Japanese Incense Ceremony: Koh-do Online Courses

Experience the timeless art of Japanese Incense Ceremony, Koh-do with Eriyo Watanabe – Master of Incense, Founder and Grand Master of the Renshin School of Incense. With over 20 years of practice and research, including field studies of agarwood and frankincense, and the creation of Juku-koh™ : Fermented Incense and Sho-koh™, she offers a rare opportunity to study Japanese Incense Ceremony as both cultural heritage and a living practice.

Koh-do, or The Way of Incense, is the Japanese Incense Ceremony—a refined and meditative art practiced for centuries as one of Japan’s classical traditions. Unlike tea or flowers, the aromatic woods used in Koh-do—especially Kyara, the highest grade of agarwood—have always been rare and precious. Historically, Kyara has been valued higher than gold by weight. This scarcity has preserved Koh-do as an art of quiet refinement, experienced by only a few. Yet it is not only about rarity. In today’s fast-paced world, Koh-do offers a way to slow down, enter a flow state, and reconnect with your senses and inner purpose, much like the philosophy of Ikigai. While Kyara remains precious, high-quality agarwood from Vietnam and sandalwood from India are more accessible and suitable for beginners worldwide. This means you can experience Koh-do without needing rare materials. A distinctive feature of the Renshin School of Incense is the use of Neri-koh, or Juku-koh™ : Fermented Incense, alongside aromatic woods. This blend has origins in the Heian period, and reviving this tradition reflects our spirit of returning to essential values and honoring the timeless beauty of incense. Through Mon-koh, listening to incense, you are invited to cultivate stillness, to listen to the quiet voice within, and to remember what truly matters—your purpose, the calling of your soul, and the delicate interconnection between human life and the natural world. In this way, the practice becomes not only a personal journey of awakening but also a gentle offering toward a more peaceful planet.

You will learn practical techniques for using incense to create a calming atmosphere, support mindfulness, and enrich moments of reflection, creativity, or personal ritual. Whether you wish to start your morning with clarity, mark transitions in your day, or prepare for restful sleep, incense can become a gentle companion on your path to more intentional living.

This one-on-one session offers a rare opportunity to be introduced to Koh-do: The Japanese Incense Ceremony directly with Master of Incense, Eriyo Watanabe.  You will learn about the basic philosophy and brief history of Koh-do, as well as the cultural role of precious woods such as Kyara and sandalwood. The session also gives a short introduction to Neri-koh (kneaded incense) and the Renshin School’s original creation, Juku-koh™: Fermented Incense.  As this is a private lesson, you will be asked in advance about your interests and your purpose in learning.  Some participants wish to deepen their study in order to teach or create their own incense, while others simply wish to enjoy refined incense at home and learn how to use it in an authentic way.  Programs are tailored to each student.  Detailed curriculum is shared after the initial consultation.

Introductory Session
45 minutes
USD 200

Foundation Course
3 sessions
USD 900

Private Certification Program
12 sessions

USD 3,000 

If this path speaks to you, I invite you to get in touch.  Learning is offered in a quiet, personal format, honoring time, presence, and individual intention.

Further details are shared upon inquiry via CONTACT US.

Q: May I learn Koh-do online?
Yes. Through private one-on-one Zoom sessions, students from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Europe, and beyond are able to study Koh-do from their own homes.  The quiet and contemplative nature of incense appreciation lends itself beautifully to the intimacy of an online setting.

Q: What do I need to prepare before my first lesson?
Nothing beyond a quiet space and a Zoom connection. No special tools or prior knowledge are required.  Each session is thoughtfully prepared according to your interests and background, and you will be guided with care from the very first moment.

Q: Is prior experience required?
None at all. Some students are entirely new to Japanese arts, while others come with experience in tea ceremony, meditation, fragrance, or other contemplative traditions.  Lessons are always adapted individually so that each student may develop their own path of appreciation.

Q: What courses are offered?

Private Introductory Session
45 minutes · USD 200
An elegant first encounter with the world of Koh-do.

Foundation Course
3 sessions (1 hour each) · USD 900
An introduction to the philosophy, history, and practice of the Renshin School of Incense.

Private Certification Program
12 sessions  (1 hour each) · USD 3,000
A dedicated course for students who wish to deepen their practice. The program is offered across three levels — Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced — allowing students to gradually develop under Eriyo’s guidance.

Q: In what language are lessons conducted?
All online lessons are conducted in English.

Q: Is Koh-do accessible without rare or expensive materials?
Yes. While Kyara — the highest grade of agarwood, historically valued even more highly than gold — represents the pinnacle of incense appreciation, it is not required for beginning one’s study.  High-quality agarwood and sandalwood provide a rich and authentic introduction to the art.  Students in Australia, in particular, may find a meaningful connection here, as the country is home to significant plantations of both agarwood and sandalwood.

Q: Who are these lessons designed for?
Students come from many backgrounds — including artists, fragrance professionals, tea practitioners, meditators, and individuals simply seeking a deeper relationship with scent and stillness.  Some approach Koh-do as a cultural study, others as a contemplative practice, and still others as a refinement of sensory awareness.

Q: How often do students usually take lessons?
Many students begin with an introductory session and then continue with the Foundation Course.  Others choose to study more deeply through the Certification Program, meeting regularly over several months. The pace of study is always flexible and adapted to each student’s interests and schedule.

Q: Is there something I may read before my first lesson?
Yes. Eriyo Watanabe is the author of Koh-do: Japanese Incense Ceremony for Wellbeing, available on Amazon in paperback editions.  Many students enjoy reading it before their first lesson as a gentle introduction to the philosophy and spirit of incense.

Q: May I explore Eriyo’s teachings before arranging a lesson?
Yes. Eriyo regularly publishes essays on Substack, exploring Koh-do, aromatic woods, fermented incense, and the deeper philosophy of fragrance.  Selected essays are freely available and offer a window into her approach as a teacher.

Q: What makes the Renshin School of Incense unique?
The Renshin School of Incense is among the very few schools offering private online instruction and certification in Koh-do entirely in English.  It is also the home of Juku-koh™ — the world’s first fermented incense, created by Eriyo Watanabe. This original creation draws inspiration from the thousand-year tradition of Neri-koh from Japan’s Heian period while also reflecting ancient incense traditions such as ancient Egyptian incense Kyphi.  Every aspect of the Renshin School of Incense reflects a lifelong devotion to this art — and a sincere wish to share its quiet depth with the world.

Q: How may I arrange a lesson?
Please contact Eriyo Watanabe through the contact form on this website.  She personally responds to each inquiry and will be happy to discuss your interests and the path of study that may best support you.