As you walk through the streets of Kyoto, you may occasionally catch a whiff of fragrance wafting from temple grounds or the backstreets of alleyways. This nostalgic, traditional Japanese scent is an integral part of everyday life in this city.

Located in a back alley of Kyoto, "Sanga Incense Main Store" is a specialty shop that expresses the scents encountered on travels in the form of incense sticks. Not limited to traditional aromatic woods such as agarwood and sandalwood, they create original incense sticks using only natural materials such as meteorites and spices.

The shop is filled with fragrances that vividly redefine the concept of incense. Spending time immersed in scents that evoke cultures and landscapes from around the world feels like a journey to a distant, exotic land.

A journey to redefine preconceived notions

The journey of "Sanga Incense" began with its opening in 2012. Attracted by Kyoto's character, where shrines and temples are close at hand and where "invisible values" such as the changing seasons and faith are still cherished in modern times, they opened a physical store in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City in 2019. Now, through these connections, they sometimes donate their fragrances to temples and shrines.

The incense is made by the owner, Katsuhiro Hashimoto. He started making incense on his own to share the "awe-inspiring beauty of nature" he encountered while traveling the world, back in Japan.

Initially, Hashimoto faced the challenge of not being able to obtain fragrances through wholesale suppliers. However, believing that "everything found in nature can be used as a fragrance," he began his own "fragrance hunting," traveling to various locations to procure ingredients. His inquisitive spirit extended beyond Earth, and after gaining experience working on projects for the International Space Station, he even created incense sticks infused with real meteorite iron (metal derived from meteorites).

The "Assorted Pack" is the perfect way to easily experience this unique world of fragrances, making it an ideal souvenir or gift. You can choose from five themes, such as "Gratitude" and "World Fragrance Tour," and enjoy the experience of burning different scents together, as well as a fortune-telling game where you interpret messages from keywords.

While this allows for such free enjoyment, the manufacturing process is also remarkably stoic. In the general manufacture of incense sticks, chemical glues are typically used to maintain a uniform shape and prevent breakage, and preservatives and other chemical substances are used for long-term preservation. However, Sanga Incense, which pursues its own unique incense sticks through self-study and without being bound by such conventional ideas, uses absolutely no chemical glues or preservatives in its incense sticks.

Furthermore, it is characterized by being formulated using only 100% natural ingredients, and by taking advantage of the different particle sizes of each ingredient, it is designed to make even the way the smoke rises and its gentle fluctuations appear beautiful.

"Fragrance has an end." Because it has an end, the time spent burning the incense becomes a special time just for oneself. An aesthetic that accompanies us through our busy daily lives is embodied in each stick of incense.

"The Beverage Research Institute for Improving the Resolution of Aromas"

To expand the brand's worldview, the store relocated in 2025 to a 120-year-old Kyoto townhouse. Since the move, it has become a place to enjoy fragrances in a multifaceted way, not only by selling incense sticks, but also by holding workshops and offering scented drinks. In particular, the "Flavorful Beverage Research Institute" located within the store is a space where you can enjoy drinks that focus on fragrance.

"Aromatic Coffee," one of the blended drinks, stands apart from typical coffees that focus on enjoying the natural aroma of the beans. It's a new kind of coffee that compensates for the aroma lost during roasting by dark-roasted beans with edible natural flavorings. Its origins trace back to 10 years ago when Mr. Hashimoto was making curry. He realized that about 60% of the ingredients were edible when he substituted incense ingredients because he didn't have enough spices.

After several years of development, the resulting "Aromatic Coffee" offers a new sensation that pleasantly stimulates both taste and smell. The aromas blended with the dark roast beans can be selected from several options, including "Spice," "Floral," and "Gourmand."

Coffee is naturally bitter, but if the aroma that fills your nose is one that evokes sweetness, your brain instantly recalls a sweet taste from past memories, causing you to mistakenly perceive bitterness as sweetness. This is a fascinating experience that occurs precisely because the sense of smell is directly linked to memory and emotions.

A moment to pause and reflect in your busy days.

Driven by curiosity, Sanga Incense explores the possibilities of fragrance. Mayuko Koyama, the store manager, conveys their unique worldview to visitors through words that resonate with them.

"Because the creators are so close by, there are no vague explanations like 'I just kind of'," says Koyama. She smiles, saying she's happy that she can deliver the thoughts and background behind each product, from the selection of ingredients to the blending process, to customers while maintaining its purity.

This sincerity is also reflected in the fragrance. For example, instead of leaning towards the sweet scents that are popular in Japan, they deliberately convey the inherent characteristics of the ingredients, such as sourness and spiciness. This straightforward approach gives "Sanga Incense" a unique depth.

"In today's world, everyone is constantly busy. That's why I want people to take a moment to pause and reflect by incorporating fragrance into their lives," says Koyama.

A small journey in everyday life, beginning with a single stick of incense.

Sanga Incense conveys the authentic cultures and nature of various parts of the world through fragrance. Beyond incense sticks, they continue to explore the possibilities of scent through drinks, spatial experiences, and more.

"I want to continue to be a one-of-a-kind presence that satisfies curiosity," says Koyama. His words embody unwavering trust in the creators and an unyielding attitude of never ceasing to explore.

The brand name "Sanga" embodies a sincere desire to be moved by nature and to share its wonder. The time spent lighting a single incense stick will be a moment to experience nature and culture yet unseen.

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Sanga Incense Main Store
Address: 77 Yanagi Hachiman-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Access: 5-minute walk from Exit 3-1 of Karasuma Oike Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line, and a 5-minute walk from Exit 8 of Kyoto City Hall Station on the Tozai Line.
HP: https://sanga.thebase.in/
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/sanga.incense/

*For details on opening hours and closing days, please check the link above.