GEL KODO KOJU (New! 11/25)

Japanese Incense to Soothe Your Soul
[published November 2025]

After visiting temples and shrines or other serene locations in Japan, did you ever want to bring the scents of Japan home with you? Well, you can! For truly wonderful-smelling Japanese, visit Gel Kodo Koju in Tokyo, just around 17 minutes from Shinjuku by way of the JR Chuo train line.

Located on Kyokai-Dori shopping street in the Ogikubo area of Tokyo, the scent of the shop will easily pull customers into its cozy space, wall-to-wall of many kinds of incense including traditional stick types, cones and coil types, scent sachets, as well as incense holders and other scented goods. They even have tools for the art of making incense! Gel Kodo Koju stocks traditional scented incense such as aloeswood and sandalwood like you can get at a Buddhist temple as well as more modern scents like rose, jasmine, cherry blossom, or tangerine. The scents are not overwhelming and great for souvenirs and gifts, even if you are not sure of the receiver’s preference.

The shop owner is Wakabayashi-san, a friendly woman who has studied the art of incense (“Kodo”) under an incense master! She has personally selected the incense available at the shop, in addition to making some. Handmade “nioi-bukuro” (scent sachets) include various natural ingredients such as sandal wood, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and others. If you are interested, after the shop closes at 6:00pm you can also reserve a workshop to make your own scented “nioi-bukuro”, selecting your ideal scents. There are also workshops for beginners to learn traditional incense using an aromatic tree, but these are only available in Japanese currently. Wakabayashi-san is certified to teach about incense, so you can feel at ease and enjoy learning about incense at Gel Kodo Koju.

Gel Kodo Koju offers both Japanese traditional incense that is often used for ceremonial purposes as well as items that are great for home enjoyment and souvenirs. The shop assistants are friendly and helpful, so even if you aren’t knowledgeable about incense, you can visit carefree. If you are looking for a good souvenir choice that can be used right away, Wakabayashi-san recommends Iroha stick type incense, which includes a simple stand and has many popular scents. Best of all, the store provides an English description of the incense for international customers, so you can understand the proper uses for traditional types.

Gel Kodo Koju’s variety of incense types and aromas makes it an ideal place to shop for souvenirs or gifts that literally contain the scents of Japan. Consider incense from Koju to savor your memories of Japan.

ACCESS

Writer: Greg
Photographer: Mark