History

From Kyoto to the World : The Spirit of Japanese Craftsmanship

Kyoto Handicraft Center is rooted in the thousand-year-old city of Kyoto, a place where tradition and artistry have long flourished. While our physical store is located in Kyoto, our online collection features carefully selected crafts from across Japan—lacquerware, ceramics, woodblock prints, textiles, and more.

We believe that every piece we offer carries more than beauty—it tells a story of culture, nature, and human touch. With harmony, simplicity, precision, and heartfelt respect at its core, Japanese craftsmanship invites us to slow down and connect more deeply.

We welcome you with sincerity and warmth, and invite you to discover the essence of Japan through its finest traditional crafts.

Kyo Zogan: Kyoto’s Timeless Metal Inlay Art

Kyo Zogan: Kyoto’s Timeless Metal Inlay Art

Kyo Zogan is a refined form of metal inlay developed in Kyoto, where gold and silver are hammered into fine crosshatch patterns etched into iron, then finished with lacquer to create elegant, contrasting designs. Originally used for decorating swords and religious items from the Muromachi to Edo periods, Kyo Zogan became internationally renowned in the Meiji era through artists like Komai Otojiro, whose works were showcased at world expositions and collected globally as "Komai Damascene." After WWII, the tradition nearly vanished, but Shintaro Amita, founder of the Kyoto Handicraft Center, helped reunite artisans and preserve the craft. Today, visitors to the Kyoto Handicraft Center can explore a wide range of traditional crafts, including Kyo Zogan, and witness live demonstrations by skilled artisans. With its delicate shine and deep symbolism, Kyo Zogan remains a striking example of Japanese craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Kyo Zogan Kyoto Japanese Metal Inlay Craftsmanship
1932 (Showa 7)

Founded on Sincerity

Shintaro Amita began selling Kyoto
damascene works to foreign visitors in Kobe,
building his business on trust rather than profit.
1947 (Showa 22)

Establishment

The company was officially founded in Kyoto on August 29, marking the start of full-scale production and sales of traditional crafts.
1957 (Showa 32)

Amita Inlay Workshop

Explaining the production of inlay work at Amita Trading Co.
1967 (Showa 42)

Handicraft Center Opened

In April, the Kyoto Handicraft Center opened in the Okazaki district of Kyoto as a duty-free center for international visitors, selling traditional crafts from Kyoto and across Japan, and featuring live artisan demonstrations.
1987 (Showa 62)

Domestic Tourism

Building on its experience in serving international visitors, the company made a full-scale entry into the domestic tourism market, focusing on group tours and educational trips, and introducing a restaurant and hands-on cultural workshops.
1995 (Heisei 7)

Constructed the Kyoto Handicraft Center East Building

The company rebranded its domestic group travel division “AMITA” as “Kyoto Handicraft Center East BLD.”
2020(Reiwa 2)

Official Online Store Opened

The Kyoto Handicraft Center has launched its official online store on Shopify, bringing Japan’s beautiful traditional crafts to customers around the world—even for those who cannot visit Japan in person.
Present

Tradition & Tourism Hub

The Kyoto Handicraft Center continues to welcome visitors from around the world, upholding its role as a place where traditional Japanese crafts and cultural experiences come together—a place where memories are made and cherished.

What Our Customers Say

Worth going just to see some of the amazing craftsmanship of local artisans. Great for picking up small souvenirs or luxury pieces alike. There are two buildings adjacent to each other to browse drom
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In-store Review

Lots of beautiful crafts and souvineers. Has dolls, kimono, jimbe, China, tea sets, fans, plates, cloths, etc. Definitely worth a trip.
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In-store Review

I recently visited Kyoto and went to Kyoto Handicraft Center to buy a beautiful Japanese Doll. The doll was of exquisite quality and the service of the staff was great. The doll was sent to my home adress accross the planet safely without any issue. I would like to thank Kyoto Handicraft Centre and their staff for their service!
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In-store Review

I'm very happy with this kimono and the service. The fabric is high quality, with great attention to detail and solid stitching. Delivery to the UK was fast and fully tracked. So glad I went for it!
L

Lovely kimono, delivered promptly

Love it! Super happy with my purchase and it came quickly as well to Canada. I was in the store and I had a katana set shipped to me in Canada, but I wish that I had purchased this yukata as well, so I ordered it online when I got home. Thank you, excellent service and great quality!
A

A wonderful store and I love my yukata!

I was very happy with the quality and nice gift box. The chopsticks arrived within days and I was kept informed of the delivery schedule.
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Nice gift

I live in Boston , Mass USA . I bought the Kengetsu Arare 1.2L on July 4th and on July 7th it was delivered to me at my home, the quality of this Kettle are Amazing and im enjoying it every day now. it was a very fast delivery. thank you Kyoto Handicraft Center.
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Nambu Kettle

Company Information

For those looking for the perfect gift, and for those seeking a beautiful item to cherish for years to come, we offer sincere and heartfelt service, providing an experience that brings you closer to the depth of Japanese culture.

21 Entoncho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8323, Japan
+81(0)75-761-8001
info@kyotohandicraftcenter.com
Shop: Mon–Sun 10:00am–7:00pm