Japan Kansai Pottery Heritage: Hands-on Workshop & Artisan Encounters

Your journey of refined artistry begins by delving into the rich history of Kyoto ceramics, known as Kyo-yaki and its subcategory, Kiyomizu-yaki. This tradition, characterized by its wide variety of techniques and exquisite decorative painting styles, developed over centuries to meet the sophisticated demands of the Imperial Court, tea masters, and high-end ryotei restaurants, making it the very essence of Japanese tableware. You will first immerse yourself in one of the most significant legacies of this art form with a visit to the Raku Museum in Kyoto, where you can admire the celebrated tea bowls created by the generations of the Raku family, pieces that define the spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony. The afternoon transitions to a hands-on experience at one of the prestigious, century-old kiln located in Higashiyama that supplies high-end cuisine. Here, you will be guided by a local Kiyomizu-yaki master artisan, who will lead you on a private tour of the workshop and unveil the secrets to creating exquisite, long-lasting ceramics. Following the tour, you will embrace the tradition yourself by choosing to either hand-build your own unique piece or paint a ceramic with traditional auspicious patterns. Your extraordinary day concludes with a moment of tranquility, enjoying seasonal wagashi sweets and matcha green tea served in a bowl crafted by the kiln, allowing you to appreciate the quality and tactile pleasure of this art firsthand, before retiring for a restful night at the elegant Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto.

On this day, transfer seamlessly to Tamba by local trains and meet our local expert guide on-site for a full-day tour around the pottery village. At your arrival, after eating a delightful lunch featuring local ceramics, you'll be visiting a local kiln and delve into Tamba ware (Tamba-yaki), one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, known for its unglazed, rustic stoneware with natural ash glazes formed during long firings in climbing kilns. Challenge yourself in a hands-on pottery experience and listen the advises of the local master while you engage directly with this historic craft. For the evening, you will return to your accommodation in Kyoto.

Bid farewell to Kyoto as you transfer to Ako, a picturesque seaside city on the Seto Inland Sea, historically famous as Japan's leading salt producer and renowned as the setting for the epic tale of the Forty-Seven Samurai Ronin. Here you will be visiting the charming Momoi Museum where it is displayed the unique Ako-Unkayaki ware. This regional ware is peculiar because it uses no glaze; instead, flames and smoke during its specialized firing process bring out natural hues of black, vermilion, and ivory. This creates stunning gradations that resemble the evening skies of Ako, giving each piece its own unique character. In fact, the term "Unkayaki" (literally "cloud mist pottery") refers to the nuanced, cloud-like patterns that can appear on its surface, creating an ethereal beauty unlike other regional wares. Partake into an hand-molding pottery workshop and, at the end of your visit, enjoy from a splendid Unkayaki cup a delicious Matcha green tea and Japanese sweets Wagashi, giving you a moment of relaxation while contemplating the wonderful view of Seto Inland Sea in front of you. For the evening, check-in at Kamenoi Hotel Ako, your comfortable accommodation for the next three nights. This inviting hotel offers a serene setting with sea views, often featuring Japanese-style rooms and the rejuvenating experience of onsen (hot spring) baths, perfect for unwinding after your long trip.

Today you'll travel to Bizen, home to one of Japan's oldest and most distinctive pottery styles. The program for today will include a full-day lecture and workshops on spiral techniques with Kazuya Ishida, a renowned Bizen ceramic artist known for his unique spiral marked vessels. Bizen ware is celebrated for its unglazed, natural beauty. Made from iron-rich clay, pieces are fired at high temperatures (around 1200−1300°C. ) for extended periods (up to two weeks) in wood-fired climbing kilns. Return to Kamenoi Hotel Ako for a relaxing last evening at this hotel. This marks the end of this wonderful tour, unless you would like to book an extension tour with us through other famous pottery villages in Japan!