This is UTSUWABI editorial staff.
This time, we will bring you a report on Arita Pottery Market.
If you like pottery, you've always wanted to visit Arita Pottery Market.
Finally realized during Golden Week
2024!
I went on the same day as the Hasami Pottery Festival.
In this article, I will tell you about the places I actually visited and how I went around them, reflecting my regrets that I was not able to visit them all.
I want to go to Arita at least once, and I want to participate next year! Please read it.
What is Arita Pottery Market
A large-scale pottery fair held every year from April 29th to May 5th in Arita Town, Saga Prefecture.
More than 1 million pottery fans gather from all over the country, including Kyushu.
A wide range of products
from traditional works to young artists. There are also stalls by makers outside of Arita.
How to get around Arita Pottery City It is important to gather information in advance!
The venue for the Arita Pottery Fair is not just one place like Hasami, but the entire town.
What's more, there
are 400 shops on both sides of the 4km road, so you have to walk all the way.
That's why it's important to collect information in advance!
The official website of Arita Pottery City is very
complete.
It was very helpful as it was constantly updated from the morning of the day, including information on
parking lot occupancy.
Also, each pottery's SNS is also a good place to check for deals and other information.
Gathering information before going is essential so that you can choose a pottery without regrets.
Decide your walking course
Check out the store opening information on the official website of Arita Pottery City.
There are so many, so if you find the store you're looking for, you might want to search by entering the store name.
I checked the map and learned how the shops were arranged.
Also, if you go by car, where you park is also important.
The key is to choose a place that won't put strain on
your legs, where you start and how you return.
Decide in advance the store you will go to
It takes a long time to go to a pottery shop, so my family strictly told me to narrow down the shops I go to...
When
I went there, in addition to the existing shops, I also noticed tents of artists from other production areas, such as
Bizen ware, so in the end things didn't go as planned and I ran out of time.
To avoid such a situation, we recommend that you give yourself plenty of time to visit.
If you are a pottery
lover who is participating for the first time, be sure to set aside a day.
Be fully prepared for walking, hydration & UV protection
Recently, the climate in May is almost like summer. Therefore, bring drinks to stay hydrated.
You can buy it at food stalls and vending machines, but it's inconvenient if you don't have it when you want it.
It's also a good idea to have items to protect you from UV rays, such as parasols, hats, and sunscreen.
First time at Arita Pottery Market There are so many things to see and not enough time!
After spending time in Hasami until lunch, we took a shuttle bus to Arita.
After touring JR Arita Station,
we started choosing utensils.
From here, I will introduce the highlights and the state of the pottery market.
Highlight 1: Old townscape
What I like about it is that you can shop while walking through the streets of traditional merchant houses.
The
historic building with a tiled roof is mostly a store made of pottery.
This is a sight unique to Arita, which is
a delight for pottery lovers.
In 1991, it was designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of
Traditional Buildings.
Highlight 2: Variety of products and great prices unique to Pottery Market
The appeal is that you can purchase products from well-known potteries and brands at discounted prices in the tableware section of department stores.
Also, there are tableware with legs and lids that are likely to be used in Japanese restaurants at the outlet!
It's also a good idea to look for a type of pottery that you don't have at home at a pottery market.
Highlight 3 : Different displays for each store
The displays at each store are also one of the highlights.
The photo shows the inside of
Imamura Seito. It is also wonderful to display sake vessels together with vases.
It's a small thing, but there are many
hints for everyday life.
Introducing the Arita Pottery Market
Fukusen Kiln's pottery box is popular among table coordinators.
There are many types of lid patterns, and it
would be nice to have them in roses.
I also found some utensils with the word "Fuku" on them that are also available at UTSUWABI!
Lots of containers with the popular striped long-tailed tit drawn on them! It's dyed so it's easy for adults to use too.
At one shop, a local student played the ``Wankin''.
Using a bowl as a musical instrument is a sight unique to
pottery towns!
Even though the bowls look similar at first glance, it is strange that they have different
sounds. The clear high notes had a very nice tone.
I went to Arita Pottery Market and it was a wonderful pottery market that I would like to visit again
The main store of Koransha that I wanted to go to. I took a photo of just the exterior as a souvenir.
The Arita Pottery Market will be held until 5pm.
Furthermore, since the pedestrian paradise closes at 16:30, I
only planned to go to the shops I had checked in advance...
When I visited the site, I wanted to see everything, so I entered the stores in order from the beginning, and as
expected, I ended up running out of time.
My only regret is that I dashed past the shops near Kami-Arita
Station, which was my goal.
However, there were a lot of attractive vessels and shops, so I really enjoyed it.
It's a luxury to have the
time to choose from many different types of pottery while strolling through the old townscape.
I have never seen
any other place with so many utsuwa shops.
I realized firsthand that Arita is a major production area for pottery.
If you live in the neighborhood, you'll
definitely want to hang out there.
There are potteries in Arita that have stores in the suburbs, so I hope to be
able to visit them again.
Go to Arita Sera on the last day of your trip! There are also stylish shops and cafes, so you'll be very satisfied
The day after visiting Hasami and Arita pottery markets, I went sightseeing in Hirado at my family's request.
On
the last day of my trip, I stopped by Arita Sera, which I had not been able to go to the other day.
What kind of place is Arita Sera? Introducing its charm
Arita Sera is a general term for the area where about 20 ceramic shops and hotels are located.
Like a shopping mall, there are shops on both sides of the street, so you can shop efficiently.
This is
definitely a recommended spot to stop by when you don't have time.
Quoted from official website
There are many well-known brands and pottery shops in Tokyo's department stores and general stores, where you can purchase tasteful pottery at pottery market prices.
Also, there are many relatively new shops, and the interiors and displays are stylish!
Despite the small number
of stores, it was quite a sight to see.
Open all year round, 800 parking spaces are free!
It's also a good
place to look for souvenirs on the way to the airport.
Address: 2351-169 Akasaka-hei, Arita-cho, Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga Prefecture
Business hours: 10:00-17:00 *Varies
depending on some stores
Closed days: None
Access:
15 minutes from the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway
"Hasami-Arita" IC
5 minutes by car from JR "Arita" station
Official website:
https://www.arita.gr.jp/
We will introduce some shops below.
KIHARA
KIHARA is characterized by its modern design.
All of the modern art-like designs that you'll want to display are
wonderful.
Easy to use, such as those that can be stacked, is also attractive.
Official website: https://e-kihara.co.jp/
Momota Touen
Momota Touen's shop is known for its elegant chrysanthemum-shaped vessels, ``Palace Plate.''
The interior
decoration and displays are elaborate, making it feel like visiting a gallery.
Official website: https://1616arita.jp/
MARUBUN SHOP & BAKERY CAFE
A tableware shop and bakery cafe run by Arita ware trading company Marubun.
The back of the store is a cafe
where you can also eat bread purchased from the bakery.
A space with high ceilings that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed.
I bought a pistachio and chocolate
croissant as a souvenir.
Official website: https://www.marubun-arita.co.jp/
with style shop / YAMACHU
The store of Yamachu, a trading company specializing in Arita ware and Hasami ware, is more like an interior shop than
a tableware shop.
I was impressed by Yumiko Iihoshi's selection of products, such as her utensils.
Official website: https://yamachu-arita.com/
Loots from Arita Pottery Marcket
The photo shows what I purchased at Arita Pottery Market.
The small green bowl was purchased at Kinshodo. If you look closely, the relief is beautiful.
The container in
the center with the message “Beware of Ourselves” belongs to Yuki Inoue.
I purchased it at Arita's select shop
"bowl''.
The chopstick rest that looks like an object is KIHARA.
The black plate is from Shinkai Sanryudo. Looks good on
a cake plate.
The chrysanthemum-shaped choko mouth is made by
Ashiya Kittyo Pottery. For coffee cups and breakfast yogurt.
Most of the pots are around 1,000 yen, which is a great deal.
On the way home, I took it home with me in my hand
luggage!
If you like pottery, you should go to Arita Pottery Market, where you can enjoy choosing pottery as a set with sightseeing
The Arita Pottery Market was a unique event where you could see pottery made by potteries that can only be seen at pop-up events such as department stores, and you could purchase them at a great price.
Arita is a wonderful place where you can both look for pottery and walk around town.
Next time, I would like to try participating in other pottery fairs such as Karatsu ware and Mikawachi ware, as well as areas that I couldn't go to this time.
Kyushu has a lot to see, so we recommend that you enjoy sightseeing in conjunction with the Utsuwa Tour.
Why not
consider it as a candidate for an outing someday?
If you want to know more about Arita ware, please read this article.
・20 Recommended Arita Ware Pieces to Elevate Your Dining Table
・Arita Ware Plates: Brighten Your Dining Table with Stylish Designs
・10 Arita Ware Rice Bowls: Stylish Designs for Everyday Dining
Thank you for reading until the end. I hope you all find good works!