Overview
・In this private guided tour, you’ll visit some of Arita’s craft studios, where skilled artisans create porcelain masterpieces. After learning about Arita ware, try your luck at a treasure hunt, and get the chance to take home some prized ceramics!
Highlights
・Watch artisans at work in Arita’s Kuromuta-Obo district.
・See an actual climbing kiln, as well as other different types of kilns.
・Learn about Arita’s different porcelain-making techniques.
・Try your luck at a fun treasure hunt – take home Arita porcelain wares that catch your eye.
・Get insights and fascinating information about Arita from a local expert.
Detail
The town of Arita in Saga Prefecture is renowned for its highly appraised porcelain, Arita ware, which has been exported across the world ever since the Edo period (1603–1867).
This private guided tour will take you to Kuromuta-Obo district to discover its secrets. Visiting this quaint town hidden in the mountains of Kyushu is a must-do for every pottery enthusiast, but many travelers just explore Arita’s Uchiyama district, as it is more accessible.
The Kuromuta-Obo district has a high concentration of kilns, both historic and modern.
After a visit to the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, an experienced, English-speaking guide will take you to two traditional kilns in the Kuromuta district: Shingama (or Gen-emon) and Kouraku. From facilities to products, each kiln boasts its own unique style and characteristics.
At Shingama, you’ll see an actual ‘noborigama’ (a traditional climbing kiln) and learn how items are fired in the kiln. Then, at Gen-emon, you’ll watch artisans at work, learn how craftsmen decorate porcelain entirely by hand, and see a historical collection that includes ceramics from the Edo period.
Finally, at the modern Kouraku Kiln, you’ll learn how tradition and innovation come together. Here, you’ll play a fun treasure-hunting game. Search the facility for new and old porcelain, and take home as much as you can fit in a basket!
Schedule
This tour has two available start times: 10:00 and 14:00.
10:00 / 14:00 Meet your guide at Arita Station
10:10 / 14:10 Visit the Kyushu Ceramic Museum
11:00 / 15:00 Shingama or Gen-emon
11:30 / 15:30 Visit Kouraku Kiln for a tour and treasure hunt
12:30 / 16:30 Tour ends at Arita Station
