Three Kyoto Galleries
Many of our clients have asked for suggestions for their upcoming trips to Japan, so we wanted to highlight three Kyoto galleries we return to time and time again. There is so much to see, and our list of smaller, more obscure shops and galleries is constantly growing—still, we consider these the 'old reliables'. They are well-known, well-respected, and well-established within their respective spheres, and continue to inspire us endlessly.
All images were captured on 35mm film during our most recent trip.
Essence
Address: 606-8344 Kyoto Sakyo Ward Okazaki Enshojicho 36-1 2f
Located a short distance from the city center, Okazaki, Kyoto, is a place steeped in tranquil nature and cultural diversity. The area is lined with art museums and many of Kyoto's most iconic shrines and temples. A short walk from Okazaki Park, situated above a small restaurant quietly overlooking Lake Biwa Canal, you'll find Essence. Offering tableware and household items by various contemporary artists, as well as original teas, the gallery's interior is sophisticated and calm—the founders, a husband-and-wife duo, did an incredible job of embedding their aesthetic sensibilities into all their curations and interior design choices. If choosing objects is a way of looking into someone's heart, then the heart of Essence is intentional, pure, and free of excess. We recommend viewing their exhibition schedule on Instagram and taking stock of their website ahead of visiting; what they have on display is rotated frequently, but all of their inventory is available on-site even during their regular exhibitions.
HIN / Arts & Science
Address: 604-0922 Kyoto Nakagyo Ward Higashiikesucho 482-3
Since opening the doors to its first shop in 2003, Arts & Science has grown to encompass fifteen locations across Tokyo, Kamakura, Kyoto, and Fukuoka. Offering a wide range of clothing, jewellery, leather goods, and daily necessities (either of original design or created by artisans from Japan and around the world), each location carries its own spirit. HIN / Arts & Science in Kyoto is our personal favorite. Showcasing crafts for everyday use alongside curated exhibitions, the curation of both space and product has a way of making you feel instantly at ease. Positioned a block from the Kamo River, arriving at the destination involves walking down residential streets and down the main road of Nijodori, before ascending a few small steps to the main entrance, where the simple act of stepping through the large glass door is an occasion in itself. Alongside its understated and calming interior, the shop comes with an invitation to engage with the various products they offer. Nurturing connection between the creator and customer, the associates openly offer insight into the stories and craftsmanship, providing customers with the knowledge to make informed decisions and to consider the value of the items we surround ourselves with daily.
HIN / Arts & Science Kyoto is currently undergoing a remodel and expects to reopen in November 2025. Though it will look different from the space we've captured in our photos and have come to love, we look forward to experiencing their newly realized space firsthand.
Kyo Amahare
Address: 604-8063 Kyoto Nakagyo Ward Aburayacho 127
Situated just north of Nishiki Market in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward, Kyo Amahare, a craft gallery and teahouse, sits unassumingly on a residential street lined with traditional Kyomachiya (Kyoto-style townhouse). The large two-story house, formerly owned by a prosperous craftsman, was reconstructed in 2023 to harmoniously blend its historical architecture with modern aesthetics, providing a unique cultural experience in Kyoto. Alongside offering a curated selection of Japanese crafts, including ceramics, glassware, and woodwork, at the back of the storehouse, a tearoom named 'lu/KYO' exists within the space. KYO (居雨) meaning 'where I dwell with the rain' was created under the supervision of Suguru Tokuyama, a master of the Mushanokōji school of tea, to embody the spirit of the contemporary tea ceremony. Here, visitors can take their time experiencing high-quality, organic teas accompanied by delicate sweets in a dimly lit atmosphere filled with precise and calming gestures. All tableware used in the teahouse is available for purchase, allowing guests to take home a piece of the experience.
Honorable Mentions
Had all of our film turned out, this list would have featured five galleries instead of three!
Kyoto Yamahon
Address: 604-0931 Kyoto Nakagyo Ward Enokicho 95-3 2f
Kogei Towan
Address: 604-0925 Kyoto Nakagyo Ward Kamihonnojimaecho 471