Awaji Island is believed to be the first place in Japan where incense wood drifted ashore; beginning an incense industry has flourished here since the late Edo period. The low rainfall and strong westerly wind blowing from the Seto Inland Sea are ideal for incense making, which requires drying during production. Today Awaji Island is singularly responsible for 70% of domestic production.
Incense is believed to cleanse the air and purify the mind and body. It has been rooted in Japanese culture since the introduction of Buddhism. In the Heian period burning incense was a popular pastime of aristocratic society; during the Edo period it was used in incense clocks; and has been enjoyed in many other ways throughout the ages. Today incense is recognized for its healing and concentration-enhancing effects, becoming an indispensable part of life in the pursuit of wellness.
You will meet artisans who continue to pursue the value of “fragrance” in the current era, and experience the healing of both body and spirit while being enveloped in the rich nature of Awaji and the fragrance of incense.
Awaji Island, the place where fragrant wood was first introduced. Enjoy a retreat tour where you can see incense-making nurtured in the rich climate surrounded by the sea. The tour includes a visit to a traditional tile-making workshop where they also make incense stands, as well as a Zen wellness experience to heal both body and mind.
Mr. Shimomura is one of Awaji Island’s senko (incense stick) makers and the third generation of an incense making company that has been in existence for over 80 years. The company founder was one of the first people to develop today's incense production methods: blending western perfumes with the eastern cultural use of incense woods. The company has handed down its creative spirit of challenge from previous generations, and continues to engender a new incense and senko culture.
Tatsumi is a family-run business with a designated kiln for "Awaji Onigawara" (Gargoyle Roof Tiles), and has been making these tiles since the late Edo period. Awaji roof tiles are made of high-quality Awaji clay, shaped and dried slowly over several months. These tiles are fired and smoked to create a carbonized skin, producing durable tiles with a beautiful metallic surface. The company continues to make traditional Awaji Onigawara tiles, passing on the tradition to the next generation. They also continue to explore new possibilities with "ibushi" (carbon-smoked) ware for today's modern lifestyle, such as incense stands.
