Craftsmanship refined over a thousand years, shaping culture, design, and global collaborations.
For over a thousand years, Kyoto flourished as Japan's capital, nurturing unique cultures such as the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, Noh, and Kyogen. As diverse people gathered and the city developed as an economic hub, traditional industries supported both culture and daily life. These span a vast range—from everyday items like textiles, ceramics, sake, and Kyoto cuisine, to landscape gardening, traditional architecture, roof tiles, and the shamisen.
Kyoto's traditional industries have long produced products rooted in daily life using time-honored materials and techniques. Today, as an international city attracting visitors from around the world, Kyoto's proud artisans continue to create diverse products through collaborations with world-class companies, while carefully preserving these cherished materials and techniques.
Examples of Collaborations:
Traditional Industry × Traditional Industry
Creating Indian saris using Kyoto Yuzen dyeing techniques
High-End Brand × Traditional Industry
Producing Gucci bags using Nishijin-ori textiles
Disney × Traditional Industry
Creating Disney products using techniques from Kyoto uchiwa fans, Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, Japanese umbrellas, and Japanese candles