Opened in 1977, the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design (MOCAD) aims to share the rich history of Japanese traditional crafts and culture, which have flourished in Kyoto for over a millennium. The museum’s permanent collection features all 74 categories of Kyoto traditional crafts, exhibited on the largest display wall in Japan. Temporary exhibitions – which showcase the work and innovative techniques of contemporary master artisans, such as Takahiro Yagi (Kaikado tea canisters), Shun and Ryo Kojima (Kojima Shoten Kyoto lanterns) and Toru Tsuji (Kanaami Tsuji Kyoto wire netting wares) – are held two to three times a year.

The museum also offers events and special exhibitions at the MOCAD gallery, a range of sophisticated products available for purchase at the museum shop, and the rare opportunity to observe skilled artisans at work during craft demonstrations, the contents of which change each month. Those with a keen interest in materials and exploring new business opportunities are welcome to search the archives of the museum’s extensive Material Library.