Kyoto Traditional Crafts is released!

We are pleased to announce the launch of Kyoto Traditional Crafts, which is a new, fully English-language website that makes it easy to book traditional crafts in Kyoto. The website offers traditional crafts such as pottery, dyeing and weaving, and Japanese paper making to a wide range of users, including foreign tourists.

Traditional crafts in Kyoto are the crystallization of skills and beauty that have been cultivated over hundreds of years. Each craft is the result of the enthusiasm and pride of craftspeople and the skills that have been passed down from generation to generation. However, the environment surrounding traditional crafts is becoming increasingly severe with the rapid changes of the modern world. The number of artisans is decreasing, and their value is often not duly appreciated in the global marketplace.

Many traditional craft experience booking sites charge commissions in excess of 15% domestically and 20% internationally, leaving little profit for the artisans. These high fees are one of the factors that hinder the sustainable development of the craft. We have set out to change this situation.

On our site, we have set our commission at a minimal 8% in order to bring the wonderful experiences created by Kyoto’s traditional craftspeople to as many people as possible. Traditional crafts are supported by their artisans. In order for their skills to be handed down to the next generation and to be passed on to the future, we need a system that rewards craftspeople in a fairer way.

We place the utmost importance on respect for traditional craftspeople and aim to contribute to the preservation and development of the culture they create. Kyoto’s traditional crafts are not only a temporary tourist attraction, but also an important asset for building the future. There are things each of us can do to protect this asset and ensure its transmission to the next generation.

Please visit our website and take a step forward in supporting Kyoto’s traditional crafts and creating its future together. Your choice will put power in the hands of artisans and serve as a bridge to the future.