Shoyeido Gozan Five Hills – 490 Japanese Incense Sticks

Shoyeido Gozan (五山) – Five Hills belongs to the traditional Daily Incense collection by Shoyeido, the Japanese incense manufacturer based in Kyoto, also known as Nature & Tradition. This large original Japanese box contains 490 short incense sticks with a warm, woody and spicy fragrance. The classic composition combines sandalwood, patchouli, cloves and other aromatic spices.

A traditional fragrance of sandalwood, patchouli and spices

The fragrance of Gozan is characterised by the interplay of soft woody notes, earthy nuances and aromatic spices. Sandalwood provides a warm, pleasantly woody foundation, while patchouli gives the incense its distinctive earthy and slightly herbal depth.

Cloves complement the composition with a pronounced aromatic spiciness. Additional spices round off the fragrance, bringing the various facets together in a harmonious blend.

When burned, Gozan releases a rich, warm, woody and spicy incense fragrance, distinguished by its balanced combination of traditional aromatic ingredients. The earthy notes of patchouli give the composition a distinctive character among Shoyeido's classic incense blends.

Gozan – the five mountains of Kyoto

The Japanese name Gozan (五山) means "five mountains" and is rendered as Five Hills in Shoyeido's international range. The name evokes the mountainous landscape surrounding Kyoto, which is closely connected to the history and cultural traditions of Japan's former imperial capital.

One of Kyoto's well-known traditions is Gozan no Okuribi. During this annual custom, held in August, large ceremonial fires are lit in symbolic shapes on five mountains surrounding the city. The ceremony is associated with remembering the deceased and symbolically bidding farewell to the spirits of ancestors.

The name Gozan can be understood within this cultural context, although no direct connection between the incense and this ceremony has been documented.

Japanese incense craftsmanship by Shoyeido

The history of Shoyeido dates back to 1705. The Kyoto-based company is one of Japan's long-established incense manufacturers and is known for its carefully balanced compositions of aromatic woods, spices and other fragrance ingredients.

The Daily Incense collection includes a variety of classic incense blends for regular use. Gozan is one of the warm, spicy compositions in this range and particularly appeals to enthusiasts of traditional sandalwood fragrances with earthy and aromatic accents.

490 short incense sticks in the original Japanese box

This Japanese version contains 490 incense sticks without a bamboo core. The sticks measure approximately 13.5 cm in length and have an average burning time of around 30 minutes.

Their distinctive light blue colour with a slightly greyish tint visually distinguishes them from the brown incense sticks of the international Gozan – Five Hills version. However, the difference in colour does not provide a reliable basis for drawing conclusions about possible variations in the formula.

The large box is particularly suitable for those who use Gozan regularly and prefer a generous supply. The shorter sticks offer a shorter burning time than the longer Japanese version.

Other versions of Gozan

The Japanese version of Gozan is also available as an individual roll containing 35 long incense sticks. These measure approximately 22 cm in length and have a burning time of around 50 minutes per stick.

There is also an international version, Gozan – Five Hills, featuring brown incense sticks. Both versions belong to the same fragrance family. The known aromatic ingredients are sandalwood, patchouli, cloves and other spices. As Shoyeido does not disclose the complete formulas or blending proportions, any possible differences in composition cannot be determined more precisely.

Features of Shoyeido Gozan

• Manufacturer: Shoyeido
• Collection: Daily Incense / Nature & Tradition
• Product: Gozan (五山) – Five Hills, Japanese version
• Origin: Kyoto, Japan
• Known ingredients: sandalwood, patchouli, cloves and other spices
• Fragrance character: warm, woody, spicy, earthy and aromatic
• Colour of incense sticks: light blue with a slightly greyish tint
• Type: Japanese incense sticks without a bamboo core
• Contents: 490 incense sticks
• Length: approx. 13.5 cm
• Burning time: approx. 30 min per stick
• Packaging: large original Japanese box