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Kyoto, the capital of a thousand years, has quietly preserved its cultural roots while changing with the seasons. When travelers walk through Kyoto, they encounter not only its landscapes and traditions, but also the people's lives and the "cultural time" that resides in every grain of fabric. In this special feature, "Encountering a Thousand-Year-Old Kyoto," we visit businesses that are directly addressing the "invisible preservation of culture" and explore the essence of regenerative tourism—nurturing the future together with the local community. This time, we visited Hiiragiya, a quiet inn nestled on Fuyacho Street. We spoke with Representative Director Mai Jojima, Managing Director Kazuki Jojima, and Director and Head Landlady Akemi Nishimura about the inn's history and hospitality. The essence of Kyoto lies in the inn's approach, which embodies the Kyoto aesthetic of "modest and unassuming" and has quietly continued to weave culture together with the local community.SDGs area of this content
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Cultural TourismSustainability
Encountering a Thousand Years of Kyoto ~Nakamura Candle~
A quietly flickering light connects Kyoto's future
A journey to encounter a thousand-year-old culture. Kyoto, the capital of a thousand years, has continued to preserve its cultural roots while changing with the seasons. When travelers walk through Kyoto, they encounter not only the scenery and traditions, but also the activities of the people who have woven it and the "time of culture" that resides in every grain of material. In this special feature, "Encountering a Thousand-Year-Old Kyoto," we visit businesses that are directly addressing the "preservation of invisible culture" and explore the essence of regenerative tourism - nurturing the future together with the local community. In this issue, we introduce Nakamura Candle, which has been dedicated to making Japanese candles since its founding in 1887 (Meiji 20). We spoke with Representative Director Koichi Tagawa about the company's efforts to preserve the "intangible culture" that has been passed down through the light of candles.SDGs area of this content
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Cultural TourismSustainability
Encountering a Thousand Years of Kyoto - Itoko
Passing the thread of life to the future: Kyoto's activities connected by pure domestic silk
On this journey to encounter a millennium of culture, we visited Itoyuki, a long-established manufacturer that has continued to focus on pure domestic silk. Located in Kyoto, where textile culture is deeply rooted, this company has pioneered a wide range of products, from plain fabrics to interior décor, and is a living example of the "current state of silk culture" where nature and human activity are carefully intertwined.SDGs area of this content
experiencetraditional craftsKyoto sustainable tourismsustainabletraditional culture
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This time, we will introduce NOHGA HOTEL KIYMIZU KYOTO, located in the heart of Higashiyama and Kiyomizu. Combining the spirit of travel with a modern sensibility, this hotel is deepening its presence as a hub of local culture.SDGs area of this content
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"HANDS FREE KYOTO," operated by the Kyoto City Tourism Association, is a website that compiles hands-free sightseeing information to help tourists explore Kyoto comfortably. It clearly introduces information on delivery services for sending large luggage to accommodations, as well as counters and coin lockers where you can temporarily store your luggage, along with a map of the Kyoto Station area.SDGs area of this content
Kyoto experienceKyoto tourism moralsKyoto sustainable tourismKyoto sightseeing
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This is an electronic travel pass that allows you to "hot spring tour" at 10 hot spring facilities in Kyoto City (as of October 1, 2025). By presenting an electronic ticket that allows you to visit three different facilities at the hot spring facilities, you can tour the hot spring facilities scattered throughout Kyoto City. We also work to promote the use of ancillary facilities such as meals and cafes at hot spring facilities, proposing various ways to use hot springs. -
An exquisite adult learning tour where you'll experience Kyoto's traditional tea and sake culture through all five senses, gaining deep appreciation for the profound depths of Japanese culture. Discover the roots of tea and sake, both derived from the essential element of "water," on this immersive cultural journey.SakeJapanese cultureMATCHAKyoto experienceKyoto sightseeingKyoto culturetraditional culture
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Cultural TourismSustainability
Experience the Future of Lacquer in Kyoto
～ Urushi Tsutsumi Asakichi since 1909 ～
Founded in 1909, Urushi Tsutsumi Asakichi preserves traditional craftsmanship while exploring new ways to bring lacquer into everyday life. In Kyoto, lacquer is not limited to temple architecture and tableware — it also appears in daily life, from bath buckets at sento (public bathhouses) to dining tables in local bakeries. Discover its beauty at Bukkoji Temple, experience lacquer buckets at Umeyu, and enjoy bread and wine by the Kamo River. Through these encounters where city culture and lacquer come together, you will discover a new side of Kyoto’s urushi tradition. -
Kyoto is home to many businesses that practice "long-term management," passing down culture for over a thousand years. Rather than simply preserving tradition, these businesses have an approach as "social enterprises/local zebra businesses" that weave value into the future while harmonizing with the environment and local community. Experience programs offered by these businesses are not only activities for tourists, but also an opportunity for "site visits" to directly experience business models that create social impact. In this article, we introduce sustainability-related experiences, organized in collaboration with BEYOND2025, one of Japan's largest social conferences, and the JTB Kyoto branch.CulturalKyoto sustainable tourismKyoto sightseeingexperiencetraditional culture
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Follow the dream waterway of our ancestors on a canal boat. Traces of their many great achievements can only be seen by boat. The Lake Biwa Canal is an artificial canal built to revive Kyoto's industries, which had declined after the capital was moved to Tokyo. The project, which overcame many difficulties, was a major project in Kyoto during the Meiji period, carried out solely by Japanese people. After 70 years, the Lake Biwa Canal has been revived. Enjoy a boat trip to see the great achievements of our ancestors with your own eyes, while taking in the scenery around the canal that exudes a different atmosphere in every season.NatureJapan HeritageKYOTOLink KyotoLake Biwa canal boatcanalscenicLINK KYOTOautumn leavessustainablehistoryKyoto sightseeing
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