Arita

Understand

Arita is known as the home of Imari porcelain, internationally the most famous type of Japanese pottery. (The separate town of Imari is simply the port they were shipped through on their way to the outside world.) If you search using the kanji, don't confuse the town with Arida City, Wakayama.

Tourist information site The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

Getting there

By train 1 Arita Station, Hei Hokaomachi. An express train connects directly to Fukuoka. (updated Jul 2024)

See

1 Kyushu Ceramic Museum (Kyushu Toji Bunkakan) (Near Kami-Arita Station). Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. It is famous throughout Japan for its research on ceramics. There are large exhibits of old and modern style ceramics. free. (updated Jul 2024) 2 Arita Porcelain Park, Otsu-340-28, Toya. 9AM-5PM. A considerably large replica of a wannabe German village, located in the outskirts of Arita on the road to Hasami. Most stunning is probably the copy of the “Zwinger” a famous German castle in the city of Dresden. Inside the castle is a permanent exhibition of European porcelain held in one track and Arita porcelain in the other. Both are pretty impressive. Behind the castle lies a European style garden, and behind that a large ancient kiln can be visited. The rest of Porcelain Park is like a theme park. (updated Feb 2016) 3 Arita Kan, 1-1-1 Kobira, ☏ +81 955-43-2121. Has an exhibition of modern art porcelain, 400 different cups for coffee or tea and a theater with mechanical computerized puppets made of porcelain. ¥200. (updated Jul 2024) 4 Tozan Shrine, 2-5-1 Odaru, ☏ +81 955-42-3310. Famous for its porcelain archway and other items of porcelain, which are usually made of stone at other shrines. This shrine is and was particularly revered by Arita’s ceramists. (updated Jul 2024) 5 China On The Park, 111 Haraake, ☏ +81 955-46-3900. Experience pottery and porcelain design. The establishment dates back to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops and a restaurant. (updated Jul 2024)

Do

1 Rokuroza, 1-30-1 Izumiyama (Near Kami-Arita Station), ☏ +81 955-41-1302. If you are really interested in pottery but only have a half day you can spare, then Rokuroza is the place for you. Here you can learn how to make your own pottery. (updated Jul 2024) Arita Hall Ceramic Puppet Performance. Based on the local folktale of the Giant Snake of Kurokamiyama, the world's first joruri (ballad drama) performance by ceramic puppets is held in the Arita Hall. The colourful stage is painted in the three styles of Kakiemon, Ironabeshima and old Imari.

Eat

RanRanRan (RUN) (Near Arita Porcelain Park.). Specializes in fried curry and blueberry parfaits. Temporarily closed as of April 2024. (updated Jul 2024) Hapi Cafétta. A burger restaurant across from Arita Station. (updated Sep 2024) Hitofushi. A restaurant with ramen, udon, champon, and gyoza dishes. (updated Sep 2024)

Sleep

Guesthouse Keramiek. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A guesthouse with Japanese and Western-style room options. (updated Sep 2024) Zoku Ijinkan. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A building in the historic pottery district that has been rennovated for use as an accommodation. Only 1 reservation can be made per night for up to 4 people, so you will have the place to yourself. Bookings may be made in English. (updated Sep 2024)

Go next

Imari Karatsu Genkai Takeo Matsuura Hirado Hasami Sasebo Omura