The Art of Cleaning: Maintaining the Ancient Capital's Beauty

Overview

The business of Araiya in Kyoto involves cleaning and restoring old temples, shrines, Machiya-style townhouses, and other wooden structures to their former glory. The industry is sustained by many Kyotoites' desire to cherish and hand down their belongings over generations. Araiya essentially work by hand patiently using age-old techniques to remove the grime and stains from homes, furniture, and kimono, too. Discover Kyotoites' respect for history and continuity through the expertise of Araiya.