This is UTSUWABI editorial staff.
This time, I would like to share with you a report on the Hasami Pottery Festival.
If you like pottery, you should visit Arita Pottery Market at least once.
Every time I saw how crowded it was on
news programs, I always wished I could go there someday.
Perhaps this idea made sense, and this year's Golden Week destination is Kyushu.
My wish came true and I went to
Arita and Hasami pottery markets on the same day.
In this article, I will report on my first visit to the Hasami Pottery Festival and my outing to Nishinohara, a popular spot in Hasami.
I'm interested in the pottery market and would like to go to the production area of ??pottery!
If so, please use
this as a reference for your next outing.
The overview of the Hasami Pottery Festival is summarized below, so please take a look at it as well.
Explore the Hasami Pottery Festival 2024: Key Information and Top Artists
What is Hasami Pottery Festival?
The Hasami Pottery Festival is a Hasami ware pottery market held every spring during Golden Week in Hasami Town, Nagasaki Prefecture.
At the main venue, Ceramics Park, there are approximately 130 potteries and trading companies, as well as food and drink stalls.
During the event, it will be crowded with about 300,000 people.
In addition to selling pottery, there will also
be painting experiences, potter's wheel demonstrations, an auction market, and a raffle.
Access:
About 15 minutes by car from Nagasaki
Expressway "Ureshino" IC
〈Public transportation〉
About 20 minutes by bus from JR "Kawatana" station and get off at "Yakimono
Koen-mae"
*Shuttle bus service from special large parking lot (Nagasaki Canon parking lot) and Hasami Town
Cultural Center
*Shuttle bus service between Arita Station and Hasami (venue) (ride fee 500 yen, free for high
school students and under)
I'm planning to go to Arita, but first I'll go to the Hasami Pottery Festival
Originally, I had planned to visit Arita Pottery Market and then move on to Hasami.
However, in order to
efficiently visit the two pottery markets, I decided to go to Hasami in the morning, where there are fewer shops.
Arita and Hasami are in different prefectures, but are close neighbors, about 20 minutes by car.
Therefore,
there are shuttle buses from both pottery fair venues.
We parked in the Arita Pottery City parking lot, which is close to the shuttle bus stop.
There was a long line
at the bus stop bound for Hasami, but it was a large sightseeing bus, so we boarded safely.
I made the right decision to visit Hasami first because I was able to use my time effectively!
The shops are concentrated so it's easy to get around! A festival-like pottery festival
When you get off the shuttle bus, the venue is "Yakimono Koen Hiroba" right in front of you.
In addition to
tableware shops, the park also has shops selling local tea and food and drink stalls, making it feel like a
large-scale festival.
What I liked was that the venues were concentrated in one place.
It's very convenient to be
able to see all the shops just by walking around the park.
For non-locals like me, there is no need to worry about getting lost.
Also, it's nice for people with children
who can't walk a lot to take a rest on the lawn if they get tired.
Since it was my first time visiting Hasami, I went around in order starting from the entrance.
Near the
entrance, there were booths of individual artists, and we were able to see unique pottery.
It's just a part, but I'll introduce it to you!
Akira Tsuzuki
Tsuzuki's utensils are available at UTSUWABI.
Attractive containers come in chic and easy-to-use colors such as black and brown.
I was surprised that there
were many male customers.
Taikei Kobo
In addition to oval curry plates, uniquely shaped vases are also wonderful.
It's great that anyone can easily arrange flowers by just passing the flowers through the hole in the center.
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taikeikoubou/
Atelier Muku
A booth lined with simple yet warm vessels and objects with bird motifs.
Just looking at the warm, Scandinavian tableware-like pieces was soothing.
Official website: http://ateliermuq.web.fc2.com/
UTSUWA KOBO den
The tableware has a keyboard motif and is monochrome, making it easy to use.
It's a great gift for music lovers.
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utuwakoboden/
Atelier Yama
A booth lined with cute animal objects.
It's simple with just one color, white, but the rounded form is cute.
Just the right size for display and perfect as a souvenir.
Choose your own zodiac sign or pet animal to
commemorate your trip.
Official website: https://www.atelieryama.com/
Very popular Hasami ware gathered together! A large collection of cute containers
After looking at all the artists' booths, we headed inside the large tent that could be called the main venue.
Since there are many shops gathered together, you can choose a pottery by comparing different shops.
Furthermore, since I was inside a tent, I was able to avoid the strong sunlight, which I was grateful for.
Hasami ware has recently become popular. Some of these items can be found at general stores in Tokyo, but the variety of items and colors is unique to local stores!
Moreover, since the price was limited to the festival, many people had baskets and bought in bulk.
A mug with all rabbit handles! If it's the year of the rabbit, you might want to collect them.
Hakusan pottery is popular for its modern design similar to Scandinavian tableware.
You'll want to collect all
the items.
"natural69" (natural rock) is lined with uniquely designed pottery such as sea creatures.
The design is very popular and loved by a wide range of generations, from children to adults. There was a huge line outside the tent.
The price is set at 〇〇 yen for 〇 pieces, so the more you buy, the better it is!
If you have multiple
items for your family, buy it.
We went to Hasami's popular spot "Nishinohara" and enjoyed the wonderful space
After seeing the main venue, I moved to "Nishinohara", which I had been interested in for a while.
Nishinohara
is a complex operated by Saikai Pottery, which is known for products such as scissor porcelain.
What kind of place is “Nishinohara”?
Nishinohara is a facility that houses nine stores, including a general store and a restaurant, on the site of the former Fukko Pottery, a pottery factory run by Kozan Toen, a pottery manufacturer that has been in business since the Edo period.
Some of the facilities have been registered as national tangible cultural properties because the buildings of the pottery office, small workshop, painting shop, glaze refinery, and climbing kiln are still in use.
It is attracting attention not only as a tourist attraction but also as a base for the ceramics industry and regional
revitalization.
I also became interested when I saw immigrant employees working energetically on a TV program.
[Nishinohara Overview]
Address: 2187-4 Iishigo, Hasami-cho, Higashisonogi-gun, Nagasaki
Prefecture
Business hours: Depends on the store. Check the official website for details
Official website:
https://24nohara.jp/
Access:
15 minutes from Nagasaki Expressway "Ureshino" IC
*Parking
available
〈Public transportation〉
15 minutes by taxi from JR Sasebo Line "Arita" station
The "Nishinohara Pottery Festival" will be held during the Hasami Pottery Festival.
In addition to events such as an outlet selling scissors porcelain and a pottery painting experience, a marche is also held. They sold local sweets etc.
Everything about the space, which used the site of a pottery factory that had gone out of business, was attractive.
The large grounds are dotted with pottery stores, miscellaneous goods stores, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Some places still have the same slogans as they were back then.
It's really nice to see the old wooden factory and office buildings being kept as they are.
If it's in your
neighborhood, you'll definitely become a repeat customer.
There are shops selling things other than pottery and a bouldering facility, so you'll want to come and have some fun.
The family I went with also seemed to like it and said, "This place is great!"
In front of the restroom, there is a block glass partition with a retro feel.
The attention to detail is great,
and just looking at the building is fun.
833WALL (Hachisan wall)
We have a bouldering studio that takes advantage of the building's high ceiling.
It would be fun to try it while
sightseeing.
Official website: https://www.833wall.net/
There is a pizza shop across from the bouldering studio.
There is a stone oven in the back, and you can eat in
the free space.
HANA WASUKUI
A household goods store that makes use of the former painting area of a pottery factory.
It's not just a shop that sells pottery, but also accessories, clothes, and other items that are all carefully selected, making you want to stay for a long time.
Isozaki Coffee Shady
Selling coffee and coffee beans.
Although you can drink inside, we took it out and took a break at a rest area
near the bouldering studio.
Official website: https://www.facebook.com/isozaki.coffee/
At the main venue of the pottery festival, the only option is to eat the food you buy at the stalls outdoors.
It
was nice to be able to take a break indoors and avoid the strong sunlight.
After enjoying Nishinohara, we headed back to the pottery park to catch the shuttle bus to Arita.
On the way, we stopped at "Former Hasami Town Central Elementary School Auditorium and Public Hall", which is designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and photographed only the exterior.
While heading to the stop, check out the shops you missed!
I also saw some fruit tableware that UTSUWABI also sells.
The table will be brighter if you put them together.
It looks like it would be good as a pottery for children.
Nagamine Kiln's booth has a wide selection of modern pottery with simple shapes such as round and square shapes.
If you get them in different colors, you can easily create a stylish coordination.
Recommended because it's easy to get around even for first-timers! Enjoy it like a picnic
The key point of the Hasami Pottery Festival is that the venues are almost all gathered in one place.
There are
many shops inside the pottery park, so it was nice to be able to see everything just by walking around the park.
Also, the shops are concentrated in a huge tent, so you can shop comfortably while avoiding the strong sunlight.
Although Hasami ware is originally reasonably priced, it is sold at a discounted price at the festival venue.
Choice a tableware only here! It might be a good idea to take advantage of this opportunity to buy in bulk.
It is also recommended to have a picnic and enjoy a wide variety of food stalls on the lawn of the park.
If you go a little further, you will find facilities like Nishi-no-Hara, so you can enjoy it all day long.
Whether you like pottery or not, please enjoy the charm of Hasami at the Hasami Pottery Festival.
If you want to know more about Hasami ware, please read this article.
・Hasami Ware for a Stylish Dining Table: Top Tableware and Popular Kilns
・For Scandinavian Tableware Lovers: Must-Have Hasami Ware
・12 Stylish Hasami Ware Bowls and Donburi for Your Table
Thank you for reading until the end. I hope you all find good works!