‘Kaori-haku 2026’, an event offering a chance to experience Japan’s 1,400-year-old culture of incense, will be held for one month from Saturday 18 April—‘Fragrance Day’—in Ginza, Kyoto and Kamakura

Now in its third year, ‘Kaori-haku’ is currently being held across three areas—Ginza, Kyoto and Kamakura—for approximately one month from Saturday 18 April to Sunday 17 May, under the theme ‘Scents Connecting to Tomorrow – Where Scents Meet Tomorrow’. In recent times, as AI and IT reach new heights of advancement and the ways we live and communicate continue to evolve, renewed interest is gathering around ‘scent’ as an experience perceived through the five senses.

The opening day, 18 April, is ‘Incense Day’, established in 1992 by the National Incense and Incense Sticks Association and recognised by the Japan Anniversary Association. The origins of incense culture in Japan date back to the Asuka period, making it a truly traditional practice with a continuous history spanning 1,400 years. At each venue and participating shop, visitors can savour the tranquil moments and the sense of physical and mental well-being that fragrance brings, through four distinct experiences: ‘exploring’, ‘listening to’, ‘creating’ and ‘enjoying’ scent.