150 Years of Precision: What Kaikado Taught Us About Design

Honoring Heritage Through Craft: A Visit to Kaikado in Kyoto

On a quiet morning in Kyoto, we stepped through the understated wooden doors of Kaikado Café—a space where tradition, craftsmanship, and quiet reverence for the handmade come together in perfect harmony. What brought us here wasn’t just curiosity or caffeine. It was a shared obsession—sparked by a collaboration between two brands we deeply admire: Kaikado and Loopwheeler.

Our creative director, known for his devotion to details and impeccable taste, has worn Loopwheeler for years. The Japanese label’s ultra-soft loopwheel-knit garments have long been part of his daily rotation, standing shoulder to shoulder with our own goods. So when Loopwheeler announced a limited collaboration with Kaikado, the historic Kyoto-based maker of handcrafted tea caddies, we took note.

That collaboration became a thread that led us to Kaikado’s doorstep.

Founded in 1875, Kaikado has spent nearly 150 years perfecting a singular object: the chazutsu, or tea caddy. Designed to preserve the flavor and freshness of loose leaf tea, Kaikado’s caddies are more than functional—they're timeless vessels of craft and continuity. Each caddy is meticulously hand-rolled from sheets of tin, brass, or copper, a process that takes over 130 steps and is passed down through generations of the same family.

To see and hold one is to understand what “human-made” really means.

Inside the café—an airy, sunlit space designed to slow you down—the tea is served in Kaikado’s signature tins, placed carefully on wooden trays, accompanied by the quiet presence of craftsmanship in every corner. The staff greeted us with the same care embedded in each of their products, and as we sipped houjicha and matcha lattes, we found ourselves reflecting on the intentionality behind every detail.

This was more than a coffee stop. It was a design pilgrimage.

What struck us most wasn’t just the beauty of the caddies, or the elegance of the café. It was Kaikado’s uncompromising commitment to evolution within tradition. It would be easy for a 150-year-old brand to rest on its legacy—but Kaikado continues to push. Whether it’s collaborating with modern Japanese brands like Loopwheeler, or reimagining everyday rituals through design, the company remains fiercely alive. There's something profoundly contemporary about that mindset.

It resonated with us deeply.

In our own work—whether it’s garments, objects, or environments—we constantly strive to balance heritage with innovation. Seeing Kaikado’s family-led studio uphold this balance with such grace was not only humbling, but energizing. It reminded us that creativity doesn’t always mean reinvention. Sometimes, it means refinement. Sometimes, it’s about repeating the same motion—again and again—until it becomes art.

We left Kaikado with more than just inspiration. We left with a renewed respect for the long game. For doing one thing exceptionally well. For finding new expression inside familiar forms.

In an era obsessed with speed and scale, Kaikado stands as a quiet but powerful counterpoint—a reminder that the future of design is often rooted in how well we care for the past.