Yamada Matsu

It’s not just green tea that gets the ceremonial treatment in Japan. The classical art of kodo involves burning wood chips for their aroma, and though it hasn’t endured as well as other traditions, it still has a place in Kyoto’s cultural scene. For two centuries, Yamada Matsu has been the leading wood chip supplier. It’s not a pursuit to take up on a whim: hearths sell for around ¥60,000 and wood chips cost up to ¥30,000 per gram. The store offers one-off classes for anyone with a casual interest, and sells more affordable incense sticks, pouches and cones.