Kintoshi Kyoto - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Kintoshi Kyoto, founded in 2022, is a Japanese brand that claims to weave cultural, craft and landscape cues into limited-run mechanical watches. She is part of "La Nouvelle Vague" of japanese brands that propose a new vision of watchmaking.

Kyoto as a language: Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-yaki and the ginkgo leaf

The creative brief leans on Kyoto references: Kiyomizu-yaki ceramic hues for the Arashiyama line, ginkgo (Ginkyo) motifs, and partnerships with textile crafts (kumihimo). The result aims for contemporary watches in which material and color explicitly narrate a slice of Japanese culture.

Arashiyama, Ginkyo, Tsuru: families, sizes and editions

The current lineup centers on three pillars — Arashiyama (Kyoto-inspired elegance), Ginkyo (ginkgo leaf) and Tsuru (black-and-white crane) — released as small, numbered batches with pre-orders opening by model. Start by picking the universe (landscape/ceramics, vegetal symbol, crane motif), then choose the tone and wrist presence.

• Kintoshi Kyoto Arashiyama — “Elegance” series with Kiyomizu-yaki color cues; editions advertised as limited (e.g., 100 pieces). Asking prices around USD 1,750.
• Kintoshi Kyoto Ginkyo — Ginkgo-centric variant (ref. KT1460001A), on pre-order around USD 1,650. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• Kintoshi Kyoto Tsuru — Black-and-white sector dial with raised Japanese numerals (37 mm reported); runs advertised as limited.

Specs, positioning and reach

Owner-submitted cards indicate compact cases (~37 mm) and automatic movements for certain models; treat these as indicative pending consolidated official spec sheets. Pricing broadly spans ~USD 1,650–1,750 by series, with a direct-to-consumer bias via the brand’s webshop and limited “drop” cycles.

Conclusion

Kintoshi Kyoto suits microbrand fans who want a clear link to Japanese aesthetics (Kyoto-derived colors and textures) in modest sizes. Pick Kintoshi Kyoto Arashiyama for its Kiyomizu-yaki palette, Kintoshi Kyoto Ginkyo for a strong vegetal symbol, or Kintoshi Kyoto Tsuru for a bold black-and-white graphic dial. If you’re weighing size, availability or day-to-day legibility, rely on Dialicious customer reviews to match style with real-world use.

(Updated August 2025)