Shunsuke Ohe · CLIENT: Shunsuke Ohe
Japanese Taste is a retail outlet located in Kyoto Station in Japan. The store presents crafts, food, sake, cosmetics and daily goods made by artisans, farmers and producers from across Japan. The interior follows Japanese minimalism, using space, light, shadow and restraint instead of decorative motifs. A black toned exterior frames a warm interior of wood, stone and soft light. A large central table works as both display and stage, while vertical lattice elements add depth. The design turns a place of transit into a place of cultural encounter.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Japanese products featured here range widely, from crafts and food to sake, cosmetics and everyday essentials. However, these are not merely commodities. They embody the local climate, materials and techniques, the philosophy of their makers, and the aesthetic sensibilities cultivated by the Japanese people. Consequently, this space aims to serve as a vessel that quietly draws out the value inherent in these diverse items and conveys it to our visitors.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Project area : 114.5 sqm / Category : Retail Outlet
- Tags
- stone , wood , tile , Japanese-style , Kyoto , noren , LUSTYdesign , Shunsuke Ohe
- Production Technology
- Ceiling : wall paper / Wall : wood , wall paper , stone , wooden lattice / Floor : pvc tile
- Design Challenge
- At the centre of the space, a large table functions as both display and stage, connecting visitors with products and their stories. Soft fabric like lighting above and vertical lattice elements create warmth, depth, and quiet symbolism. A restrained palette of wood, stone, black, and red brings unity to the diverse product range, forming a subtle spatial framework that allows the products to stand out.
- Project Duration
- Project Duration : From April 2025 to July 2025 Project location : Kyoto(Japan)
- Operation Flow
- At the heart of the design is minimalism, a principle deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Rather than relying on superficial motifs, the space reinterprets ma, light and shadow, materiality, order, and restraint within a contemporary retail setting. Framed by a black toned exterior, the interior offers warmth, soft light, and calm, creating a quiet contrast to the bustle of the station and inviting visitors to pause and engage.
- Research
- A key aim of this project was to transform Kyoto Station from a place of transit into a place of cultural encounter. Through calm fixture planning, restrained lighting, layered sightlines, and a curatorial approach that unifies diverse products, the space invites visitors to pause, explore, and reflect. More than a shop, Japanese Taste presents a contemporary way to communicate the essence of Japanese craftsmanship and sensibility to the world.
- Inspiration
- Kyoto remains an international city open to the world, whilst embracing a thousand years of history and culture. In this city, which welcomes countless visitors from both home and abroad, Kyoto Station is not merely a transport hub, but a gateway that shapes the city’s first impression. This project involves a retail initiative in this highly public space, showcasing and selling goods crafted by artisans, farmers and producers from across Japan.
- Image Credits
- Photograph : NANA TAJIMA by ToLoLo studio
Press releases are available in 1 languages.