You made your own incense sticks at TSUTSUMU, an incense-making workshop in Hakata, Fukuoka. Now that you've brought them home from Hakata, how should you burn them? This guide covers how to light and store TSUTSUMU incense so you can enjoy it for a long time. Whether you're planning a visit or already have your wooden box at home, we hope you'll keep it close at hand.
About 15 sticks per session
In TSUTSUMU's incense-stick course, you choose one of two bases (sandalwood or frankincense) and freely combine mix-ins such as lemongrass, benzoin, osmanthus and cinnamon. You blend everything in a mortar and shape it into sticks — about 15 per session. They go into a wooden box, and you take them home the same day.
Each stick burns for about 15 minutes. Burn one a day and they'll last about two weeks; save them for weekends and they'll last more than a month.
First, let them dry for a day
Freshly made incense still holds some moisture. Once you're home, don't light them right away — let them dry for a day first.
While they dry, keep them out of direct sunlight and away from humid spots. Until they're fully dry they bend and break easily, so handle them gently.
If you're traveling, leaving them overnight at your hotel and lighting the first one after you get home is just about perfect timing.
Lighting the stick and putting out the flame
- Place a non-flammable dish or incense holder on a flat, stable surface
- Light the tip of the stick with a lighter or match
- When a flame appears at the tip, fan it out gently with your hand
- Once the tip glows red and a thin thread of smoke rises, you're ready
In Japan, it's customary to fan out the flame with your hand rather than blowing on it. This is especially valued in front of a Buddhist altar, so it's a nice gesture to know.
No incense holder? No problem
You don't need a dedicated holder. Fill a non-flammable container with ash, sand, salt or uncooked rice and stand the stick in it. Ash will fall as it burns, so a slightly wider dish makes cleanup easier.
Enjoying a 15-minute stick
Each stick burns for about 15 minutes — short, but more generous than it sounds.
- From getting home and changing until your tea is ready
- While stretching before bed or writing in your journal
- While you open the window and get ready in the morning
Try deciding, "Until this stick burns out, I'll put my phone down." Even a short break, clearly marked, can help you reset your mood.
Sandalwood vs. frankincense: how the scent unfolds
Even burned the same way, the scent spreads differently depending on the base you chose.
Sandalwood
A soft, sweet woody scent. It fills the room slowly and leaves a gentle lingering trace even after the stick has burned out.
Frankincense
A clear, clean scent with a hint of citrus. It rises lightly and makes the air feel freshly changed.
Sandalwood for unwinding at night, frankincense for mornings or when you want to switch gears — that's one way to use them.
Storing your incense: avoid humidity and direct sunlight
Incense doesn't like humidity. Damp sticks can be harder to light, and moisture can lead to mold or discoloration.
- Keep the lid of the wooden box closed when you're not using them
- Store them somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight (avoid bathrooms and kitchens)
- Keep them away from perfume and other strongly scented items
The wooden box you take home doubles as storage.
Safety tips while burning
- Don't leave a lit stick unattended
- Keep it away from curtains, paper, fabric and anything flammable
- Burn it out of reach of small children and pets
- In a closed room, open a window now and then
- Wait until any leftover stick and ash are completely cool before cleaning up
Reservations & Access
- Address: 本島ビル 401, 3-5-20 Hakata Ekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka (about a 10-minute walk from the Hakata Exit of JR Hakata Station)Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Hours: 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00) / Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Price: ¥3,500 per person (engraving option +¥500)
- Duration: about 60 minutes / Languages: Japanese, English, Korean
- Booking: online 24 hours a day, or by phone at 070-6697-5255
- Instagram / TikTok: @tsutsumu_incense
Making incense doesn't end on the day you make it. Each time you light a stick at home, a little of those 60 minutes in Hakata comes back to you. Enjoy all 15 small chapters at your own pace.
