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Kohshi
Category: Shopping Flowers & Gifts Flowers & Gifts [Edit]
1737 Post StSte 335
(between Buchanan St & Webster St)
San Francisco, CA 94115
Neighborhoods: Japantown, Lower Pac Heights, Pacific Heights
(415) 931-2002
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Todd H. said: "My assistant just returned from buying flowers for one of our employee's birthday and related her rather disconcerting experience at Healow's. Our office has been purchasing 10-12 bouquets from them a year for the past couple of…" read more »
35 reviews for Kohshi
Review Highlights
"This is a great little spot for incense fans."
(in 30 reviews)
"Great customer service and very friendly owners and staff."
(in 5 reviews)
"great selection, excellent service."
(in 5 reviews)
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Mimi T.
San Jose, CA
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I always for promoting small businesses. I stumbled across and totally fell in love! Seriously, if you need to pick up a small meeting the parents or family gift. THIS IS IT!!
They have really cute gifts! they got mugs, candles, incense, tea, and etc. Gotta check them out!
The owners are definitely helpful and super friendly. It's kind of hard NOT to love this little shop in japantown. -
Review from George S.
Oakland, CA
1/2/2012
This is where we buy incense.
These people are incredibly friendly and very helpful - here is a store with hundreds of different kinds of incense - which do you want? how do you choose?
They are incredibly knowledgeable about the incense - how it smells, how it is made, what ingredients are used, and will light it for you so you can smell it burning.
I've travelled extensively in Japan and am used to buying incense there, I've never found a store in Japan as helpful as Kohshi. -
Review from Molly c.
12/28/2011
a charming little spot to browse, find gifts, discover ... one find & purchase : a beautifully-crafted, tiny, artisan wooden spinning top.
the proprietor was engaging, friendly, cheerful & helpful.
from cute japanese mugs with animal characters to charcoal soaps to incense to lunchboxes - this newer shop in japantown will now go on my permanent, yearly visitation rotation. -
Review from Galen W.
Alameda, CA
1/20/2012
A friend of mine walked in here and bought the cutest tea set for two. They have a variety of teas and are very nice and helpful. Well worth the trip up to here
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Review from Albert L.
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
MOM WOULD BE PROUD!
If your room smells like crap, then this is a great place to pick up some incense products to help freshen it up. Came here today and the owners of Kohshi were very friendly and didn't try to up-sell any unnecessary items. (They are even fluent in Japanese, which amazed me) They suggested many samples of popular scents but in the end, my girlfriend chose the Brazilian Mango Grapefruit. -
Review from Virlie B.
Portland, OR
8/21/2011
Mr. Sugimotosan is a friendly guy. He's very knowledgeable about scents and how to describe them and how to use them as well. He knows how to talk to customers and I for one, just loved asking him questions about the producst in his store because he doesn't mind telling you everything he knows. Very genuine, fun person.
Mr. Jay was also nice. He even let us try some incense so we can smell the way it smells when it's actually burning. Very helpful. He knows the origin of the different companies they get some of their products from. He speaks softly so, heads up.
The store itself is small, but has a vast array of perfumes and scents, from rollerballs, sprays, soaps, body wash, incense, incense holders, fans, bento and so much more. We purchased two different kinds of incense (and I have one lit right now) charcoal soaps ( great for my skin because it really does clean very well) and my awesome yellow panda bento box that's microwaveable.
I would definitely come back again whenever I can, and I can confidently recommend them to anyone.
Domo Arigatou Sugimoto-san and Jay! -
Review from Charles U.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 7/27/2011
I LOVE THIS STORE!!! Kotaro and Jay are both incredible to work with, and have always treated me with such dignity and respect! I drive from Fremont to San Francisco for all my incense and Buddhist altar needs.
Kotaro was kind enough to special order an item for me, based on a description alone. It arrived quicker than he expected, and it was PRECISELY what I wanted! Amazing customer service, wonderful people, and such a beautiful store!
Thank you Kotaro-san and Jay-san for the service you provide to Japantown and the SF Bay Area!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/23/2011
I happened upon this incense store after buying at Asakichi, and wished I had found this store… Read more »
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Review from Russell D.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I recently moved to LPH and love going to Japan Center! I just happened to walk into Kohshu, it is a small space but lots of great products. Two gentlemen were working, one with another customer. The other gentlemen that helped me was awesome, asking enough questions to get a good idea of what I might want. I sampled several incense and decided on a great scent. I noticed a display of soap on the counter and as I examined the soap, the gentleman helping me explained the soap and I was sold. The incense is great my partner really liked the scent. The soap is really great, my partner loves it! It makes our skin feel so soft
Check out this place! -
Review from Manuel W.
Seattle, WA
5/2/2011
I wanted some incense and the dude hooked me up. I didn't know what types of incense I liked, so I asked for some recommendations for something with a manly, pine-y flavor. He hooked me up with some good stuff.
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Review from T N.
Los Angeles, CA
9/22/2010
I purchased a box of bath salts and a cat shaped incense holder here.
Mr. Sugimoto kindly wrapped the salts in such an attractive way it made the humble present look all the more special. The incense holder is just adorable beyond description.
Even though I only purchased two items I received sample incense and matches.
Come to Kohshi for a variety of incense, gifts and SUPERIOR customer service. -
Review from kate w.
5/12/2011
this is a pretty great store. they have tons of incense in unique and beautiful scents, and the employee who helped me was very courteous, knowledgeable and helpful. he let me sample a bunch of incense, and tried to show me things that matched my tastes.
i am no incense virgin, but he pointed me towards some scents i would've probably overlooked, but ended up really loving! they also have some perfume, candles and other home fragrance items.
very nice store...i can't wait to visit it again. -
Review from ROMMEL M.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/15/2010
Wow! You should not miss this store in Japan town in San Francisco!
If you love Japanese products, gifts, incense, tea cups, art work, etc .... then you may want to check out KOHSHI!
It is a modest size store with lots of items to purchase. I just want to buy every single one of them... :-)
Kohshi is a great place to buy Japanese gifts for family and friends. I know for sure that I will be shopping here this holiday season.
Great customer service and very friendly owners and staff.
I will be back soon! :-) -
Review from Brice C.
Napa, CA
10/18/2010
AHHHHHHH INCENSE!
You can smell this place a good 10 feet before you walk in, which is both good and bad. Good because you know you found what you wanted, bad because by the time you get in you are so overwhelmed with smells you are making a dash for the coffee beans they have in various places inside the store.
If you want Japanese incense, they likely will have it, whatever it is you want. I ended up with some small packets of rose and they gave me a small sample of acacia and matches to go with my purchase. On the Mall's website this store is in they have a 10% off coupon which while isn't much it'll cover the cost of taxes and a bit off the top of your purchase.
These guys have a LOT of incense and offered to light whatever we wanted as these things do smell differently lit than unlit. -
Review from Aelia D.
Fremont, CA
11/25/2010
When we first came in, we were looking for soy candles for a Christmas gift. We figured we'd poke around a little, and with luck find something we like. What we were not expecting was the level of service we received. We were able to smell things, touch things, and really get a feel for what we were getting.
We came back again, later, and received service which was just as good. The store is well stocked, the employees are clearly knowledgeable and passionate, and everything is amazing. I have never been so impressed by a store as I was by Kohshi's. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Oakland, CA
6/30/2008
How in the world did I forget to review this glorious, hidden establishment?!?
I came in here about 10 months ago, to kill some time prior to a waxing appointment (the genius of Liz Dulcich is right next door).
The owners were so incredibly helpful I couldn't leave without buying not only some incredible incense, but a cool wall hanging as well.
They carry an incredible assortment of authentic Japanese incense. Everything from traditional temple incense to the floral, sweetly fragrant Sakura Blossom or Lychee.
I can find things here that I can find nowhere else in the city. It's a one-stop-incense-shop. And the service is just incredible. You can smell everything burn before you buy it and the prices are on-par.
If you're over the Nag Champa of it all, then this is your spot. Worth the trip to Marina-ville to check it out!
P.S. It's also a floral studio ~ they sell gorgeous bunches of flowers and arrangements. -
Review from Brian D.
Oakland, CA
9/30/2009
Incense boutique here in SF!!
I got a nice clean and basic sandalwood (I requested the kind they burn in the Jodo Shinshu temples), and a slightly spicier one more like what they use in Shingon. I stayed away from the more perfumy ones, but they definitely have those!
Their selection is amazing. It can be a little overwhelming, but don't be scared; they will help you and give you advice.
I also got an awesome cast-iron burner that burns up to 4 sticks in a vertical way. Because I have goth damage I wanted the one that looks like it belongs in a butsudan, but they have more ornate ones as well as a trendy tiny one that looks like a little metal bean.Listed in: Japanese Supplies
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Review from Tony L.
San Mateo, CA
12/29/2009
I went into this small shop a few months back even though I didn't buy anything, it had a lot of interesting things. Then a couple days ago, I decided that my bedroom needed a new scent since I was growing tired of the candles I had. I wanted to try out something new.
I looked up some incense places on yelp and found asakichi's incense shop with their 5 star reviews...I automatically thought it was this place because of the service and how things were presented in the store. However I was wrong...this place is way better than asakichi's. My gf and I went to both places to compare.
i knew nippon kodo came out with a new gardenia scent and we asked about it at asakichi's but the guy said that none exists and did not recommend anything nor was he helpful at all. however at kohshi's they had the gardenia scent in stock. they even offered some good advice and alternatives since we did not really like the scent of the incense.
the service at kohshi's was far superior to asakichi's. as soon as we stepped into kohshi's, we were greeted with a smile and were asked if we needed help, but at asakichi's, they did not even greet us when we were the only ones in the store nor they did ask if we needed any service.
prices are pretty similar at kohshi's and asakichi's as well. the stock at kohshi's is pretty similar even though there is a much bigger selection of incenses and oils. they even have tea as well!
This is handsdown the best place to get incense in japantown and will be my place to get them from now on. if you want a good selection of incense, candles, or oils and want good, friendly service, then forget about asakichi's; kohshi's got all that and a bag of chips (they dont really sell chips). -
Review from Patrick C.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 2/23/2009
Helpful friendly staff willing to find gifts for yourself or others.
Great selection of incense, soaps, and unique gift items.
I try and stop by every time I'm in the Japan Center! Highly recommended.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/24/2007
Every time I need good Japanese incense I come here. They have a lot of things folks don't have in… Read more »
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Review from Julia H.
Milpitas, CA
2/15/2009
So what does one do when one is at Japantown and looking for some new incense to add to a growing collection?
Why, go to Kohshi, of course!
I had accompanied a friend to the store in a part of Japantown I normally pass by since I usually head straight to Kinokuniya. We had wandered around Japantown, chatting and exploring new items for sale when she took me to Kohshi. She deliberately left Kohshi for last because knowing how we roll, we were bound to leave with a lot of incense!
Walking into the store, it struck me as bright and spacious with two friendly gentleman who greeted us with a smile. Now having worked retail, I appreciate it when I get a smile and an inquiry of assistance. It's something that makes the shopping experience more fun.
Jay was the one who helped me, answering all my questions and showing my friend and I various types of incense. It was awesome! Although my collection is not as vast as my friend's, we both found a few things that we liked such as the Tensei and Pink Magnolia. Kotaro, the other owner, was also very helpful and packaged up our selections. My friend and I had a fantastic time trying different scents, practically smelling over half the store!
I had a wonderful shopping experience, thanks to Jay and Kotaro, and Kohshi quickly became of my top favorite places to shop at. I'm definitely coming back the next time I'm in Japantown.
So if you're a serious fan of incense or just a beginner, Kohshi's a really wonderful place to go. -
Review from Jackson Q.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2011
My other favorite incense shop! The folks working were so helpful and they threw in a boat load of samples. I tried out "Sumi Ink" which is a less-smoke/smokeless incense, and it was pretty nice. This is a great little spot for incense fans.
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Review from Jack R.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2008
Awesome selection of incense.
This is the best I've seen in the City. I met the owner Jay, who was able to help me find a great selection of incense. Jay knows his incense. Great prices. Great website where you can even order online. I plan on coming back! -
Review from A. H.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2010
This Shop.Is.A.Dorable.
As are the gentlemen who own it.
Stellar selection, attention to detail, as well as kind, genuine, thoughtful service.
If you are into incense, I assure you, this is your new favorite place.
Refined, and entirely devoid of hippy dippy mentality..
Tres magnifique! -
Review from Sooichi S.
San Jose, CA
8/12/2009
I will give more than 5 stars to Kohshi!
This is a REAL authentic Japanese incense and small gifts shop with very knowledgeable and friendly staffs.
I stop by here every time I go to Japan town to find something new.
Highly recommended! -
Review from Aya R.
Daly City, CA
1/6/2010
Wow! I never knew how great this place really is!! I always go to Japantown to shop, eat and take sticker pictures with my friends. ALWAYS. I've been going since the 8th grade, high school and now coming back from home during college days...
This small shop as a very WIDE array of incense. If you are looking for a particular kind DON'T be afraid to ask!! I bet they can help you find something you would like!
The shop owners were so gracious and helpful!! :D Made such a pleasant shopping experience. I want to go back and try out more incense when I come back from college. I'm going to make Kohshi a must stop for every single one of my visits.
Definitely won't hurt to stop by! Recommended!! -
Review from Linda N.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 3/10/2011
Update on my purchases: the owner Kotaro was nice enough to contact me regarding my bad experience with the bamboo diffusers purchased at his store to offer me a refund, which I am very happy about. My opinion towards these bamboo diffusers still stands because I feel that they are not of the best quality, but the customer service at Kohshi is great. -1 star for the product
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/7/2011
Ugh, I recently bought 2 bamboo diffusers from this store. I should've known better, but I was… Read more »
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Review from Emily T.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2009
This place is a tiny little incense shop located in the mall in Japantown, run by the nicest guys. I had a little time to kill before a movie (He's Just Not That Into You...skip it, btdubs) so I wandered into the mall. I constantly burn incense. Like, all the time. Basically, I'm obsessed. When one of my favorites was discontinued I fully stalked it on ebay. So anyway, this amazing little shop is full of incense, tons and tons. It's incense heaven. When I mentioned I love sandalwood, they pulled out bunches of different sandalwood flavor for my nose to savor. I picked two kinds. And as I was leaving, for no apparent reason, they gave me a tiny box of some type of high-end Japanese incense to take home and try. For free. Wow!! This place is so awesome for incense.
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Review from michael c.
San Francisco, CA
11/25/2007
I was just wandering around Chestnut Street in the Marina when I stumbled upon this little gem. They have a huge assortment of incense and at very reasonable prices for the high quality of the incense. The owners were very knowledgeable and helpful in explaining the different types of incense. I found many types of incense that I had not experienced before.
When I got home, I was able to visit their website and learn even more about the incense I purchased. I will definitely return to this store and try out some of their other incense. -
Review from Dean F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/10/2009
I was so mad when I found out Japan Incense in the Marina closed. Then I learned out they rebranded (more sophisticated look) and moved to Japan Town (obvious location). Great products, unique gifts and prices that are reasonable. The J-Town location is perfect, buses, accessible parking. A nice place to go, when you need to pick something up for a friend or need a little incense to pick up your spirit!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/7/2007 First to Review
Japan Incense is a hidden treasure of unique incense. The owners are passionate about their trade… Read more »
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Review from spender y.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2010
i love Kohshi. They have great selection of less-smoke incense which i adore. Kotaro and Jay are very friendly as always. Besides incense and incense accessories, they also carry unique Japanese art and crafts.
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Review from Julie R.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2009
Wow, I've never seen so much incense packed into one place. The owner(s) were really friendly & helpful, and will light any incense you would like to test. They also have some other nice tea & stationary things, I got a cute tea tin & a great deal on a cherry bark (on the outside, other wood on the inside) tea container for about half what it would normally cost (and it looks like a fancy $100 tea canister :).
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Review from R C.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2008
Looks like they are there no more....
"About our Chestnut Street store: We have temporarily closed our "brick and mortar" retail store in San Francisco's Marina District. We wish to thank our many friends and neighbors who came by to browse, explore some new incense, or just exchange information. We will miss your frequent visits and hope you keep in touch." -
Review from Ellen G.
Fremont, CA
8/9/2009
Fantastic place to buy incense, presents etc. in Japantown
As well you can order online
We accidentally walked in as they were closing.
Instead of rushing us, Hotoro-one of the owners burned a few different incenses to see which one we liked.
I highly recommend going to this NEW Incense shop. It's in the 2nd building from the SunDance Theater. You need to walk across Peace Plaza. You will always want to buy your incense there like I after one visit! -
Review from greg y.
Riverside, CA
9/22/2010
i am constantly on the lookout for premium quality incense worldwide and i have to say that for japanese incense, kohshi is definitely ' ichiban' in the US! Jay usually handles my online orders and without exception, the service is up to Japanese standards. my inquiries are courteously handled, my orders are gorgeously wrapped, and goods are dispatched quickly - the thoughtful samples are also welcomed. though i've never been to their sf shop,( i prefer to shop online as it saves gas, time, and stress), their website is so well set-up and maintained that you don't really need to go there (though i would like to visit one of these days). kohshi's is definitely better than any of the other incense purveyors in japantown!
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Review from Heniek H.
San Francisco, CA
6/26/2010
great selection, excellent service!
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Review from stephanie r.
Daly City, CA
2/16/2010
I don't write many reviews, but these guys at Kohshi deserve an especially honorable mention here. I love incense, especially Japanese ones. So when I went to Japan-Town for dinner last weekend, I noticed their store and decided to check it out. Not only does their store have the largest selection of Japanese incense I've ever seen (as well as other scents), these guys are most courteous, friendly and knowledgeable. They had so much patience and even stayed open late to answer our questions. These guys clearly love what they do and have a passion about sharing that with their customers. They generously lit samples of even the most expensive incense to give us different examples of different grades, etc. Can't wait to go back.
