Bamboo Charcoal where to buy for cheap

One of the items I hope to get is Bamboo Charcoal.

I saw it being used in Binchoutan for cooking rice, and have read it helps to make it taste better. Anyone know where I can get this?

I have heard Kyoto, but I have no location for a shop.

Also I hear they can be used as air freshners aswell.

I got some at a regular home center. I don't know what they have in Kyoto, but some around me that have it are Cainz Homes and Sekichu. I'm also pretty sure a big store like Viva Homes would have it too.

Is it the packaged type? That is for Dehumidifying, deodorising and filtering?

Or is it the standard for cooking? As in Barbeque Charcoal?

The Kirizumi(切炭） that is suited to the barbecue, it seems cheap.
We are selling the fuel store, but the home center might be cheap.
http://binchoukan.com/
http://www.i-sumi.com/hpgen/HPB/entries/98.html
Iwate Kirizumi（岩手切炭） here's a cheap price is likely.
Higashiyama ichiba
16-6 Misasagiootsubata-cho, Yamashina-ku ,Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
(Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are holidays) 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays
http://ichiba.higasiyama.co.jp/html/products/detail.php?product_id=7

Thanks for the reply, some of the links look interesting and I might go take a look aswell.

However I was looking for something more like this:

http://www.mtmeru.com/bamboo-charcoal/our-products-water.htm

http://www.mtmeru.com/bamboo-charcoal/our-products-home.htm

binchotan(備長炭) is made from the wood (ubame-gashi), while 竹炭 is made from bamboo.

the web site you cited is in Singapore.
http://www.mtmeru.com/bamboo-charcoal/Brochure.pdf
the Japanese in the document is strange. I am sure it is not "made in Japan". it is a fake product.

Yeah I noticed that when I was trying to look for a storefront on the website.

But basically I am looking for bamboo similar to the website. I am thinking of going down to the Kyoto business, near Nijo. and to take alook and maybe speak to some of the staff there to see if they can help.

I've never heard of anyone here in Japan sticking charcoal in with rice, so no, its not for cooking.

Sometimes, some people cook the rice and put the charcoal.
Some people are placed in water.
It seems to come out is Kalki.
I was mistaken for a charcoal barbecue.
Some takezumi shop in Kyoto, but Kyoto is small.
What about here?
iyasaka (弥栄）
26-1 Hanazonoi-machi,
Ukyo-ku,Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
10:00-12:00,13:00-17:00
Sundays and public holidays Closed Date
http://www.iyasaka.net/goods.html
http://www.iyasaka.net/index.html
Imai fuel(nenryo)(今井燃料）
9:00 to 18:00
Closed: Sunday, public holiday, Saturday (May to October)
147 masuya-machi,Kamanza dori maruta-machi sagaru ,nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
http://www.i-sumi.com/SHOP/16618/33915/list.html

Thanks Haro.

Looks great will check them out when I am in kyoto.

Some people like to put charcoal into the rice cooker when cooking rice, or in bottled water as a sort of filter to remove any off flavors that may be present. So it could be for cooking and they do sell charcoal specifically for this purpose.

Yes thats the reason why I want it. I have found my tap water to getting harder and probably more chemical.

So be nice to have something to absorb all the unwanted stuff in the water, whether just to filter it to drinking water or using it to filter the water when cooking rice.

Also to act as a deodouriser.