Kaorihaku 2026" to be held from April 18th (Incense Day) - Scent Experience in Ginza, Kyoto, and Kamakura

The "Kaorihaku" event, where visitors can experience Japanese incense culture, will be held for approximately one month from April 18, 2026 (Saturday), "Incense Day," to May 17 (Sunday). This third installment will see the addition of the Kamakura area, expanding the event to three locations: Ginza, Kyoto, and Kamakura.

In addition to the organizers Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, and Nippon Kodo, Muji Ginza and Muji Kyoto BAL will participate again this year. Furthermore, Kitoh Tenkundo will make its first appearance in the Kamakura area.

The theme for 2026 is "Scents Connecting to Tomorrow -Where Scents Meet Tomorrow-". In an era where AI and digital technology are evolving, and the forms of living and communication continue to change, there is renewed attention on "scent" as an experience perceived through the five senses.

"Kaorihaku" is a cultural event where visitors can experience Japan's ancient incense culture through activities such as a stamp rally visiting incense shops, workshops like incense ceremony and scent bag making, special exhibitions at each store, and the sale of limited-edition Kaorihaku incense.

At the venues, visitors can enjoy the relaxed time brought by scent and the sensation of harmonizing mind and body through four experiences: "巡る (meguru -巡る)" (touring), "聞く (kiku -聞く)" (listening to/appreciating), "つくる (tsukuru -つくる)" (creating), and "たのしむ (tanoshimu -たのしむ)" (enjoying) scents. Furthermore, under this theme, the three long-established incense companies—Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, and Nippon Kodo—have collaborated to create the Kaorihaku 2026 limited-edition incense series "TRINEX (Trinex) " (Three Future Scents). Three types of incense, where the individuality of each company resonates and connects to the future, will be released on April 18th.

Kaorihaku 2026 Event Outline

■ Event Areas

Ginza (some product displays in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro)・Kyoto・Kamakura

■ Theme

"Scents Connecting to Tomorrow -Where Scents Meet Tomorrow-"

■ Participating Stores

【Tokyo Area】

Tokyo Kyukyodo (Ginza Main Store, Shibuya Store, Shinjuku Store, Ikebukuro Store) / Shoyeido Ginza Store / Koju Ginza Main Store / Ginza Rangetsu / Muji Ginza

【Kyoto Area】

Kyoto Kyukyodo / Shoyeido (Kyoto Main Store, Kunshukan, Kunku, Sannenzaka Store) / Koju Ninenzaka Store / Muji Kyoto BAL

【Kamakura Area】

Kitoh Tenkundo

■ Organizers

Kaorihaku Executive Committee (Organizers: Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, Nippon Kodo) / Participating Stores: Koju, Kitoh Tenkundo, Ginza Rangetsu, Muji

*Advance reservations are required for experiences and workshops.

Details will be sequentially released on the official website (https://kaorihaku.com) after April 2nd.

Main Contents of Kaorihaku 2026

■ "Touring" Scents

A stamp rally will be held, visiting incense shops in Ginza, Kyoto, and Kamakura.

Collect three stamps to receive a special incense gift. You can encounter incense culture while walking through the city.

■ "Listening to" Scents

Each store will offer programs to experience traditional Japanese incense culture, such as "Kodo Experience" (incense ceremony), one of the three major traditional arts, "Monko" (listening to/appreciating the scent of precious incense wood), and "Kikizake-kai" (sake tasting) where participants identify the scent of Japanese sake.

■ "Creating" Scents

Workshops will be held where participants can enjoy blending their own scents, such as "Nioi-bukuro zukuri" (scent bag making).

You can experience the profoundness of scent.

■ "Enjoying" Scents

Limited-edition Kaorihaku incense will be released, and special exhibitions with a scent theme will be held at each store.

*Advance reservations are required for experiences and workshops. Details will be sequentially released on the official website (https://kaorihaku.com) after April 2nd. Stamp rally cards are distributed at participating stamp rally stores.

Limited-edition incense "TRINEX (Trinex) " (Three Future Scents) from a three-company collaboration, to be released on April 18, 2026

Under the 2026 theme "Scents Connecting to Tomorrow -Where Scents Meet Tomorrow-", the Kaorihaku limited-edition incense "TRINEX (Trinex) " (Three Future Scents), created through the collaboration of Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, and Nippon Kodo, will be sold at participating Kaorihaku stores (excluding some stores) from April 18, 2026.

"TRINEX " is a special Kaorihaku-exclusive series jointly developed by the three companies (TRI) Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, and Nippon Kodo, based on the concept of "a nexus (NEXUS) connecting scents to the future (NEXT)". The lineup features three scents: "Strawberry Parfait," "MISORA," and "Heritage Hybrid 2026." The individuality and philosophies of each company intersect, elevating them to new expressions of scent. Details of the products are scheduled to be announced on April 8, 2026.

What is "Kaorihaku"?

"Kaorihaku" is an event that was first held in Tokyo and Kyoto in the spring of 2024. The three long-established incense companies with over 300 years of history (Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, and Nippon Kodo) planned this event with the desire for people to "enjoy scents while strolling through the city in the pleasant spring season" and with the aim of passing on Japan's 1400-year-old "incense culture" to the future. Held for one month from April 18th, "Incense Day," it is a touring event where visitors can explore incense shops, featuring a stamp rally, limited-edition products, and experiential workshops. In 2025, Muji Ginza and Muji Kyoto BAL joined, and in 2026, the Kamakura area will be added.

Official Website: https://kaorihaku.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaorihaku_official/ X: https://x.com/kaorihaku_418

Last year's "Kaorihaku" held in April

At the "Kaorihaku" held in April 2025, over 4,000 people participated in the stamp rally, and many visitors enjoyed touring scents and experiencing incense.