheading, Detailed pruning
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Leather trim
- Cuts
- Soft stems and fine growth
- For
- Everyday pruning, Herbs and flowers, Smaller hands
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Cuts
- Up to 15 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Pruning flowers, Small branches, Herbs
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Leather trim
- Cuts
- Up to 15 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Small branches, Flowers, Houseplants
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Tan leather wrapped
- Cuts
- Up to 15 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- General garden pruning, Small branches, Flowers
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Cuts
- Up to 15 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- General garden pruning, Small branches, Flowers
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Tan leather wrapped
- Cuts
- Up to 15 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- General garden pruning, Small branches, Flowers
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Black leather wrapped
- Cuts
- Up to 15 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Small branches, Flowers, Houseplants
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Bubinga wood
- Cuts
- Up to 15 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
Snips
Long, fine blades for flowers, herbs and houseplants.
- For
- Delicate pruning, Flowers, Houseplants
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Tan leather wrapped
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Floristry, Flowers, Houseplants
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Tan leather wrapped
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Deadheading, Fine trimming, Flowers
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Curved tan leather handles
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Delicate pruning, Floristry, Bonsai
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Delicate pruning, Flowers, Houseplants
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Tan leather wrapped
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Bonsai care, Floristry, Fine stems
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Bubinga wood
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
Bonsai and Okubo shears
For fine twigs, foliage and roots.
- For
- Bonsai styling, Thinning foliage, Fine stems
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Grip
- Slim metal handles
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
- For
- Bonsai pruning, Root reduction, Branch trimming
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Grip
- Stainless steel handles
- For
- Bonsai care, Roots, Stems and leaves
- Steel
- High-carbon steel
- Grip
- Broad, rounded handles
Ikebana shears
Cut thick flower stems cleanly for arrangements.
- For
- Ikebana, Thick flower stems, Floral design
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Grip
- Fine metal handles
- Cuts
- Up to 10 mm at the base, 5 mm at the tip
Sets, holsters and sheaths
Save with a pair, and protect your blades.
- For
- Complete pruning kit, Branches and stems, Flowers and houseplants
- Grip
- Tan leather wrapped
Questions we're often asked
Which pair should I buy first?
Buy for the job you do most often. For general garden pruning, 180 mm secateurs are the most versatile starting point. If you mostly cut flowers, herbs or houseplants, choose snips. You can add a specialist pair later.
Should a beginner choose stainless or high-carbon steel?
If you want to cut and put the pair away, choose stainless steel. If you are happy to wipe the blades dry and oil them now and then, high-carbon steel rewards you with a keener edge that is easy to resharpen. See our care guide for high-carbon tools.
Can I use snips on branches?
Snips are made for soft stems up to about 10 mm at the base. Woody branches can damage their fine blades, so use secateurs for anything woody up to 15 mm, and a pruning saw beyond that.
Is 180 mm or 200 mm better?
180 mm suits most hands and is the one we recommend if you are unsure. Choose 200 mm if you have larger hands or want more leverage and reach for thicker stems.
Are leather-wrapped handles worth it?
Leather adds cushioning and grip and feels warmer in the hand, which makes a difference over long pruning sessions. It softens to your hand over time. Keep it dry and it will last for years.
How do I look after my shears?
Wipe off sap and moisture after each use, add a drop of oil to the pivot and blades, and store them in a holster or blade sheath. Our guide to maintaining your secateurs covers cleaning and sharpening.
Can I get replacement springs and bolts?
Yes. We stock genuine Toyama Hamono replacement springs and bolt and nut sets, so a well-loved pair can keep working for years. Find them in the Toyama Hamono collection.
Which pair makes the best gift?
The bubinga wood and leather-wrapped pairs are our most popular gifts. For a gardener who has everything, the Tan Leather Secateurs and Snips Set covers both branches and flowers.
Still not sure? Ask us.
Tell us what you grow, how often you prune and the size of your hands, and we'll point you to the right pair.