Japan Pottery Tour: Hands-On Workshops & Artisan Encounters

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo

Reach Tokyo Narita Airport where our local guides, who will be with you for the entirety of the tour, will meet you up and guide you to your accommodation for the night: ANA Crown Plaza Narita.

Day 2: Mashiko: The Legacy of Shoji Hamada

Begin your journey in the "St. Ives of Japan," settling into the rustic, folk-art atmosphere of Mashiko.

・Visit the Shoji Hamada Memorial Museum and his preserved 1930s farmhouse and kilns.

・Tour a local sake brewery for a curated tasting session where different sake varieties are served in hand-crafted Mashiko-style cups.

Day 3: Mashiko Clay, Techniques and Tools

Dedicate your second day in Mashiko to the tactile soul of folk-art pottery.

・Master-Led Pottery Workshop: Immerse yourself in your first hands-on session in Japan where you will practice electric wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques under the guidance of a local master to create your own bespoke Mashiko-ware pieces.

・Jonaizaka Street Walking Tour: Spend the afternoon on a charming guided exploration of Jonaizaka Street, observing the daily rhythms of local studios and boutiques that line this historic ceramic artery.

・Living Heritage at Daiseigama: Discover the roots of the craft and witness a captivating demonstration at Daiseigama; established in 1861, this premier studio is renowned for its massive climbing kiln and unwavering commitment to local clays and glazes.

・Artisanal Shopping and Return: Conclude your creative journey with an opportunity to browse professional pottery supplies at Kumiai, before heading back to the Fairfield by Marriott Motegi for a relaxing evening.

Day 4: Transfer to the beautiful coastal city of Ako

Bid farewell to the pottery hills of Mashiko as you transition to Tokyo Station to experience a premier highlight of Japanese travel: a journey on the iconic Shinkansen.

・High-Speed Elegance: Marvel at the seamless precision and breathtaking speed of the "Bullet Train" as you sweep across the Japanese landscape toward Shin-Kobe in unparalleled comfort.

・Coastal Transition: Upon arrival, board a private bus for a scenic drive to the Kamenoi Hotel Ako, your serene seaside sanctuary for the next three nights.

・Maritime Relaxation: Settle into the refined atmosphere of this inviting hotel, where sweeping ocean vistas and traditional Japanese-style rooms provide a perfect coastal escape.

・Thermal Rejuvenation: Unwind after your journey by soaking in therapeutic onsen baths, immersing yourself in the natural beauty and storied history of Hyogo Prefecture’s charming Ako district.

Day 5: Between tradition and modern: Ako and Tamba

Begin your day by uncovering the ethereal beauty of Ako-Unkayaki, a unique regional ware celebrated for its "cloud mist" patterns and glaze-free transformation.

・The Momoi Museum Experience: Discover the fascinating Momoi Museum, where you will witness how specialized firing techniques use only flame and smoke to coax natural hues of black, vermilion, and ivory from the clay, mimicking the vibrant evening skies of Ako.

・Artisanal Hand-Building: Engage your own creativity with a hands-on building experience at the museum, working the local clay to understand the tactile connection between the artist and the final, smoke-fired form.

・Tea Ceremony & Aesthetics: Conclude your visit with an enchanting tea ceremony led by a local master, offering an intimate glimpse into the traditional Japanese philosophy of beauty and the ritualized art of tea.

・Culinary & Ceramic Heritage: Transfer to Tamba for a delightful lunch served on local stoneware, providing a sensory introduction to Tamba-yaki—one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns—famed for its rustic, reddish-brown clay and natural ash glazes.

・Hands-on Tamba Pottery: Spend the afternoon immersed in a second pottery session in Tamba Sasayama, engaging directly with the historic techniques of this 800-year-old craft before returning to the comfort of the Kamenoi Hotel Ako.

Day 6: Discover Bizen's Pottery

Journey to Bizen, the heart of one of Japan’s most ancient and revered ceramic traditions, famed for its rugged, unglazed beauty and iron-rich clay.

・Masterclass with Kazuya Ishida: Spend an intensive day immersed in a private lecture and workshop led by renowned artist Kazuya Ishida, mastering the intricate spiral techniques that define his signature contemporary style.

・The Alchemy of Bizen-yaki: Learn the secrets of this high-fire stoneware, which is traditionally fired in wood-burning kilns at temperatures reaching 1200°C–1300°C for up to two weeks to achieve its characteristic natural ash effects.

Day 7: Cultural Immersion in Hagi

Depart the coast of Ako and travel to the historic city of Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, a storied town where the spirit of the samurai meets the delicate artistry of tea ceramics.

・Artistic Heritage at Uragami: Begin your exploration at the Hagi Uragami Museum, home to a world-class collection of ukiyo-e prints and the celebrated Hagi-yaki—a soft, porous stoneware prized by tea masters for its ability to change color over time through the "tea stain" effect.

・Spiritual Legacy of the Mori Clan: Visit the atmospheric Tokoji Temple, the sacred burial site of the Mori lords, where hundreds of moss-covered stone lanterns stand in silent tribute to the samurai dynasty that once ruled this region.

・Master Kiln Demonstration: Journey to the serene Makino-gama Studio to meet Master Masanori Makino; here, you will witness a demonstration of traditional "kick-wheel" throwing and learn about Hagi ware.

・Traditional Ryokan Stay: Check into the Hagi Honjin, a refined Japanese-style ryokan that will serve as your home for the next two nights, offering a perfect blend of historic charm and thermal relaxation.

Day 8: Hagi's Artistic Traditions

Begin your day with a traditional Japanese breakfast at your hotel before immersing yourself in the creative legacy of Hagi through a series of specialized artisanal workshops.

・Hagi Wheel Throwing Session: Engage in a specialized hands-on session focused on the unique composition of Hagi clay and visit the renowned Senryuzan Kiln.

・Merchant Luxury at Kikuya Residence: Step back into the 17th century at the Kikuya Residence, a National Important Cultural Property famed for its iconic "namako" (sea cucumber) latticed walls and its history as a prestigious lodging for Shogunate officials.

・Kimono & Matcha Immersion: Experience the profound elegance of Japanese culture firsthand with a private kimono dressing followed by a formal matcha tea ceremony, set within the serene, meticulously manicured gardens of the merchant estate.

Day 9: Inside the world of Kyushu's ceramics

Depart the historic streets of Hagi for the legendary port city of Imari, the ancestral home of Japan’s most exquisite and world-renowned porcelain traditions.

・Village of Secret Kilns: Journey into the hidden valley of Okawachiyama, where your local expert guide will lead you through a secluded village of brick chimneys and mountain-side kilns once protected by the Nabeshima clan to safeguard their ceramic secrets.

・The Brilliance of Imari-yaki: Discover the intricate multi-firing process of Imari porcelain, where white clay is transformed through high-temperature firing at 1300°C before being adorned with vibrant overglaze enamels of iron red, cobalt blue, and shimmering gold.

・Thermal Luxury in Ureshino: Conclude your day of discovery at the Hotel Sakura Ureshino Onsen, where you can soak in the "skin-beautifying" waters of one of Japan’s most famous hot spring districts.

Day 10: Arita's Porcelain Legacy

Today, delve into the heart of Arita, the historic birthplace of Japanese porcelain and the source of some of the world's most coveted ceramic art.

・The Kakiemon Legacy: Begin your exploration at the legendary Kakiemon kiln to admire the "Kakiemon style"—exquisite, asymmetrical designs of flora and fauna that revolutionized global aesthetics and profoundly influenced 17th-century European art and later Impressionism.

・Caffeine and Ceramics: Enjoy a unique lunch at Gallery Arita, an extraordinary café surrounded by a collection of 2,000 diverse coffee cups, where you can select your own vessel for a truly personalized dining experience.

・Hands-on Masterclass: Immerse yourself in the creative process with an afternoon of hands-on workshops, practicing the precision of the pottery wheel and the delicate art of both underglaze and vibrant overglaze painting.

・Factory tour: Go behind the scenes with expert-led factory tour at Kourakugama.

Day 11: Karatsu and Finale in Fukuoka

Conclude your journey by diving into the rugged elegance of Karatsu, a coastal city legendary for its profound influence on Japanese tea ceremony ceramics.

・Discover the Art of Karatsu-yaki: Begin at a master potter’s private kiln to explore the unique properties of local "suna-koshi" clay and witness a captivating demonstration of the "kick-wheel" technique.

・Cultural Exploration: Move to the city center to wander through prestigious ceramic galleries and explore historical landmarks that showcase the town’s samurai and merchant heritage.

Your pottery journey in Japan concludes with a transfer to your hotel in Fukuoka, leaving you with cherished memories and perhaps a unique ceramic piece or two from your exploration of Japan's artistic heartland. This marks the end of your main tour, unless you would like to book an extension tour with us through other wonderful destinations in Japan!