Arita Sera Porcelain Shops: Arita Town- Saga Prefecture

One of the biggest issues I had in the past was finding the right Porcelain shops for the right customer.  It is extremely different to know what type of ceramics someone might have a tendency to be impressed by, therefore it was necessary to frequent many different shops to sample the pottery style of the area in general and the artisian in particular.  As you can probably guess, this takes up a lot of precious time traveling from place to place and obviously very hit and miss.  This is a problem that I don't have to worry about anymore!

These days I head straight to the Arita Sera shops and just let the clients roam at their hearts content.  There are over 20 ceramic speciality shops, so there is a lot to see and appreciate.  You can window shop, enter as many places as you like to get up and personal with the products (touch and feeling is just as important as how visually appealing the products are) and if you wish a private talk with one of the shop owners can be arranged.

The shops are open 365 days a year and it can be a very popular place on weekends. Our weekday tour don't encounter this problem, you will have all the space and time needed to fully satisfy your ceramic wants and needs.

Please check below to see the Arita Sera Porcelain shops on a map:

 

Please click on the photos below to see more information about the Arita Sera Porcelain shops.

It's well signposted

Even the map is made of Porcelain

Plenty of room to roam

John Lennon anyone?

There is a lot of good ceramics.

Sale items are available too!

Fancy plates

It's all about the color!

There is some great stuff here

Plenty to see and do

Please look at these videos below to learn more about what the Arita Sera Porcelain shops have to offer ceramic lovers:

Tozan Shrine: Arita Town, Saga Prefecture

You know you are in Ceramic Territory when the Shrines are decked out in Porcelain designs.  It's actually quite remarkable for such a religious and hence traditional institution to allow these designs but when you think about it, it's actually a marketing masterpiece that will attract more customers to the region to see something unique.

The Tozan Shrine is specifically located just above a train station is its easy to find but of course you just have to be careful when crossing the tracks.  But don't worry since we are in the remote countryside of Kyushu there aren't too many trains in a daily routine.  Walking towards the Shrine is a cultural event in itself.  You literally have to stop and look intensely at every statue, pillar, column and of course the main torii entrance gates that feature at every Shinto Shrine in Japan.

The Shrine is also dedicated to Lee Sam Pei, the Korean Potter (who was allegedly brought to Japan by force in the 17th century) who is the person that developed and started the 1st Ceramic Industry in Japan, specifically here in Arita, Saga Prefecture.  His memorial statue is located up on a hill behind the shrine and although it is a great view up there of the entire town, unless you have a specific reason to do so, visiting the statue is not a moving moment at all.

I recommend this site as its centrally located near many other attractions off a main street and it's obviously the only Shrine in Japan that is decorated just so.  You miss it here, and you will not see another one, period!

Please check out the Tozan Shrine in Arita Town on a map:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Purification time

Porcelain is incredible

Even small is impressive

Interesting roof tiles

Too many details to fathom

The torii gate is impressive

The size of the vases are massive

Check out the detail

Has a magnificent view

Please click on the video below to see more about Tozan Shrine:

Kyushu Ceramic Museum: Arita, Saga Prefecture

The Kyushu Ceramic Museum although technically not in Nagasaki, shows various styles of Pottery not just from Nagasaki but also from all the regions around Kyushu including the big 4 of Arita, Hasami, Mikawachi and Imari.

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

If you want to experience and understand the history of pottery from the area, there is definitely enough English provided to give you plenty of background information and to allow you to delve into the finer details of all this regarding Kyushu Ceramics.

Lots of exhibits

Without a doubt any pottery enthusiast would need at least 2 hours here at the Kyushu Ceramic Museum in order to fully check out all the attractions and information provided within the showcases.  I really had to check my time in order to stay within my scheduled time, which was 1 hour.  I will probably have to return again someday to really get the most out of my visit as it felt like i left too many things on the table

Information about ceramics

Huge selection

The range of products and displays at the Kyushu Ceramic Museum are as diverse and wide ranging as you would expect from a highly rated institution.  They get visitors from all over Japan and many more from abroad and this reflects in their efforts to provide as much English signposting and subtitling.

Once you have finished inside there is a lovely garden outside that deserves a stroll and a wander around.  Very peaceful and with many cherry trees, so if your visit coincides with Spring then you will be able to see the cherry blossoms as well.





Well worth a visit!

Please click here to see Kyushu Ceramic Museum below on a map:

 

Check out these 2 videos to see more about the Kyushu Ceramic Museum:

Izumiyama Quarry: Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu

Approx. 400 years ago, in 1616, a group of Korean potters, led by Yi Sam Pyeong, discovered porcelain stone at this location in Arita Town and became the first in Japan to successfully fire porcelain. 

The porcelain production, which began around the beginning of the 17th century and grew exponentially, consisted of Koimari wares which fans of early Imari wares just had to have, that also enchanted the royals and aristocrats of Europe. It all began here, at the porcelain stone deposit discovered at Izumiyama. For that reason, Izumiyama can certainly be considered a treasure trove. 

Nowadays the quarry is not in operation and has been partitioned off with a fence but tours are still held here. This is a spot which shouldn't be missed by pottery enthusiasts, as you are sure to capture a sense of being in the cradle of Arita-yaki. 

At the quarry today hardly any productive operation is done but the appearance of the mountain and its breathtaking scenery coupled with its long and productive history really is an awe inspiring place that even non pottery fans will agree is very special indeed.

I arrived at Izumiyama late in the evening on a cool early autumn day, the weather and the backdrop of the extensive quarry definitely had a strong and powerful effect on me.  I am sure anyone who actually has a pottery background will be able to feel this vibe and have a long and lasting memory of this place.

A great location for everyone to enjoy.

Please look below to see the Izumiyama Quarry on a map:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Raw product

scenic beauty

well signposted

Has a special aura

Nature personified

This is porcelain

Please click on the videos below to see more about the Izumiyama Quarry in Arita, Saga Prefecture.