Kurawankan Showroom: Hasami Town, Nagasaki Prefecture

There’s a small town located in the rural confines of Nagasaki prefecture called Hasami and it is considered to be one of the birthplaces of the ceramic industry in Japan, established in the 17th Century. The town feels like a step back into history. Seeing a community whose livelihood is fully intertwined with every facet of its famous ceramic industry is an amazing site whether you’re here for two days or 20 minutes.

If you do have the time, of course you should pop into 10 to 15 different ceramic shops, showcases, showrooms and kilns dotted throughout the Main Street and outlying dedicated pottery villages. However, many of my tours are shore excursions and thus time is of the essence and this is why I go to one pottery location called Kurawankan. It is located inside the Hasami pottery information center with the museum on the second floor and the showroom on the first floor.

Here you will find 30 different local artisian’s showcasing their ceramic wares. At the entrance you have a lot of stock that is heavily discounted and as you wander through each section, you get to read a little bit about the artists and see how beautiful and amazing this pottery really is. 

It’s quite incredible. I get many many customers who say they just want to get a look at the pottery because they have no room in their suitcase or that they're not interested but 99.99% of the time there is definitely one purchase at the minimum taking place. The ladies in the store are so helpful and they will wrap your most valuable assets to make it transport worthy.

It's an incredible place and an amazing experience to see one of Japanese most cultural assets so elegantly and professionally presented to the world.

Please check out the Karawankan Showroom here on the map below:

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Ito Sai Sai Farmers Market: Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture

Ito Sai Sai Farmer's Market is a very popular shopping experience that specializes in locally sourced produce, flowers, meat, and seafood. Itoshima is renowned for its healthy livestock products such as Itoshima beef and pork and also boasts the largest catch of wild red sea bream in Japan. 

Visitors can enjoy fresh fruit at lower prices than supermarkets and a great selection of flowers and plants.  In fact, during the right season you can get not only the freshest fruit and vegetables at the highest quality but also pricing that is so reasonable you will not be able to just buy 1. 

Case in point is the Strawberry season in Japan from December to mid April. I can guarantee that you will not have any better than what you can get here in Fukuoka.  Our special type of Strawberry that is specifically grown to be SWEET, is called the Amaou. I cannot tell you how many past clients have argued that the strawberries from their hometown region are the best they have ever tasted.  In these cases 100% of them stopped arguing as soon as the strawberry touched their lips. The question that has to be asked, is can you stop a just one pack of strawberries, I think not!

The handmade corner features sausages and tofu, jams, sauces and more, as well as a plentiful selection of bento boxes and sushi. I use this option on sunny days and we have a picnic at a nearby park.  Not only some of the most delicious sushi that you can have but get some Vitamin D and fresh air to boot!

Please check out Ito Sai Sai Farmers Market here on a map below:

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Let's shop

Plentiful

Flowers anyone?

Always packed

Fresh fish

Wagyu

Lots to observe

Amaou Strawberries

Satisfied

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Saraku Sand Bath Hall: Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture

The Saraku sand baths in Kagoshima prefecture one of those activities that if you get the opportunity to try, you must take it with both hands.  It's one of those experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life, and although it may be uncomfortable, or you may be unwilling at first, there is absolutely no regret after experiencing the power of mother nature, and it’s infused benefits that you will feel from the sands volcanic activity.

It’s quite a simple process, you are given a Yukata, which is a summer kimono, you put that on over your undergarments, you walk down to the beach, the friendly staff tell you where to lie down, and they gently cover you with volcanic sand which impacts its warmth and resulting health benefits within minutes. It doesn’t take too long for the heat to build up and what this does in fact is get the blood circulating around the body to remove toxins to start sweating out the waste products that are causing issues in relation to inflammation and arthritis and other health issues.

Once you have finished, normally between 15 to 20 minutes, you walk back up to the change rooms take a shower and then have the opportunity to soak in the Onsen (hot volcanic baths)  to again receive more medicinal benefits. You will have a modesty towel to cover yourselves somewhat, but you know what they say when in Rome do what the Romans do and for all intents and purposes, no one is looking at you. It’s just we are not used to public bathing in western culture.

If the public bathing is an absolute no, we do have the opportunity to ask for private showers, but we will have to use an excuse that it’s for religious if not medical reasons. All I can say is this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and your body will thank you for hours if not days afterwards  it’s an experience the Japanese take for granted but for us international tourist it’s an incredible experience in a win-win situation for everyone. 

Please check out the Saraku Sand Bath Hall here on a map below:

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Welcome to Ibusuki

Seperate bathing of course

The beach scene in March

This is a centuries old health experience

Views are also spectacular

Off they go!

WOW!

How was it?

Loved it!

All smiles

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