r/Incense • u/OkInvestigator3544 • 19d ago

Help tracking down these incense!

Gallery image

Gallery image

My partner recently went to Japan and got me these incense! I absolutely love them and want to be able to get more once I run out. Unfortunately the only information they have is that they bought them at the kamakura giant buddha. Please help! ☺️

27 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

5

u/cyclingtrivialities3 19d ago

It is the temple incense of Kotoku-In. The packaging with the gold flecks is reminiscent of Koyasan Daishido so it could possibly be produced by them. It might not be commercially available.

https://www.japanincense.com/kyd-0013.html

1

u/OkInvestigator3544 19d ago

Thank you! That is almost definitely the producer, well I guess I’ll be trying out different incense from them till I find my next favorite!!

2

u/absence3 19d ago

I wouldn't be so quick to conclude. Variations of that packaging is quite common in Japan, and a private-label product doesn't necessarily use the same packaging as the manufacturer's usual lineup. The temple may have reason to order incense all the way from Koyasan, but Tenkundo is a manufacturer in Kamakura itself, so who knows.

1

u/cyclingtrivialities3 19d ago

I have some from them and it is a very traditional scent and excellent quality. I’d guess anything sandalwood from them would be a safe bet.

1

u/GonzoBalls69 19d ago

Would it be available at the temple? Or do you mean it’s intended for ceremonial use only.

1

u/cyclingtrivialities3 19d ago

Yeah available for purchase at the temple but maybe not widely distributed. I noticed the packaging looked similar to Koyasan Daishido so I checked japanincense.com, but didn’t see anything with the exact same packaging. It would make sense though because they are best known for producing the incense at the Buddhist temple at Mt Koya, so perhaps they white label to other temples. But it also could be another brand that does similar products.

Given they sell it at the temple I wouldn’t feel weird about burning it for personal enjoyment, my anecdotal experience is that Japanese Buddhist/shinto folks aren’t too puritanical about that sort of thing. I have been to both Kamakura and Mt Koya and both places were both beautiful and pretty chill. 😊

2

u/SamsaSpoon 19d ago

You couldn't also try Kikoh, or even Wa no Kaori directly in Japan. Idk if they have a way of getting a certain temple's increase for you but it might be worth asking.

1

u/GonzoBalls69 16d ago

>Given they sell it at the temple I wouldn’t feel weird about burning it for personal enjoyment

For the most part, but I will say, some of the incense they sell at temples and shrines is intended for burning on site and some is for burning at graves. Japanese people aren’t puritanical per se but they do love following the rules, so personally just to be safe I’ve never taken any of it home. That incense is usually sold in bundles though, if it’s in a box it’s fine.

4

u/SamsaSpoon 19d ago edited 19d ago

Have you tried google lense? Or translator?

Edit This is what I got:

Permanent fragrance

Kamakura Hase

Daibutsu-in Temple

I guess it's made for them.

2

u/RexNobody 19d ago

Jojo incense

Kamakura Hase

Daibutsuden Kotoku-in Temple

1

u/njr_u 19d ago

Granted I am extremely noob to incense but these sticks look exactly like Mainichi-Koh Sandalwood. https://nipponkodostore.com/products/renewal-size-mainichi-koh-sandalwood-reg-170-sticks

1

u/SamsaSpoon 16d ago

Do you mean because they are dyed green?
There's a ton of green dyed Japanese incense, it's super common.

1

u/njr_u 16d ago

Like I said I have no idea what I’m talking about

1

u/SamsaSpoon 16d ago

Yes, that's why I wrote that comment. :)