Kōdō
A quiet dialogue between fragrance and the heart.
What is Kōdō (The Way of Fregrances)
A refined art that awakens the senses and calms the spirit. Rooted in centuries of tradition, Kōdō teaches mindfulness through the appreciation of natural incense woods, transforming the act of sensing fragrance into a path of inner harmony.
About Kōdō
The Shinō-ryū School of Kōdō, founded over five centuries ago by Shinō Sōshin, is Japan’s most prominent lineage of the Way of Fragrance. Kōdō — together with Chadō (tea ceremony) and Kadō (flower arrangement) — is regarded as one of Japan’s three classical arts of refinement, cultivated by nobles and samurai alike.
At its heart lies the act of listening to fragrance (monkō). Rather than simply smelling, practitioners quiet the mind to sense the character of the incense wood — its depth, its balance, its subtle story. The most precious of these woods, kyara, forms only under rare natural conditions and is revered as a gift of nature.
The essence of Kōdō is reverence and awareness — treating each fragment of incense as something sacred. Fragrances are traditionally classified by the Six Nations and Five Tastes, expressing their origin and aroma profile — sweet, bitter, spicy, sour, or salty. This classification guides practitioners to cultivate refined discernment and a meditative state of attention.
It is said that incense embodies “The Ten Virtues of Kō”: it purifies mind and body, awakens awareness, dispels impurity, soothes solitude, and brings peace even in times of hardship.
To practise Kōdō is to enter a spiritual world where elegance, mindfulness, and nature converge — an art that reveals the quiet beauty of the unseen.
What You Will Experience
In this refined session of Shinō-ryū Kōdō, participants are gently guided into the world of fragrance appreciation — the art of listening to scent.
As the fragrance unfolds, you are invited to quiet the mind, focus the senses, and experience the calm awareness that has inspired poets and courtiers for centuries.
Rather than identifying scents, this meditative encounter deepens sensitivity and inner harmony. Through this graceful ritual, you will discover how Kōdō refines perception and brings serenity to both mind and spirit.
To preserve the purity of the experience, participants are kindly asked not to wear perfume or scented products during the session.
Key Points
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Private or small-group instruction
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English interpretation available
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No prior experience required
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All materials provided
Practical information
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Duration approx. 2 hours
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No special clothing required
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Advance booking required
Meet the instructor
Madam Junko Ogasawara
Madam Junko Ogasawara carries forward the refined traditions of the Ogasawara family, which has long been at the heart of Japan’s court and samurai etiquette. As the wife of the 31st Headmaster, she shares the elegance and mindfulness of traditional Japanese arts through the practice of Shinō-ryū Kōdō, guiding participants with grace and sincerity.
