HAKOTOU was founded in 1891. Since its establishment, it has operated as a workshop crafting paulownia boxes for storing Kyoto's traditional crafts, serving as a modest yet significant supporting player in Kyoto's traditional industries. In 2000, HAKOTOU opened a gallery specializing in paulownia boxes for individual customers. Along with developing and selling a variety of painted paulownia boxes in different sizes, they continue to propose new lifestyles that incorporate paulownia boxes into modern living.