Stone Village Walk and Lantern Experience

Kyoto stone crafts are a traditional form of stonework that flourished after the capital moved to Kyoto during the Heian period (794–1185).

Stone lanterns, one of the best-known forms of Kyoto stonework, are distinguished by their simple structure and understated beauty. They have a distinctive presence in culturally significant settings such as Japanese gardens and temples.

The development of tea-ceremony culture and the local availability of high-quality granite both contributed to the growth of stonework in Kyoto. Over many centuries, Kyoto stone crafts evolved in response to the refined aesthetic preferences of the city’s residents, and the tradition continues today.

This experience is led by Takaaki Saida of Saida Stone Shop, a business with more than 120 years of history and proven expertise in transforming stone into beautiful works of art.

As the fifth-generation head of the shop, Takaaki has inherited the techniques of his predecessors and is a specialist in Kyoto stonework.

At his studio in Kameoka, Kyoto, Takaaki produces Kyoto stone crafts and other stonework with traditional tools. He also creates pieces with finely carved designs. Because Kyoto stonework is often used outdoors, he actively develops new stone objects that can bring the craft into people’s everyday lives.

Saida Stone Shop continues to take on new challenges that expand the possibilities of stone. Alongside traditional Kyoto stonework, Takaaki collaborates with overseas artists and designers to produce stone lanterns with new designs. In recent years, he has exhibited stone lanterns and demonstrated their production in the United States and Italy, broadening the reach of his practice.

While preserving traditional methods, Takaaki also looks to the future through environmentally conscious practices, such as reusing large pieces of waste stone rather than cutting new stone from the mountains.