Kyoto Greatest Souvenirs

Kyoto Greatest Souvenirs Exquisite Crafts
Selected by Foreign Residents of Kyoto
Welcome to Kyoto! There is a vast array of famous tourist spots in Kyoto, but that is not the only attraction of Kyoto. A rich culture that has been nurtured through a long 1200-year history is still an integral element of the lives of people who live in Kyoto. It takes the form of craftworks thatrelate to you the history of Kyoto.
Kyoto Greatest Souvenirs

Exquisite Crafts Selected by Foreign Residents of Kyoto
Contents
Welcome to Kyoto ! Kyoto

There is a vast array of famous tourist spots in Kyoto, but that is not the only attraction of Kyoto.
Welcome to Kyoto! Aritsugu Eirakuya Hakuchikudo Jidaigireya BON-Kyoto Kaikado Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten Kurochiku Tensho-kan MON Nuishou Inagaki Okaju Rakushien Wadau Zohiko Kyoto Outline MAP Handicraft Center 03 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 31
A rich culture that has been nurtured through a long 1200-year history is still an integral element of the lives of people who live in Kyoto. It takes the form of craftworks that relate to you the history of Kyoto. Craftworks go beyond all bounds of time as they embody the spirit of the people who have passed down their traditions over the centuries. The craftworks that we are introducing here have all been chosen with the opinions of foreign residents of Kyoto taken into consideration. Please be sure to drop by our shop and enjoy these craftworks by actually holding them in your hands. When you actually take a close look at them, your heart will be moved by their value, and they will provide you with further understanding of Kyoto from a different angle. If you do this, there is no doubt that your trip will become an even more magnificent one. And we would be overjoyed if you would convey the deep allure of Kyoto craftworks to your family and friends after you return to your home country.
Please enjoy Kyoto to your hearts content !
Wagokoro Wasantoku butcher knife (upper)12,600 yen Wagokoro Wa-Petit butcher knife (lower)8,085 yen
The striking edge of Japanese blades
Knives originated from sword blacksmiths
Our prided sharp edge Aritsugu knives. Select your knife of choice depending on your intended use. You will not be able to take it on board the aircraft as carry-on luggage, so please check it at the airport reception counter.
Upon purchase, customize your knife with a free name engraving. A popular souvenir for foreigners to get their names engraved in Japanese!
ringing out the best of the ingredients is one of the signature culinary methods of Japanese cuisine. The Sharper the edge of a piece of Sashimi indicates the freshness of the fish and special knives for that exclusive purpose were made so chefs were able to slice in one stroke. You can say that the knife is what gives Sashimi its edge. This is why a good Japanese sushi chef is very particular about their knife of choice. One of the longest standing and trusted blade brand shops located in Kyotos Nishiki Market is Aritsugu. Today, some of the finest chefs from not only Japan but all over the world come to the shop looking for their perfect knife. Aritsugus history dates back to 1560 during a time of many battles. It was established as Fujiwara Aritsugu for Katana Swords and served directly for the imperials for generations. To this day, at Aritsugu, the metal clamp of the knife is called the Tsuba which was the original naming of the same part of a Katana battle sword.
Soon after the battles quieted down and peace was restored in the land, the Edo period had begun. The demand for battle swords decreased and Aritsugu began changing direction and started making small knives for Buddha statue sculptors. Soon after, Aritsugu began making knives for cooking and by the end of the Meiji era, hot pots and other cooking utensils were part of the product line. The main concept of Aritsugu is Easy to use, Easy to repair and always a sharp blade. Easy to use refers to the shape and size of the knife depending on the purpose of use. Aritsugu carries over 50 types and 400 models of knives in the store but will still offer customized blades to suit the knife users needs. One of the popular blades that we carry is the edgy authentic Japanese knife called the Wabocho. As Japanese culture and cuisine have been spreading internationally, this knife in particular has been gathering attention among top notch chefs of Japanese cuisine from around the globe.
Renowned star chef, David Bouley in New York is just one of many Aritsugu knife users. Sliced onions with soy sauce is a common dish eaten in Japan, but in order to serve it at its best, it is very important to slice the onions as thin as possible; almost translucent. The Aritsugu Wabocho knives can be used to do this easily as if it is almost part of the body. Aritsugu values this connection between the chef and knife the most. The Wabocho knifes blade tip is almost half the size of regular western knives. This allows for maximum thinness. There is a wide selection of these Wabocho knives depending on your purpose. Whether it be to gut fish, cut chicken, a thinner knife to slice vegetables or a sashimi knife etc, every knife is made for its particular purpose. Moreover, when you purchase a knife at Aritsugu, you will be taught how to care for and sharpen your blade. Experience a cut like no other and enjoy the quality of a lifetime knife.
Besides knives, there is a selection of other cooking utensils from cutters, pots and graters to Wine coolers, Shochu servers and beer glasses.
Aritsugu
TEL: +81-(0)75-221-1091 FAX: +81-(0)75-231-1066 Address: Nishiki-koji Dori, Gokomachi Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Credit cards: Not Accepted (Cash Only)
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Three examples of popular tenugui patterns. From the left: 1,575 yen; 1,260 yen; 1,575 yen. A 100% cotton flat-woven thin fabric. It is highly absorbent and dries quickly. We recommend that you use it as a towel, as a tapestry, or as a table liner.
Your imagination is the limit.
Furoshiki wrapping cloths or tenugui hand towels can be used to wrap such utensils as wine bottles and plastic bottles.
A display of colorful tenuguis. You can have fun picking your favorite.
he tenugui, an item particular to Japanese culture, is a rectangular shaped piece of cotton fabric. Its name means: to wipe hands. But how did such a simple piece of cotton become so particular to Japan? The secret lies in its versatility. In the sensitivity of the Japanese, there is a certain tendency to make one object look like another - a certain flexibility to create different arrangements. The tenugui is probably the prime example of that. In the beginning, tenuguis were made of woven silk or linen, and served as accessories for religious use. When the cultivation of cotton eventually became more widespread about 400 years ago, tenuguis made of cotton fabric began to be used by common people in their daily lives. In those days, as most households did not have baths, people would go out and gather in public baths. A tenugui was obviously used to dry ones body after bathing. It was also worn around the shoulders or neck to accessorize ones outfit, worn over the head to protect against sunlight or dust, twisted and
tied around the head like a headband to stir ones fighting spirit up, used as a short split curtain, or even as a prop for Japanese traditional dance or Kabuki theater performances. The common people made use of their infinite ingenuity to find so many uses for this simple piece of fabric. Until about fifty years ago, they were found in any household, but as Japan became more and more westernized, the tenugui was gradually replaced by modern-day towels, and demand has been decreasing since then. Eirakuya is a shop specialized in fabric dyeing that has been making tenuguis through the ages. The business was founded in 1615 and the current owner, Mr. Ihei Hosotsuji now represents the fourteenth generation of owners. In the time of its foundation, the business mainly produced silk, and was used to procure kimonos for Nobunaga Oda, the warlord from the countrys Age of Civil Wars. As cotton became more common, the store began to produce cotton kimonos, and eventually made tenuguis and towels as well.
About 20 years ago, Eirakuya brought back its classical tenugui printed patterns, which could be considered as the stores most valued assets, and once more began to introduce the many uses of the tenugui. The shop is now all the rage among customers ranging from younger people to foreign tourists. The reason for the stores popularity is that the patterns of its fabrics are bold and original. The traditional printed patterns revived from 80 years ago especially have a distinctive Japanese atmosphere, making them attractive as textiles. Eirakuya pays special attention to producing brilliant colors that wont fade. Also, in the store are displayed examples demonstrating the many uses of the tenugui as well as those of the furoshiki, a larger piece of cloth used to wrap things. Those latter ones are amazing, just like origami made of fabric. Just tying up one piece of cloth can instantly transform it into a bag, a tissue box cover, a wine bag and so on. Youre guaranteed to impress people back home once you show them the different methods of folding fabric youve learned.
A view of the interior of the store, brightly lit, with neatly arranged products.
Eirakuya
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TEL: +81-(0)75-256-7881 FAX: +81-(0)75-256-7885 Address: 368 Ennogyoja-Cho, Sanjo Agaru, Muromachi-Dori, Nakagyo-Ku, Kyoto Available Language: English, Japanese Website: http://www.eirakuya.jp/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
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This decorative fan is perfect for display. Pine, Bamboo, and Plum 8,925 yen
To make glitz and glamour in Kyoto

apanese fans, or sensu, are one of the crafts that the world sees as symbols of Japan. They are usually ornamented as interior goods which have a Japanese flavor. The original way to use a Japanese fan is to unfold it and improve airflow around you when you feel the weather is hot. But the Japanese fan for Japanese people is an idiosyncratic tool that has been deeply connected to their own traditional culture, customs and spirits. For example, Japanese traditional crafts have another name: Suehiro, because its end is unfolded. Such crafts have been used as good-luck talismans for marriage ceremonies and celebrations for longevity. In tea ceremonies and Japanese dancing, Japanese people laterally put a shut paper fan in front of them when they make the usual greetings. In that case, it indicates their modest attitude towards the other people; the opposite side across the paper fan means a seat of honor and the immediate side from it is a lower-ranking seat. In Japanese wedding ceremonies, there is a
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Openwork carving on fan frame exhibits this fans high level of design. Oxidized Silver Moon Dance (Crane) 10,500 yen Its lovely appearance gives it value as a decorative object, and on hot days, it can also be used for practical cooling when you look up at it.
Fan, coin purse, and hair scrunchie all coordinated with the same design.Flower Print Yuino Fan 2,625 yen, Coin Purse 840 yen, Scrunchie 1,050 yen
traditional practice that men put in their own belt. It means it is the alternative of a samurai's power. The origination of such paper fans is said to extend back over 1,200 years. In the era when paper was still a valuable item, characters were written on elongated woodblocks. At that time, the typical paper fans had been manufactured by piling up the woodblocks and making an opening on the other side. At first, they were used with the formal clothes of royal court members or aristocrats and in ceremonies by monks or Shinto priests. Then, the type with attached paper (similar to the modern version) started to be manufactured. Around the 13th century, they were used by many samurai to spur on military advances. Around the same time, common people started to use them as well. Kyoto is famous as the traditional place for the production of Japanese fans. When their materials (including Japanese paper and bamboo) are obtained within the country and they are manufactured in Kyoto, we call themKyo-sensu. Hakuchikudo is a craftwork shop in Kyoto. Approximately 290 years has passed
since the founding of the company. In 1718, Hakuchikudo made a branch shop for Japanese fans in front of Nishi-Honganji Temple. At that time, the main customers were hotels and temples. Currently, the shop is in the Sanjo area, which has many stylish stores. When you visit Hakuchikudo, youll probably be surprised at the richness of Japanese fans. Hakuchikudos persistency is to take a stance to try anything new at any time, while maintaining Japanese traditions. You may find your favorite paper fans: classical Japanese-inspired ones, modern textile-processing ones and Swatow. Jointly-produced crafts by foreign designers are also popular. Our commodities have a wide variety of intended purposes: for general purposes, Japanese dancing and tea ceremonies. Theyre sometimes used as glittering ornaments. You ll be satisfied with a taste of Japanese culture just by seeing our commodities. In our shop, you can paint things that you like and experience tousenkyou (a traditional game where you throw a paper fan at a target.) Such exciting events in the store may remain in your heart.
The elegantly designed Hakuchikudo Main Store.
Hakuchikudo
TEL: +81-(0)75-221-1341 FAX: +81-(0)75-221-2759 Address: 448, Shirakabe-cho, Rokkaku Agaru, Fuyacho-Dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Website: http://www.hakuchikudo.co.jp/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
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All made by fabrics of antique kimonos, you can find bags, pouches, accessories, hairdressing items, straps, netsuke (charm), split curtains, tapestries, etc. in our store.
Beauty created from the power of fabrics

ince the relocation of Japanese capital in 794 and until about 140 years ago, Kyoto had been the capital of Japan and the Emperors residence. Compared to the townsman culture of common people in Edo (now Tokyo), Kyoto is characterized by the elegant and splendid culture of nobility. The technique employed to elegant kimonos that had been cultivated through the ages is one among them. The specialties of Kyoto, Nishijin silk fabric and Kyoto Yuzen dyeing have the beauty of art. Jidaigireya BON-Kyoto is a store selling recycled goods made from vintage kimonos or the fabrics made from them. The atmosphere that can only be brought out from the kimonos and obi belts with a long history, the texture that fits comfortably in your hands, the deep and heartfelt colors, and the unique and novel designs all the charms of kimono fabrics are brought out to their fullest.
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Ornaments with Zodiac motifs: 52,500 yen
Long-sleeved kimono embroidered with a beautiful crane. It is a precisely formed pattern that requiresa mind-boggling amount of work.
The store owner especially values the encounter with the fabrics that attract him as the most important concern. Especially in the age back then, when the technology for mass production didnt exist, the antique kimonos were made one by one with time and care. The owner of Bon-Kyoto says he feels the kimonos have the power to attract modern people in a timeless way. There are foreign customers who use the antique kimonos as gowns or recycle the obi belts as table runners. Not only do the antique kimonos carry the traditional sprit, but they also acutely reflect the atmosphere of the time when they were made. For example, among the kimonos from the Taisho era made 100 years ago, when Japanese and western cultures fused and a unique modernism was developed, you can find textures with western flowers and designs with bold use of color. Every original product sold at Bon-Kyoto is created by the material and fabric from the antique kimonos and their
obi belts. Every goods, including bags, hairdressing items and seasonal decorations, is carefully handmade one by one. In Japan, we have a custom of a 12-year cycle called Eto, with each year corresponding to a certain animal. There is a wide range of ornaments with Zodiac motifs displayed in the store as well, showing an aspect of Japanese culture. In Japan, we have a high aesthetic sense by taking the change of seasons and natural beauty into our lives. At Bon-Kyoto, we value the aesthetic sense of Kyoto and aim to create our original products to fit modern life by balancing the modern sense with the traditional sprit. And this is the commitment that has never changed since we first started the business as Bon-Kyoto. We are sure the feelings and loves that Japanese people have towards kimonos would be conveyed to our customers beyond nation and time at the moment they take our product in their hands.
It is said that when the former U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Japan in 1998, Princess Hitachi presented Mrs. Hillary Clinton with a bag made by Jidaigireya BON-Kyoto. 29,925 yen
Jidaigireya BON-Kyoto
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TEL: +81-(0)75-711-7095 FAX: +81-(0)75-711-7095 Address: 21-5, Kamibetto-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Website: http://www.bon-kyoto.co.jp/en/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
These containers are versatile and can be used for a variety of dry goods such as coffee, pasta, or grain.
chazutsu created by artistic craftsmanship

apanese people love drinking Japanese tea in everyday life. Around 800 years ago, Zen monk Yousai, the founder of Kenninji Temple, brought tea from China. He encouraged the cultivation of tea in Japan and is also recognized as the founder of the tea ceremony. Uji, located in the south of Kyoto where tea seeds were planted back then, is now one of the most prominent tea production areas in Japan. As this story shows, Kyoto has a long tradition of drinking Japanese tea. However, in those times it was discipline learned by the nobles. It was just around 150 years ago when ordinary people started to drink tea like today. Tea dealers who transported a huge amount of tea leaves were looking for a new container the replace the bowls made of tin or jars made of china. It happened that at that time Kaikado had their eyes on tin plates, which had just been imported from England. Kaikado, established in 1875, is Japans oldest company of hand made tea caddies.
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Tea containers made exactly how the first generation of craftsmen made them. Simple and uniform design is one of our hallmarks. Each container is made of two layers: tin plate on the inside and one of four styles-copper, brass, tin, or silver-on the outside. Regular Size model (400g) 11,550 yen. The process for making our Kaikado tea containers hasnt changed in 130 years. Each step of the process is done by hand.
In a time before the invention of the refrigerator or any advanced preservation techniques available today, the airtightness of a container was the key to protection and preservation tea leaves from humidity. Kaikados tea caddies feature high airtightness that was made possible by their double-walled construction. The tea caddies, which closed tightly with great accuracy, received high acclaim and a rush of orders. The company produced tailor made tea caddies to the requirements and needs of tea dealers and hardware merchants alike.Each of Kaikados tea caddies is hand-made by their own craftsmen. Because of this, the maximum production is limited to around 10 caddies a day. The manufacturing method involves cutting a metal plate and crimping it to make a perfect form. Only well-experienced craftsmen can shape a perfect circle. By simply placing the lid on the top of the caddy, it closes slowly and automatically only by the weight of the lid. This ensures that two contrary functions,
airtightness and easy opening/closing, are combined by the highly skilled manufacturing technique. Elaborate manufacturing true to Japanese craftsmanship is the key focus of Kaikado.In addition to being used for storing tea leaves, the caddies can also be used to store English or Chinese tea, as well as coffee, spices, pasta and grain. Not too tight and not too loose, the caddies maintain perfect construction that will impress you every time you open and close them. Simplifying the form and pursuing the functionality, Kaikado also pays great attention to designing its products. Designers like Jasper Morrison and Gabriele Pezzini came to visit the company and praised the minimalistic design. Each time the caddy is handled, it develops a unique sheen specific to the type of material from which it is made. Witnessing the changes in color that develop over time will surely bring great joy to the person wishing to nurture their caddy over time.
The styles have changed as years have goneby. You can find the original tin- plated tea container on display at our store. Weve also created several sizes for different uses.
Kaikado
TEL: +81-(0)75-351-5788 FAX: +81-(0)75-351-5801 Address: 21-5, Kamibetto-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Website: http://www.kaikado.jp/english/ Credit cards: Not Accepted (Cash Only)
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Arranged to interior decoration. A lampshade, one of the shops best sellers.
Magic of Shibori (Japanese tie dyeing)

three-dimensional form and characteristic yet unique color pallet. A Shibori scarf doesnt look like a cloth at a first glance. Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten produces Shiborizome, a traditional tie dye technique, with a completely new approach. The company was established in 1915 as a wholesale manufacturing firm of Shibori kimono and celebrates its 96th anniversary this year. Shiborizome is a dying technique. It is said that this technique was invented spontaneously in many parts of the world including Japan. Japanese people have been using tie dye techniques since around one thousand and several hundreds years ago. Some of the oldest Shiborizome fabric was discovered in Horyuji, built 1400 years ago, and Shosoin, build 1250 years ago. Shiborizome is accomplished by binding parts of fabric tightly and then dying it in that state. As the ties will prevent the entire fabric from being dyed, dye is applied to only parts of fabric, creating interesting patterns. After the dying process, Yunoshi will get rid of wrinkles from ties and flatten the fabric. Even after the finishing
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Shiborizome scarf with wonderful three-dimensional form.
Even bold colors look elegant as they use Kimono dye.
process, the fabric will have small bumps or unevenness. This is the main feature and unique texture of Shiborizome. Japanese Shibori techniques have progressed uniquely. Kyotos Shibori features characteristically detailed and delicate patterns even among all other tie dye techniques. Shibori kimono is a luxury item as it is only possible to make through repetitious hours of tying, a process which demands a lot of patience. It was even forbidden when the Edo bakufu government imposed a ban on living luxuries. However, Shibori never stopped fascinating people and has made come back in recent years. Shiborizome requires many processes to finish and each of them requires the hands of specialized craftsmen. Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten is in charge of planning and designing of their products. As people from the company are born and grown up in the traditional Kyoto, all the products will have a refined taste that is representative of Kyoto. In 1991, Ran mu, a Shibori fabric put in between glass, won the first prize at Made in Kyoto Best Design Award. It was then the
company seized the opportunity to break new ground in Shiborizome. Nevertheless, they are not the only ones to challenge new things. Many other traditional companies in Kyoto are also working on new ideas while they keep their original identities. Maintaining the attitude of the traditional company, Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten keep striving to develop new products in new fields like interior and fashion to take Shiborizome to the next stage. For example, they skip Yunoshi, a flattening process, to keep wrinkles from ties and leave the fabric surface bumpy and uneven, in order to create a three-dimensional form which doesnt look like a usual fabric. Products like scarves, necklaces, bracelets and lampshades, which make good use of these characteristics, are popular sellers at the shop. Because the dying process uses traditional Kimono dye and dying method, the products look new yet refined and elegant. Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten offers only handmade products, which means all products are one of a kind. Experience new innovation using a traditional Shiborizome and discover a new dimension of Japanese culture.
The sophisticated shop located in the renovated Machiya house.
Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten

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TEL: +81-(0)75-221-2666 FAX: +81-(0)75-221-3939 Address: 221 Hashi benkei-cho, Takoyakushi dori Karasuma nishi iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Available Language: English, Japanese Website: http://bunzaburo.com/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
Soft billowy coin purse Chrysanthemums, Peonies, and Purple (pure silk with printed Japanese design) 840 yen
The Long & Prosperous Succession of Culture

n recent years, there is a growing awareness and movement among the younger generation in Japan to readdress the value of aged and forgotten commodities. From recreation of meticulous craftwork or the revitalization of old products with added texture and taste, there may be a lot more to expect from the upcoming generation to preserve these historical assets that have tended to disappear from our modern society. Here at KUROCHIKU, our concept is to preserve the traditional arts and commodities of Kyoto that have been cultivated for generations by focusing on the recreation of products suiting todays value perception and or changing the intended usage of merchandise to fit our consumers contemporary lifestyles. For example, the recreation of smaller novelty items from old vintage Kimono fabrics or the renovation of old Kyoto Machiya houses into trendy restaurants preserves the valuable heritage of Kyoto to prosper for more generations to enjoy.
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Tokiwa Bag Bird and Beast Cartoon Design (printed silk with basketwork) 18900 yen Interior of the Kurochiku Tensho-kan. We carry a wide selection of everything from reasonably priced daily life sundries to craftworks.
This concept initiated from a real - life experience of our current president and founder. Originally employed for a Kimono shop doing designs, but he set out to establish his own business at a young age. The idea of his business came to him when he started selling his own artwork along the streets of Arashiyama in Kyoto city after pasting his drawings on some beautiful vintage paper and fabrics or when he was invited to the house party by a foreign friend and saw them reusing an old charcoal brazier as a wine cooler. To change the intended purpose of one product and use it as something else allows that almost forgotten something to be reborn again. With many products that KUROCHIKU handles, this is the underlying principle of the corporation. Among the many products that KUROCHIKU offers, the wood-grained dolls are particularly eye-catching. The dolls are dressed with recreated vintage Kimono fabrics. These dolls were first made by one of the priests at
Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto City. The collected expression and graciousness brought out from the Kimono fabrics orients to the true attractiveness of Japanese taste. It is said in Japan that a spirit lies within every doll. This wood-grained doll also holds something within and almost seems as if it is trying to say something to one who looks at it. We also hold hands-on workshops to make mobile phone straps of this doll. Furthermore, we have a selection of recreated and reborn items such as fashionable hand bags using an Ajiro processing which is a weaved sheet of wood or bamboo often used in old Japanese homes on ceilings or as floor mats. There are also a variety of Japanese themed small novelty items such as drawstring pouches made from old vintage Kimono fabrics. Nothing is mass produced so every item is always original and one of a kind. Its always an exciting experience when coming across our original products.
Extra-Large Boston Bag made from a Sake Cellar Bag with triangular pattern 40950yen
Kurochiku Tensho-kan
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TEL: +81-(0)75-256-5000 FAX: +81-(0)75-256-5020 Address: 380 Mukadeya-cho, Shinmachi-dori Nishikikoji Agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Website: http://www.kurochiku.co.jp/english/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
Cotton purse with a metal clasp 1,500 yen small 980 yen
Silk scarf (M) 9,800 yen / (Large / Small) 3,980 yen
Minimalist crest design
Tote bag (A4) 9,240 yen (left) Drawstring pouch 6,720 yen (right)
ON is located in the area where craftsmen practicing Nishijin weaving, a traditional textile produced in Kyoto, used to live. The brand name MON has two different meanings. One comes from Kamon, an emblem that identifies an individual or family in Japan. The other is from a French word that means my/my own. MON offers various goods, which they design by using a Kamon as a motif and giving a modern twist to its look. The history of Kamon started about 1000 years ago when the aristocracy created their own symbols to identify their family lines. It eventually spread over the entire samurai class. At wartime, warriors fought for the dignity of their family and carried flags that with their family crest printed on them. On the other hand, ordinary people, who didn't have surnames at the time, used a symbol to represent their family line over
a period of time. Subsequently the Kamon was also adapted to various items from clothes like kimono to vehicles like ox carriages, as well as furniture or tableware. Especially after the Meiji era (1868-1912) when democratic movements occurred, kimonos with Kamon have been acknowledged as the most formal kind of dress. Today, it is said there are as many as 50,000 different types of Kamon. Motifs are chosen from diverse figures like plants, animals, food, numbers as well as personal belongings. Then it is developed to create a graphical symbol. Many people are amazed by the finely honed quality of Kamon designs. Starting at the Paris Expo at the end of the 19th century, the Japanism movement widely spread over European countries and KAMON design received critical acclaim. A textile designer, Kazumi Yamakura, is also among those who are deeply fascinated by the aesthetics of
Kamon. The more she learned, the more she found how interesting and mysterious they are. She wondered: How could she let people know about the allure and design quality of Kamon? Thats the reason why she founded her own brand, MON. MON focuses on combining a traditional craft that has been passed on in KYOTO and an established Kamon emblem to create products that people can use in everyday life. The product line includes accessories like scarves, ties and bags as well as clothes for children. The main price range is set under 10,000 yen. Fabrics are bought in Kyoto and production is done by craftsmen who take over the skills of Nishijin weavers, and they are working near MON. At last but not least, the sophisticated sense and ideas of Kazumi Yamakura added extra charm to the products. Now MON has come into the world with a totally new style.
Shingen Bukuro: Its form is made after a bag that a brave warlord Shingen Takeda used to use. In Kyoto, men wearing yukatas often carry this bag in the summer. 5,000 yen
MON
TEL: +81-(0)75-406-0137 FAX: +81-(0)75-406-0137 Address: 4-11 Nihonmatsu-cho, Shimochoujamachi dori Senbon higashi iru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Website: http://www.mon-kazumi.com/ Credit cards: Not Accepted (Cash Only)
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Works of Art Produced by Fingers

A motif embroidery of a Ren Lalique butterfly
An embroidered bag of the wind god, produced with such intricate detail like the famous painting it is inspired by
Elaborate and meticulously hand-sewn with silk thread
mbroidery is the process of gorgeously and magnificently adding color to obi belts and beautiful, colorful kimonos. Japanese artisans who are skillful with their fingers hold the sewing needle like a paintbrush. They have taken embroidery to new areas as an art form through rich expressionism and surprisingly meticulous work. The roots of embroidery techniques were brought to Japan up to 1400 years ago from China along with Buddhism. At the time, a style known as Shubutsu was a popular form that expressed Buddhist images through embroidery. In the year 794, Nuibenotsukasa, a group that unified embroidery artisans, moved to Kyoto and established themselves there. This was known as the beginning of the Kyonui style, and artisans began their work of beautifully embroidering the kimonos of nobility in the area. Then around the 13th century, thanks to the economic prosperity of ordinary citizens, Kyonui embroidery spread throughout Japan and the elegant culture of Kyoto blossomed. Today, Kyonui has become a traditional art of Kyoto, and among the embroidery styles throughout Japan, Kyonui is said to be the very finest.
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Nuishou Inagakis own Embroidery Master Yoshimi has been certified as a traditional craftsman. Nuishou Inagaki has for generations continued to pass down the art by accepting female students. In the previous generation, her mother has the first woman to be recognized as a master artisan of Kyoto, where Kyonui embroidery was known as a mans work. Master Yoshimi grew up watching her mother work at her embroidery worktable, and in this environment this is where she probably refined her sensibilities. The works of art that Master Yoshimi produces overflow with creativity that attracts the elegant refinement of Kyoto. Master Yoshimi says that there are many types of embroidery around the world, but Kyonui embroiderys specially features are that the silk it uses brings out a fantastical elegance. Embroidery made with high-quality silk does not degrade even after 100 years have passed. In Kyonui, a flat thread is pulled back straight and used so that it doesnt twist. One strand of thread is a bundle of 10 to 12 even smaller super-fine strands. Master Yoshimi has an intimate knowledge of the special qualities of this thread, and she assembles it with threads that produce volume weaved by her own touch, with the flat threads that have a brilliant polish to them
according to the design she wants to express. Then she freely moves her hands to do the stitching unique to Kyonui embroidery. These techniques she has mastered produce shading and the feeling that the images are standing out at you, and create expressions that are unique to Kyonui embroidery. When looked at from up close, you would probably be surprised at the variety of colors her technique expresses. Bringing out the highest sense of different qualities is what color matching entails. About 500 to 600 different colors are mainly used in Kyonui. Without coming on too strong or too reserved, the exquisite relationship that forms between the embroidery and the fabric is a special sense that can only be produced in the atmosphere of Kyoto. Also the gradation is also a skillfully employed aspect of Kyonui embroidery. The works of art laid out at Nuishou Inagaki are all one of a kind. Order made requests are also possible, so please tell them your budget and they will offer you the best possible work in that range. They also have Kyonui embroidery trial lessons if you make a reservation 7 days in advance. This could be the ideal opportunity for you to experience the techniques of one of Japans most prominent artisans.
One-sided Wallet 24,000 yen
Nuishou Inagaki
TEL: +81-(0)75-841-0668 FAX: +81-(0)75-823-2262 Address: 11-1 Mibumori-machi, Nakagyou-ku, Kyoto Available Language: Japanese Website: http://www.inagaki-art.jp/ Credit cards: Not Accepted (Cash Only)
map on B-1
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Yuzen dyeing owned by Okaju, with a reprinted patternoriginating from the Meiji and Taisho Eras
Fude-pen in a Yuzen dyeing pen case is very popular. 7140 yen
The impact of Yuzen Dyeing

uzen Dyeing is a traditional Japanese handicraft, dyed in colorful patterns which look like fine Japanese paintings. There are different stories about the origin of Yuzen Dyeing. One of them is that it's named after a craftsman, Yuzensai Miyazaki, who was a painter of folding fans in Kyoto about 300 years ago. His fan painting gained a reputation and people started asking Yuzen to paint on Kimonos. At the time, Kimonos were decorated with very simple patterns - dyed, woven or embroidered. Yuzen had brought significant change and stimulation into Japanese textiles through his bold designs and use of color. As the boom caused by Yuzen kept growing, his name became famous nationwide. And because Kyoto is said to be the roots of this boom, Kyoto dyeing was called "Kyo-Yuzen". It is characterized by a color shade that is unique to Kyoto. Even if the same dye compounds are used, the final color shade will come out slightly different depending on the weather and water. According to one explanation, there is a huge water vein the
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The bold design pattern on the lining of a Haori kimono, which cannot be seen from outside.
same size as the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa - flowing through the underground of Kyoto. It is this underground water that has been moisturizing the air of Kyoto, helping making the specialties of Kyoto -Tofu and Sake, and fostering the culture of Sado (Japanese Tea Ceremony) and Yuzen Dyeing. At first, Kyo-Yuzen was hand-drawn one by one, making it so expensive that only rich people and those in high positions could afford them. And then, a new dyeing method was developed and mold was used. As the efficiency increased, common people were able to afford them as well. Furthermore, Yuzen dyeing had achieved a major breakthrough about 150 years ago - the modern dyeing compounds invented in Germany had been introduced to Japan, bringing the most significant increase in expressive power and efficiency. OKAJU, founded in 1855, is the one that had helped Kyo-Yuzen thrive by using the new dye. Its founder, Usaburo Okajima, was a pioneer who contributed to dyeing industry, teaching dye in an art school in Kyoto after he mastered the
dyeing technique. The second-generation owner Jusuke had focused on dyeing the lining of Haori (a kind of Kimono), making Okaju's brand name become widely known by his excellent design. He also started "Yuzen Nagashi" -washing the dyed fabric in river, but it's no longer seen today in Kyoto. The main characteristics of the lining created by Jusuke are the bold compositions and rich imaginations. Some have a painting with carp fish swimming around vividly, and some have an Ukiyoe painting, so you will never get tired looking at them. Currently, the reprinted products of the lining pattern are sold in the Okaju store, and they are very popular. You can also find goods that are ideal for the memories of your trip, such as bags made by Yuzen and Fudepen in a Yuzen dyeing case. Okaju's motto is to give life to the product by using silent materials. This is fulfilled with Okaju's founding spirit. We want to create products that inspires and moves peoples' hearts, and hope people feel the quality by just touching it.
Small goods are sold at the cafe of our store.
Okaju
map on B-2
TEL: +81-(0)75-221-3501 FAX: +81-(0)75-221-5154 Address: 502 Kamikoriki-cho, Oikeno-agaru, Kiyamachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Available Language: English, Japanese Website: http://www.okaju.com Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
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Unkin-pattern plate decorated with motifs of cherry blossoms and autumn foliage Shuki (Sake) set 72,450 yen A shuki wine container is for holding and pouring Japanese sake.
Splendid beauty of Kyo-yaki/Kiyomizu-yaki

t is said that the quality of pottery (china and porcelain) represents the cultural standard of the country. It is simply convincing when you see many established brands came from European countries. Kyo-yaki/Kiyomizu-yaki that were developed in K y ot o a r e s o m e o f J a p a n s best-known pottery. It originated from Chinese porcelain, which was brought to Japan 1200 years ago. About 360 years ago, Kyotos ceramic industry faced a significant turning point. It was then that Ninsei Nonomura, the father of Kyoto ceramics, appeared and created a unique style of Japanese pottery. Three-dimensional forms and gorgeous, picturesque ceramic paintings are the main features. His style has been passed down to Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki artisans from
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Interior of Rakushien
generation to generation. Kyo-yaki/Kiyomizu-yaki potters have been in the Gojozaka area since long ago. As it is close to the World Heritage Kiyomizu Temple, it is called Kiyomizu-yaki and there are still many porcelain stores along Gojozaka Street that leads to Kiyomizu Temple. Among all those stores, Rakushien is a store where you can find high quality products that place great importance on the traditions of Kyo-yaki/Kiyomizu-yaki. The spacious store offers a beautiful view of the Japanese courtyard with a relaxing atmosphere. Looking at products painted with subtly-colored artwork, which represent the distinctive Kyo-yaki style, you will feel like you are visiting a museum. Rakushien is particular about visiting pottery or potters personally to order products directly by themselves. It is because they want to select items
that will inspire them. It is also very specific that most of their selections are decorated by hand drawing and not by a machine. Some of them have surprisingly elaborate patterns on the inside or back side, which is normally not painted. While this represents the height of craftsmanship, you can find a playful feeling and hand-made touch that is impossible to create through mass production. The more you use it, the deeper you will fall in love with the product. Items on display include various things from chopstick holders to a full tableware set. As the selection is so big it is very difficult to decide what you want to buy. If you are interested in Kyo-yaki/Kiyomizu-yaki, Rakushien is certainly the store you should go to!
Milk pitcher 36,750 yen
Rakushien
TEL: +81-(0)75-541-1161 FAX: +81-(0)75-541-1163 Address: 4 Gojohashi higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Available Language: Japanese Website: http://www.rakushien.jp/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
map on C-3
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Japanese Red Cedar Calabash-type pendant 67,200 yen
Japanese Red Cedar Hexagonal Stand 37,800 yen
Art of Trees, Japanese Paper and Light

apanese-inspired lights slightly illuminate any emotional alleys unique to Kyoto and Machiya. They don t simply light up the surroundings. These towns are full of tenderness. You may feel the warm brightness in your heart and mind. Junichiro Tanizaki, the first Japanese writer who was selected as an honorary member of the US Art School and US Literature & Art Academy, conveyed the following views about Japanese aesthetics in his essay Ineiraisan. He said that Japanese people traditionally made up their own sense of beauty and interpretation of the world by exercising the slightly-dark parts of their imagination in addition to what is visible. Wadau has manufactured and sold Japanese lamps based on a Japanese sense of beauty. The company was established about 140 years ago. Currently, the business establishment is run by the 8th owner. The company originally had manufactured paper lamps used in the
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It can be used indiscriminately in such places as your bedside or in your living room. Meticulous design
Festival of Dolls, containers made of paulownia for kimonos, Oriental lamps, and so on. Then, the store changed into a specialty shop for lamps. Lamps sold in Wadau are made of trees and Japanese paper, pursuant to the traditional technique called Kyo-Sashimono. Sashimono is a craft adjusted between plates, between a plate and a stick and between sticks. The process provides household furniture and furnishing goods which are made only with suitable wooden framework. Kyo-Shashimono is furnishing made of domestic timber and made in Kyoto. The craftwork unique to Kyoto is characterized by a fine, thin and elegant taste, and cultivated by the Kyoto climate. As the leader of Kyo-Sashimono, Wadau is accredited by the nation. The traditional craft objects use only highly-selected Japanese Red Cedars, grown in Akita Prefecture, Japan. Akita has a cold climate and tree growth is slow in this place. Most trees have fine and stiff veins and beautiful straight
grains. The elegance of Japanese Red Cedars is best for a subtle nuance unique to Kyo-Sashimono. Its also an essential condition for pyretic lighting apparatuses, because it has robustness despite many years of use. Wadau has manufactured artistic illumination lamps making the most of the characteristics of Japanese Red Cedars, selected by craftsmen. They have an economical form which leads to the psychology of zen. Wadaus lamps dont simply illuminate the surroundings, but also aim at fascinating works as objects. In addition, you ll be amazed by the finishing subtlety and attention. The electric cord pertains to an illumination lamp. We aren t lazy with every detail by running electric cords through a hollowed pole and putting together jointed areas of framed trees. The owner of the company says that a kind of power that sticks with people resides in cordial crafts and works lined with technical brilliance. You will be impressed by the refreshing and sophisticated space.
Frame trees which are combined elaborately without nails or adhesive materials
Wadau
map on C-2
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TEL: +81-(0)75-351-2291 FAX: +81-(0)75-351-3740 Address: 159, Tominokoji Nishiiru, Takatsuji-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Website: http://www.shinise.ne.jp/wadau Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
Oval Tray6,405 yen
Crystal of Skill and Beauty, Kyoto Lacquer

acquer crafts which are characteristic for their shiny coloring, as well as their fine, thin and gorgeous ornamentation, are Japans specialty goods. According to some records, Marie-Antoinette, the princess of the 18th century French king Louis XVI had collected many lacquer crafts, including Kyoto Lacquers presented by her mother, Maria-Theresia. The most common pianos of today seem to have been coated with a jet-black color, as if they were drawn to that color. Lacquer crafts, coated with resin extracted from Japanese lacquer trees, have various ornamentations. In Japan, evidence about the use of lacquer crafts by ancient people has already been discovered in archaeological digs, which have survived over 5,000 years. In some foreign countries, this kind of lacquer is usually called JAPAN. The country name of Japan is derived from such wares. Japan is closely related to lacquer crafts. Lacquering, one of the traditional handcrafts in Japan, developed rapidly in Kyoto. When the capital was moved to Kyoto in 794, the imperial court and aristocrats started to ask for high-quality finished lacquers, ranging from
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Jewelry box with grape design 71,400 yen Unique Japanese aesthetics developed under the highly refined craftsmanship of Kyoto Raised-Design Lacquer Ware
ornamentations for festivals to tea utensils. People in Kyoto enhanced the qualifications of lacquer crafts, including gold-relief made by japanning, painting figures with gold pigment on wooden forms and white-layer painting (where undercoated gold (or silver) pigment lightly appears through semi-transparent lacquer over-coating.) Various techniques came into existence and Kyoto Lacquers gorgeous characteristics were finally formed. Fundamentally, Kyoto Lacquers arent manufactured in a high-volume but are produced through a made-to-order system. Such lacquerware was developed as special or artistic craft rather than routinely-used dishes. They were characterized by their high-quality techniques, and elegant, self-effacing, modest and unwearied designs. This would be the essence of Kyoto Lacquers, which have enchanted people all over the world. Veteran lacquer workshops like Zohiko have taken over the tradition of Kyoto Lacquers for 350 years. The company was established in 1661. Its predecessor was a store named Zogeya, which dealt with imported articles from China. The third chief executive of Zohiko was enshrined as good manufacturer, and was awarded the title of good-relief
producer by the imperial court. The policy of Zohiko is to manufacture products which can appeal to the heart and mind throughout the years. Staff in Zohiko must further improve ancestral techniques without compromising quality and by not acting as eccentric artists. In addition, we think that keeping the quality at the level of top notch products requires constantly tackling new genres. Lately, there have been collaboration goods with Michelle Odiare fountain pens, Baccala tea utensils, Vacheron Constantin clock dial plates and Davidoff humidors. You might feel Zohiko s quality and aesthetic sense in these commodities. In addition, we are actively pursuing the development of many different kinds of lacquerware dishes to fit various lifestyles, including ones that can be used not just for traditional Japanese dishes, but also for a variety of common western foods as well. Kyoto Lacquers have been cultivated over a 1200-year history. They currently continue to engage the heart and mind regardless of age and race through the beauty gathering together the stylishness of Japanese culture.
A coaster set with cherry blossom design (a set of six pieces) 11,025 yen
Zohiko
TEL: +81-(0)75-752-7777 FAX: +81-(0)75-752-7778 Address: 10, Okazaki Saisyoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto Available languages: English, Japanese Website: http://www.zohiko.co.jp/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
map on B-3
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Kyoto Outline Map

AritsuguEirakuyaHakuchikudoJidaigireya BON-KyotoKaikado Katayama Bunzaburo ShotenKurochikuMONNuishou InagakiOkajuRakushien WadauZohikoHANDICRAFT CENTER
1 2 357 Imadegawa-dori st.
Senbon-dori st.
AMITA KYOTO HANDICRAFT CENTER

A
DUTY FREE SHOPPING & CULTUAL EXPERIENCE
3 Demachi yanagi sta.
Kitano-Tenmangu
Chionji Temple Ginkakuji(Jishoji) Temple Yoshida-jinja Shrine Honen-in Temple Higashi-Oji-dori st.
Imadegawa sta. Kawaramachi-dori st.

Karasuma-dori st. Subway Karasuma Line
Horikawa-dori st.
Kamo-gawa Riv.
Keihan Railway
Kyoto Imperial Palace
KAMIGYO
Anrakuji Temple Shinnyo-do Temple Philosophers Road Konkai-komyoji Temple
Kyoto Imperial Park
Marutamachi sta. Nijo Castle Nijo sta. B Karasuma-Oike sta. Nijojo-mae sta. HiiragiyaRyokan Oike-dori st.
Marutamachi-dori st.

Eikan-do (Zenrinji Temple) Nanzenji Temple The Westin Miyako Kyoto Keage sta.
ne i Li oza yT wa Sub
Heian-jingu Shrine Kyoto City Hall Kyoto Hotel Okura
NAKAGYO
Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line Randen Railway Arashiyama Line
JR Sagano (san-in)
Kyoto shiyakusho-mae sta.
Sanjo-keihan sta. Higashiyama sta. Sanjo sta. Chion-in Temple
Omiya sta. Shijo-Omiya sta.
Karasuma sta.
Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa
Shijo sta.
Mibu-dera Temple
Shijo-dori st. Yasaka Shrine GionShijo sta. Maruyama Park Kenninji Kodaiji Temple Temple Iori Kyoto-Machiya (Iori Co. Kyoto-machiya)
Kawaramachi sta.
Gojo-dori st. Gojo sta. Higashi Honganji Kyoto Tower Hotel
SHIMOGYO
Nishi-Honganji Shichijo-dori st. Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto 1
Kiyomizu Gojo sta. Seikoro Ryokan
Kiyomizu-dera Temple Gojo-zaka
HIGASHIYAMA
onnecting the world with Japanese tradition and culture. Handicraft center carries a variety of Japanese themed merchandise from traditional handicrafts to Kimono and a selection western books as well. In addition, you can enjoy full hands on experiences of traditional Japanese handicrafts and work it in to fit your travelling schedule as we hold workshops regularly throughout the day. Enjoy Japanese tradition. Hands-on workshop" 9 different workshops are held regularly throughout the
Selling floor, product image
Tanbaguchi sta.
Shichijo sta. Kyoto National Museum Hyatt Regency Kyoto Sanjusangen-do JR Tokaido Line
day. Even if you sign up in a group, each person can select their preferred workshop of choice. You can drop in casually as each class only takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete. Reservations are Building exterior(AMITA Building) not mandatory. Why dont you create your very own one of a kind original souvenir? Make your original damascene or cloisonn accessories, fan artwork, woodblock prints, spinning Kyoto tops and more!
Line
Kyoto sta.
Hotel Granvia Kyoto 24
Toji Temple D 171 Toji sta. Kujo sta.
Tofukuji sta.
JR Tokaido Shinkansen
Tofukuji sta. Senryuji Temple D
AMITA KYOTO HANDICRAFT CENTER

TEL: +81-(0)75-761-7000 FAX: +81-(0)75-761-2684 Address: 21 Shougoin Entomi-cho,Sakyo-ku,Kyoto 606-8323 Available Language: English, Japanese Website: http://www.kyotohandicraftcenter.com/ Credit cards: VISA, MASTER, Diners Club, American Express DC, etc.
map on B-3
JR Nara Line
Tofukuji Temple
1 1
Jujo sta. Jujo sta. 2
Toba-kaido sta.
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Directed by : Accenture Japan Ltd / ORICOM CO.,LTD. For further details, concerning this leaflet, please contact : akahoshis@oricom.co.jp

Kyoto Greatest Souvenirs

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Kyoto Greatest Souvenirs Exquisite Crafts

Selected by Foreign Residents of Kyoto