Kaori Haku 2026: Experience Japanese Scent Culture in Kyoto, Starting April 18th (Incense Day)

The 'Kaori Haku 2026' event, where visitors can experience Japanese scent culture, will be held for approximately one month from Saturday, April 18, 2026 (Incense Day) to Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Kyoto. This year marks the third iteration of the event, with the theme 'Scents Connecting to Tomorrow -Where Scents Meet Tomorrow-'.

In conjunction with this event, a limited-edition incense series named 'TRINEX (Future Three Scents)' (1,760 yen each, tax included), expressing 'future scents' and jointly developed by the three long-established incense companies — Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, and Nippon Kodo — will be released. Three types will be available: 'Strawberry Parfait' by Kyukyodo, 'MISORA' by Shoyeido, and 'Heritage Hybrid 2026' by Nippon Kodo.

Set against the beautiful fresh greenery of spring in Kyoto, 'Kaori Haku' will unfold as a circulating event where participants can explore the city while engaging with scent culture. In addition to Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, Nippon Kodo (Koju), and MUJI Kyoto BAL, new participants include 'Shoyeido Kunku' at Kyoto Station and 'Shoyeido Sannenzaka Store' at Sannenzaka/Seiryuen, expanding the scent experience to various locations in Kyoto.

During the event period, a total of 5 programs and 21 hands-on workshops will be offered, including experiences with 'Kodo,' a traditional Japanese art form alongside tea ceremony and flower arrangement, and 'scent pouch making' where participants can blend fragrances according to their own sensibility. A 'Scent Stamp Rally' (free participation) will also be held, and those who collect stamps will receive a special Kaori Haku original incense.

At Kyukyodo on Teramachi Street, a fair themed around the 'Strawberry Parfait' scent will be held. A limited-edition 'Strawberry Parfait' design will also appear in the popular 'Letter Viking' project, where visitors can freely combine their favorite letter papers and envelopes. Furthermore, special Kaori Haku limited exhibitions are planned at each store.

Enjoy the opportunity to discover the depth of Japanese scent culture while touring spring in Kyoto, and encounter your own unique scent that connects to the future.

Event Name: Kaori Haku 2026 ■Dates: Saturday, April 18, 2026 - Sunday, May 17, 2026 (approximately one month from Incense Day, April 18th) ■Theme: Scents Connecting to Tomorrow -Where Scents Meet Tomorrow- ■Participating Stores: Kyoto Kyukyodo, Shoyeido Kyoto Main Store/Kunshukan, Koju Ninenzaka Store, MUJI Kyoto BAL, Shoyeido Kunku, Shoyeido Sannenzaka Store (Ginza and Kamakura will also hold events simultaneously) ■Activities: ① Scent Stamp Rally (Free participation / Collect 3 stamps to receive special incense) ② 5 programs, 21 hands-on scent workshops including 'Kodo experience' and 'scent pouch making' (First-come, first-served / Reservation required) ③ Sale of 'Kaori Haku' limited collaboration item 'TRINEX (Future Three Scents)' ④ Kaori Haku limited exhibitions at each store ■Organizers: Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, Nippon Kodo

Workshop Schedule (Kyoto Area): Please check the Kaori Haku website (https://kaorihaku.com) for details and applications.

Scent Pouch Making Workshop @MUJI Kyoto BAL 5F: 1,980 yen (tax included, payment on-site) Learn about incense ingredients, types, and Japanese scent culture, then enjoy blending natural fragrances to create your original scent. The unique scent you create can be taken home in a pouch. Dates: May 16, May 17

Kodo Experience @Kyoto Kyukyodo: 3,850 yen (tax included) Kodo, inherited as one of Japan's traditional arts alongside tea ceremony and flower arrangement. We invite you to experience the elegant world of 'Do' where you can enjoy a literary atmosphere with graceful scents. The 'Kumiko' (incense appreciation game) will be 'Ougusa-ka'. This is for beginners, so we will explain Kodo and let you 'listen' to the profound scents of Kyara and Rikoku incense woods used, and then play 'Kumiko'. Dates: April 24 (11:00-), April 30 (11:00-), May 8 (11:00-), May 15 (11:00-)

Scent Pouch Making Workshop @Shoyeido Kunshukan: 1,980 yen (tax included) *For web reservations Learn about incense ingredients, types, and Japanese scent culture, then enjoy blending natural fragrances to create your original scent. The unique scent you create can be taken home in a pouch. Dates: April 18 (11:00-/13:00-/14:30-/16:00-), April 29 (11:00-/13:00-/14:30-/16:00-)

Monkō Enjoyment Session @Shoyeido Kunshukan: 4,400 yen *For web reservations Focus your mind on the Monkō炉 (incense burner) in your palm and fully appreciate the subtle fragrance of a piece of incense wood. This delicate action is expressed by the beautiful term 'Monkō,' meaning 'listening to the scent.' First-timers are welcome to enjoy. Dates: April 19 (10:30-/13:00-), May 16 (10:30-/13:00-)

Koboku Scent Enjoyment Session @Shoyeido Kunshukan: 3,300 yen *For web reservations Focus your mind on the Monkō炉 in your palm and fully appreciate the subtle fragrance of a piece of incense wood. This is a Monkō session that first-timers can easily enjoy. Dates: May 6 (10:30-/13:00-)

Kyoto Venue Participating Stores: Kyoto Kyukyodo 520 Shimohonnōji-mae-chō, Anekoji-agaru, Teramachi, Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, 604-8091 OPEN: 10:00-18:00 TEL: 075-231-0510

Shoyeido Kyoto Main Store/Kunshukan Karasuma-dōri, Nijō-agaru, Higashigawa, Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, 604-0857 OPEN: 9:00-18:00 (Kyoto Main Store) 10:00-17:00 (Kunshukan) TEL: 075-212-5590

Koju Ninenzaka Store 349-8 Masuya-chō, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0826 OPEN: 11:00-18:00 TEL: 075-551-0285

MUJI Kyoto BAL Kyoto BAL 5F, 251 Yamazaki-chō, Kawaramachi-dōri, Sanjō-sagaru, Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, 604-8032 OPEN: 11:00-20:00 TEL: 075-213-3737

Shoyeido Kunku *Stamp Rally only JR Tokai Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi side 1F Asty Road, 8-3 Higashi-Shiooji-Takakura-chō, Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, 600-8214 OPEN: 9:00-21:00 TEL: 075-212-5590 (Headquarters Representative)

Shoyeido Sannenzaka Store *Stamp Rally only Seiryuen, 3-334 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0862 OPEN: 10:00-18:00 TEL: 075-532-5590

'Kaori Haku 2026' Overview

Event Name: Kaori Haku 2026 ■Dates: Saturday, April 18, 2026 (Incense Day) - Sunday, May 17, 2026 ■Areas: Ginza (some product display 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】Kito Tenkundo ■Organizers: Kaori Haku Executive Committee (Organizers: Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, Nippon Kodo) Participating Stores: Koju, Kito Tenkundo, Ginza Rangetsu, MUJI ■Main Content: Stamp rally visiting incense stores, Kodo and scent blending experiences, scent pouch making, themed exhibitions at each store, sale of limited-edition products.

About Kaori Haku: 'Kaori Haku' is an event first held in spring 2024 in Tokyo and Kyoto. Three long-established incense companies with over 300 years of history (Kyukyodo, Shoyeido, Nippon Kodo) planned this event with the desire for people to enjoy scents while walking around the city in the pleasant spring season, and with the aim of passing on the 1400-year-old 'Japanese scent culture' to the future. Held for one month from April 18th, 'Incense Day,' it is a circulating event where participants visit incense stores, featuring a stamp rally, limited-edition products, and hands-on workshops. In 2025, MUJI Ginza and MUJI Kyoto BAL joined, and in 2026, the Kamakura area was added.

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