The house
Yamadamatsu Kōbokuten — literally "Yamada-Matsu Incense-Wood Shop" — began as a herbalist during the late Edo period, shifting fully to incense in the early 20th century. While the other Kyoto houses are primarily known for their blended stick incense, Yamadamatsu's distinctive competence lies in kōboku, the whole woods used in kōdō ceremony and high-end home practice.
Walk into their shop near the Imperial Palace and you will see wooden drawers to the ceiling, glass cases of graded aloeswood chips, and a quiet atmosphere more reminiscent of a traditional pharmacy than a retail space. This is where serious Japanese incense hobbyists come when they want material they cannot find elsewhere.
Core product lines
Stick incense: Mikaboshi & Jigoku-dani
Their stick ranges are smaller than Shoyeido's or Nippon Kodo's, but the quality is high. Mikaboshi leans byakudan-plus-jinkō; Jigoku-dani is a more aloeswood-forward blend with unusual depth for its price.
Kōboku (incense wood)
Graded jinkō and kyara chips, sold by the gram in small labeled boxes. Prices start modestly and rise into the truly serious range. Yamadamatsu's grading is widely respected — if a chip is labelled "kyara," it really is.
Kōdō supplies
Mica plates, silver-tipped chopsticks, kōro (small warming censers), ash, and everything else needed for a home kōdō practice. One of the few shops in Japan that can outfit a beginner from scratch.
What to buy first
- Stick incense: Mikaboshi — a good entry into their style.
- If you're ready for wood chips: a 1–2 gram starter of mid-grade jinkō, plus a warmer and mica plate.
- Visiting Kyoto: bring a notebook. Staff will walk you through the grading scale if you show interest, and it is one of the most educational half-hours available to anyone serious about incense.
Visiting in person
Yamadamatsu's shop is a short walk west of the Imperial Palace. See our Kyoto shopping guide for a suggested walking route that includes it.
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