Culture

2026.05.23

Utterly Cute and Playful ♡ Gift Wrap from Kyoto’s Renowned Shops

Perhaps the wrapping paper is the true 'face' of a shop—a reflection of the Japanese practice where even a simple purchase is wrapped with meticulous care, treating the item with the dignity of a gift. While the paper itself carries no price tag, it is often designed by renowned artists or crafted by the shopkeepers themselves. In these sheets, which leave a sweet aftertaste long after the food is finished, I feel the shop’s unique worldview—a quiet, hidden passion that I would call their remarkable power of presentation. Through centuries of commerce, Kyoto is perhaps the region that understands better than any other the human psychology of judging the contents to be of ‘high quality’ simply because the wrapping is stylish. This could also be seen as an expression of absolute confidence in their own products. Please, come and enjoy this enchanting world of wrapping paper!

Enchanted by quintessential Kyoto style at Suetomi (末富)

A long-established shop held in deep trust by tea masters. The wrapping paper was created through consultations between the Nihonga (日本画) painter Ikeda Yoson (池田遙邨) and the shop owner, featuring elegant motifs such as cherry blossoms, peonies, and folding fans.
‘Kounryusui’ (行雲流水) Fuyaki (麩焼き) rice crackers: 1,290 Yen for a box of 12.

The colour of the wrapping paper is known as ‘Suetomi Blue’

Suetomi (末富) Shop Info

Address: Matsubara-dori Muromachi Higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
Tel: 075-351-0808
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00
Closed: Sundays and National Holidays
Official Website: https://www.kyoto-suetomi.com

Vibrant Orange for an appetising touch! Tanaka Keiran (田中鶏卵)

Located in Nishiki Ichiba (錦市場) for 92 years, this is a specialist in Honmamon (authentic) Dashimaki (だし巻き; rolled omelette), using no artificial seasonings or additives whatsoever. The wrapping paper features a pattern that has been used with only minor refinements since the shop’s founding; everything except the shop name is handwritten.
Plain ‘Kyo Dashimaki’ (京だし巻き): 1,300 Yen.

Subtly highlighting the use of ‘Fresh Local Eggs’!

Tanaka Keiran (田中鶏卵) Shop Info

Address: Nishiki-koji-dori Tominokoji-dori Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
Tel: 075-221-2094
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00
Closed: New Year period

Chic and Powerful Font Design: Tamaruya Honten (田丸弥 本店)

This paper features the kanji characters for ‘Shunka Shuto’ (春夏秋冬 ; The Four Seasons), which can be considered a signature of the Living National Treasure, Serizawa Keisuke (芹沢銈介). It provides a charming presentation for the light and crispy ‘Shirakawaji’ (白川路) rice crackers.
‘Shirakawaji’ (白川路): From 1,100 Yen for a box of 12 packets (3 crackers per packet).

It conveys even the simple spirit of Mingei (民藝 ; folk art)

Tamaruya Honten (田丸弥 本店) Shop Info

Address: 5 Shichiku Higashi-takanawa-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi
Tel: 075-491-7371
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00
Closed: Sundays and National Holidays
Official Website: https://shirakawaji.com/

Adorable Retro Wrapping ♡ Souhonke Kawamichiya (総本家 河道屋)

This establishment has been trading in Soba (蕎麦) and ‘Soba Horu’ (蕎麦ほうる) for nearly 300 years. The wrapping paper, made of striped coloured Hatoronshi (ハトロン紙 ; craft paper) with unique watermarks of the shop logo, is exquisite.
‘Soba Horu’ (蕎麦ほうる): 1,512 Yen for 300g (six 50g bags).

Just looking at the bag brings back the memory of its fragrant aroma!

Souhonke Kawamichiya (総本家 河道屋) Shop Info

Address: Aneyakoji-dori Gokomachi Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
Tel: 075-221-4907
Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:30
Closed: New Year period
Official Website: http://www.kawamichiya.co.jp/souhonke/

Beloved Folk-Art Patterns Wrapped Around Cute Shibazuke pickles: Shibakyu (志ば久)

This wrapping paper was designed about 50 years ago by the current third-generation owner, who drew inspiration from the Komon (小紋 ; fine pattern) of a Kimono (きもの).
Traditional ‘Akashiba’ (赤志ば) made with home-grown red shiso: 540 Yen.

The sincerity of the maker is reflected in the design of the wrapping paper

Shibakyu (志ば久) Shop Info

Address: 58 Ohara Shorinyo-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
Tel: 075-744-4893
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 16:00
Closed: Wednesdays (if it falls on a National Holiday, a compensatory day off may apply)
Official Website: https://www.shibakyu.jp

A Touch of Old-Fashioned Elegance. The mini sizes are so charming! Daigokuden Honpo Honten (大極殿本舗 本店)

The packaging for the famous ‘Kasuteira’ (春庭良) is a reproduction of wrapping paper from the Taisho period. Both the atmospheric illustration of the Nanbanjin (南蛮人 ; early European visitors) and the commentary on the nutritional benefits of Kasuteira (カステイラ) are deeply evocative. It truly exudes the history of a business founded in the 18th year of Meiji.
‘Kasuteira’ (春庭良): 972 Yen for a half-size.

Wrapping paper that leaves a lingering sense of the sophisticated retro era

Daigokuden Honpo Honten (大極殿本舗 本店) Shop Info

Address: 590 Obiya-cho, Takakura-dori Shijo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi
Tel: 075-221-3533
Opening Hours: 09:30 – 18:00
Closed: Wednesdays

*This article is a re-edited reprint from the magazine ‘Waraku‘ (和樂) (April/May 2021 issue).
*Prices shown are inclusive of tax as of February 2026.
*Opening holidays and other details are subject to change

This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/travel/295155/

Tag
Share

和樂web編集部

おすすめの記事

Places to visit when touring Okayama and Kurashiki. City walking guide

和樂web編集部

Who was the Ninja, Sawamura Jinzaburo, and how did he infiltrate the Black ship?

和樂web編集部

Meiji Japan, through photographs from 120 years ago: Scenery of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka [Daredemo Museum Series]

安藤整

Why do Japanese eat Soba on New Year’s Eve? Multiple origins for toshikoshi soba

お鶴さん

人気記事ランキング

最新号紹介

※和樂本誌ならびに和樂webに関するお問い合わせはこちら
※小学館が雑誌『和樂』およびWEBサイト『和樂web』にて運営しているInstagramの公式アカウントは「@warakumagazine」のみになります。
和樂webのロゴや名称、公式アカウントの投稿を無断使用しプレゼント企画などを行っている類似アカウントがございますが、弊社とは一切関係ないのでご注意ください。
類似アカウントから不審なDM(プレゼント当選告知)などを受け取った際は、記載されたURLにはアクセスせずDM自体を削除していただくようお願いいたします。
また被害防止のため、同アカウントのブロックをお願いいたします。

関連メディア