tourism

During the Edo period, Imari Nabeshima ware was crafted by the Saga Domain exclusively as tribute gifts for the Shogun, the Imperial Court, and feudal lords. Because of its elite status, only perfectly crafted pieces were ever allowed to see the light of day. Any piece that fell even slightly short of their absolute standards was thoroughly hidden or destroyed to ensure that the secrets of this craft never leaked to the outside world. To this day, Imari Nabeshima ware is defined by three traditional styles.
Iro-Nabeshima (polychrome): Characterized by its exquisite overglaze painting, accented with bright colors like red, yellow, and green.
Nabeshima Sometsuke (blue and white): Featuring elegant underglaze designs painted entirely with a single indigo-blue pigment called Gosu.
Nabeshima Seiji (celadon): A beautiful celadon style featuring a soft, transparent green color, achieved through an iron-rich glaze.

This kiln faithfully honors the traditional techniques of Nabeshima ware while creating pieces with a highly distinct worldview. The master craftsman, Takuo Yamamoto, has revolutionized the traditional Sumihajiki (ink-blanking) technique. By using black Gosu pigment instead of the classic indigo-blue, he successfully developed a stunning new expression: Nabeshima Sometsuke with a green color. His unique “Sometsuke Sumihajiki Series” is a one-of-a-kind style born from years of trial and error. On this tour, you will have the chance to witness a live demonstration of his signature Sumihajiki technique.

※On weekdays, the tour will visit Hataman Touen
Hataman Touen operates one of the largest workshops in Okawachiyama. As soon as you step inside, you will see a sprawling creative space divided into specialized areas for each process. A unique feature of this kiln is that you can witness the entire craft—from initial shaping to final painting—all under one roof. The beautifully organized workshop and gallery make it easy and accessible for first-time visitors to understand the history and techniques of Imari Nabeshima ware. While deeply respecting and preserving traditional methods, Hataman Touen also actively pushes boundaries through global collaborations and innovative original techniques, such as their leather-textured “Cuir” and “Moist Celadon.”

※On weekends and holidays, the tour will visit Tobo Obayashi
Tobo Obayashi is a charming, family-run kiln where you can truly feel the warmth of the artisans. The family works together in perfect harmony: Yoshiyuki Obayashi, a certified Traditional Craftsman, shapes the clay on the potter’s wheel, while his sister handles the underglaze outlines, and his mother does the intricate Dami (shading) and delightful Akae (red overglaze) painting. Using a traditional hand-turned wheel, they craft pieces with beautiful, soft curves that only a human hand can create. Every single design is hand-painted, delicately capturing the changing seasons so that you can feel the essence of Japanese nature through their art. On this tour, you will have the opportunity to watch the process of Iro-Nabeshima overglaze painting up close.

During your walk through the village, you will stop by “Kissa Kosen,” a cozy café nestled inside the gallery of Nabeshima Kosen Kiln, to enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee or tea served in beautiful Nabeshima ware. Nabeshima Kosen Kiln has historically specialized in Seiji (celadon). Controlling the temperature for firing celadon is notoriously difficult—it is said that out of every ten pieces fired, only one or two would survive. However, driven by a passionate desire to “let as many people as possible enjoy this beauty,” the kiln spent years researching the process, eventually perfecting the technique for stable production. In the gallery, you can browse and purchase these celadon masterpieces, alongside a beautiful variety of Iro-Nabeshima and Sometsuke works.

This kiln is renowned for creating one-of-a-kind celadon pieces with breathtaking textures and forms. The ultimate highlight of Aoki Tobo is their “Hyo-Seiji” (Ice Celadon) series, finished with a beautiful semi-matte glaze. In his relentless pursuit of a style that was uniquely his own, the master artisan, Masakatsu Aoki, was deeply moved by a visit to the Los Glaciares glaciers—a World Heritage site in Argentina. Inspired by this natural wonder, he successfully captured the essence of glacial ice in his signature “Hyo-Seiji.” In addition, he crafts a distinct series called “Seiji” (utilizing a different kanji for celadon). By applying the exact same celadon glaze over a richer earthenware clay, he creates a beautiful pattern of Kannyu (fine crackles) after firing, showing another side of his brilliant craftsmanship.