Test Marketing of New Nikko Bori Products
Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture has been working to preserve and develop the craftsmanship of Nikko Bori and other traditional crafts found in the area.
"Bringing Nikko Bori into Everyday Life"
A new line of products has been developed using "Nikko Bori" (日光彫), a Tochigi Prefecture-designated traditional craft, designed to appeal to tourists visiting Nikko — particularly younger women — as practical souvenirs they can use at home. The concept centers on bringing color and beauty to everyday dining through Nikko Bori craftsmanship.
The products combine either a "chopstick rest and coaster" or a "smartphone stand and coaster" into a single structure, making it immediately clear how each piece is meant to be used. They are designed to work equally well as a travel souvenir or as a daily household item.
Product Overview
[Product Name] Nikko in
[Overview] Sets of "Chopstick Rest and Coaster" or "Smartphone Stand and Coaster"
One side of the piece separates to function as either a chopstick rest or a smartphone stand.
[Size] 9 cm × 9 cm × 1.5 cm
[Material] Wood
[Finish] Nikko Bori carving + colored paint
[Price] ¥2,500 (tax included)
Where to Buy (Test Marketing — Limited Quantities)
[Venue] Michinoeki Nikko Nikkokaido Nikonico Honjin – Nikonico Marché
Address: 719-1 Imaichi, Nikko City, Tochigi
[Sale Period] March 12 (Thu) to March 18 (Wed), 2026
[Quantities] Approximately 10 of each type, 20 in total (limited stock)
Nikko City Traditional Crafts Fair at TIC TOKYO
Beyond Nikko Bori, Nikko City is home to a variety of traditional crafts including "Nikko Geta" (wooden sandals) and "Cedar Incense." A dedicated fair is being held at TIC TOKYO to raise broader awareness of these crafts.
Event Details
[Date & Time] Thursday, March 19, 2026, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
[Venue] TIC TOKYO (in front of Marunouchi Trust Tower North, 1-8-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo)
[Access]
- 1-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station's Nihonbashi Exit
- 1-minute walk from Subway Otemachi Station Exit B9b
[Admission] Free
Crafts on Display and for Sale
Nikko Bori: A Carving Technique Rooted in the Restoration of Nikko Toshogu
Nikko Bori is believed to have originated when master craftsmen summoned from across Japan to work on the restoration of Nikko Toshogu Shrine created pieces in their spare time. After the restoration was complete, their skills were handed down, and the craft eventually evolved into souvenirs sold to pilgrims visiting the shrines and temple, forming the basis of what Nikko Bori is today.
Its defining feature is the use of a distinctive triangular blade called a "hikkaki," which produces deeply carved masculine curves alongside delicate lines as fine as a strand of hair — the hallmarks of Nikko Bori craftsmanship.
Nikko Geta: Rooted in the Footwear of Priests and Monks
During the Edo period, Shinto priests and Buddhist monks in Nikko wore specially crafted wooden sandals called "gomen geta" as formal footwear. These were later adapted into a more practical form, and by the mid-Meiji era, Nikko Geta had spread widely to the general public. Made with a wooden base and woven bamboo-bark soles combined in one piece, the sandals are cool in summer and warm in winter, making them highly functional.
Imaichi Cedar Incense: A Traditional Industry Passed Down Since the Edo Period
Imaichi Cedar Incense is said to have begun in 1864, when Shigeshichi Adachi first started producing cedar leaf incense. Nikko's rainy climate is well-suited to cedar cultivation, and the area has long maintained managed cedar forests, ensuring a plentiful supply of raw materials. The incense, made from finely ground cedar leaves, carries the refined, distinctive fragrance of cedar and is known for the elegance of its burn.
