A new Kyoto store is giving visitors the chance to discover kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, through hands-on workshops and an exhibition of more than 100 handcrafted pieces.
Kintsugi Tsugutsugu Kyoto Store opened on November 1 in Higashiyama, marking the company's third location after its existing stores in Tokyo's Ebisu and Asakusa districts. The shop occupies a renovated wooden house more than 70 years old, putting the philosophy of repairing and reusing things into practice before visitors even step inside.
Kintsugi involves repairing chipped or broken ceramics with lacquer before finishing the joins with gold powder or other materials. Rather than hiding the damage, the technique highlights the repaired areas, giving each piece a distinctive appearance. The approach reflects a Japanese appreciation for finding beauty in imperfections and continuing to use treasured belongings instead of discarding them.
The Kyoto store's first floor displays more than 100 kintsugi and lacquerware works, which visitors can browse and purchase without joining a workshop. It also introduces TSUGU BON, a new decorative art combining gold-repaired bonsai pots with preserved bonsai that requires no watering.
For travelers wanting a more hands-on experience, the second floor hosts traditional kintsugi workshops using genuine lacquer and 23-karat gold powder. The 90-minute sessions cost 22,000 JPY per person, and participants can take home their completed pieces the same day.
Located around a 10-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, the store is close to Kyoto attractions including Kennin-ji Temple. It's a chance to explore a traditional craft that offers a different perspective on Japanese ideas about beauty, sustainability, and everyday life.
