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.
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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:
Hasami Ceramics Park Nagasaki is a great location to start your day and pursue all things ceramic and porcelain. Hasami is a town with a population of 15 000 citizens and is surrounded by mountains and rolling hills of greenery. Although it is very popular with the tourists it has still been able to maintain its rich history and strike a balance between traditional life and achieving a certain amount of modernism.
Hasami town has kept its tradition of producing daily-use ceramics for over four hundred years. To date, Hasami ceramics have 13% of the domestic market share in ceramics for everyday use in Japan. The Ceramics Park, which was coordinated by the legendary ceramic designer Masahiro Mori is definitely one of the highlights of the entire region. The park is extremely well laid out, has an easy walking course and allows for many amazing photos.
I was able to gain a lot of knowledge during my visit to the Hasami Ceramics Park not because of any signs posted in English but because everything is well organized and simple to process the information. I never knew that there so many types of kilns that existed and for one it was a great lesson in the history of pottery making in Japan and all over the world.
Anyone interested in pottery will absolutely enjoy the Hasami Ceramics Park, lots of history and information to be obtained. Along with all the cafes and small ceramic shops located within the Hasami District the Hasami Ceramic Park is included in all Private Day Tours of the region.
Please check out Hasami Ceramics Park in Nagasaki on a map:
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Lots to see and do
The bottle kilns are impressive
A cut away version of the kilns
Lots of kilns to see and touch
Lots of color
The name says it all!
If you are not a big fan of the outdoor facilities and or the weather is not kind to us on the day, then we can just concentrate on the ceramics themselves. There is a beautifully arranged display area inside that offers a variety of many different pottery styles.
There are basic everyday items as well as higher end keepsakes that I am sure will impress you.
I have had hundreds of clients pass thru this region of Nagasaki and say tyhat they are only looking and don't intend to buy anything but in the end a few magnificent pieces were taken back with them.
I dare you to say the same.
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Fabulous products
Lots to choose from
Amazing designs
Ceramic lover
Great souvenir choices
Hasami Pottery is extremely famous
Seasonal displays
A nice shopping experience
Check out the videos below of Hasami Ceramic Park Nagasaki:
Hasami Ceramics Museum is a place that all Ceramic and Porcelain enthusiasts should visit whilst traveling in and around Nagasaki Prefecture. Not only does it display Japanese and specifically Hasami Porcelain but it takes you on a historical tour of ceramics from around the globe and how these influences and techniques from abroad have made it all the way to Japan and into the Hasami Ceramic Community!
The Museum has been accumulating ceramics and porcelain from every corner of Kyushu with a focus on Hizen Porcelain. On display in the museum are the period features and the history of Kyushu porcelain. The museum also showcases the art work of modern day artisans. The exhibition rooms are separated into five where visitors can acquire a deeper understanding of the character, art work and history of the ceramics of Kyushu
Hasami Porcelain is characterized by its beauty of pure white colors and the delicately painted decoration glazed with a blue pigment. The grace of openwork in a wickerwork design and mesh design is unique to Hasami porcelain. Originally it was produced for common people, and has cultivated a long tradition of beauty. Both the traditional skills to produce the porcelain and the craftworker’s motivation to hand down the tradition are surely found today. The manufacturers have improved and changed the shapes of the products so that they are catered more to people’s needs at that time. It has been a very adaptable product. Hasami porcelain has a history of 400 years, which also tells us a history of food culture in Japan.
I really enjoyed my self guided tour through the Hasami Ceramic Museum and wish to come back again, I am sure you will feel the same. It has to be noted that because of Hasami`s rural location, public transport will not be suffice, a private tour will have to be organised to get to this very remote location.
Click on the link to see Hasami Ceramics Museum on this map:
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Ceramics from all over the world
Beautifully presented!
All different sizes and shapes
Great presentation techniques
This is the place to come
Please check out this video of the Hasami Ceramics Park Nagasaki Museum below:
Arita Porcelain Park, although not technically in Nagasaki, borders Nagasaki so closely that one could be forgiven to think that you were still in the same Prefecture. A mere hop, skip and jump from Nagasaki and you are in Saga and one of the most famous pottery producing areas in all of Japan.
Arita is known for producing Arita Porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan. It also holds the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, called the Arita Ceramic Fair. This event is held from April 29th to May 5th every year and has thousands of stores and stalls lining the six-kilometer main street.
One of the best well known places is the Arita Porcelain Park Nagasaki, where a replica of Dresden's Zwinger (Baroque Palace) houses a collection of Arita and European porcelain. A very interesting place to wander around and appreciate real beauty, not only are the buildings wonderful to gaze at but the blue and white porcelain pieces on display are to be seen to be believed. A MUST for all art lovers!
I spent around 2 hours here just wandering and looking at all things beautiful. There was so many things that I wanted to buy but alas I was not cashed up sufficiently to buy at my hearts request. Without a doubt I will be back as the Porcelain pieces keep calling for my return and no doubt a large cash flow will be needed at that time. There are just too many wonderful things to see and buy here so please come prepared and you won't leave disappointed!
Check out the Arita Porcelain Park below on a map:
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Picture Perfect Scene
Artistic
European Styling
Plenty of interesting displays
Some porcelain figurines
Check out the Arita Porcelain Park below in the video:
Hasami Town and their well known cafes are without a doubt the reason why so many people head to Hasami. The variety of products are amazing with everything and anything that your heart desires available, of course ceramics and porcelain are at the top of the list but table wares, cutlery, accessories, clothing and any type of knick knack possible is at your disposal.
However it is the atmosphere and retro look and feel of the shops and the area as a whole that really creates a strong community vibe that attracts people from all over Japan and the world to its area again and again. The step back from our real life which is hectic, fast paced and stress related to images from the past and our youth where one can enjoy all there is to offer on show without having to feel guilty about it is where Hasami Town really excels.
There is something comforting about experiencing this sort of shopping style, strolling between shops, enjoying a slow paced atmosphere, not being rushed by the shop attendants and generally enjoying the whole experience is what it should be like all the time. Its also very interesting just to people watch at this sort of establishment as you expect just to see mostly retirees and elderly customers but realistically there is a huge cross section of the community present and inspecting all things Hasami.
Once your shopping experience has come to the end or just want to take a break between shops, there are numerous cafes whereby a coffee and or cake is calling your name. The Japanese put all their effort and gusto into everything they do and you can bet that your choice of cake is a gastronomical masterpiece. The only question is whether you can stop at just one piece of cake?
A Private Nagasaki Tour is necessary in order to get to Hasami. Public transportation in rural Japan is too inconsistent and a group tour will leave you disappointed in not being able to see all the small and very intricate shops that are dotted all over the Town.
Here is Hasami, Nagasaki on a map below:
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Simple but tasteful!
Simple designs
Plenty of things to buy
Many different types of porcelain
Very inviting and warm
Has good English Information as well.
Always lots of customers
Check out this video below of Hasami Town and their fabulous Cafes:
