Kyushu Arita Pottery Class

Day 1

Pick up the guest from any city location of Fukuoka in the morning.

Drive to Arita, the famous origin of Japanese pottery, and dwell yourself in the historical culture of Kyushu. The area is populated by traditional pottery workshops, mostly family owned since hundreds of years. In the morning, you will attend a pottery class tutored by a master in his own shop. This is a rare and exclusive opportunity offered to our travel agency because not many others can build the relationship and set up even a visit to these local pottery producers.

(photo source: Japan Guide)

The pottery manufacturer's workshop comprises of the production house, shop area of various pottery items and, most surprisingly, a Michelin-star Soba restaurant.

The class includes the theory and the pottery-making sessions. In the theory session, the owner will introduce the Arita pottery history and his own work inheriting 400 years of technology innovation. In the pottery making session which takes 3-4 hours, every guest will be offered 1kg clay which is good for making 3 pottery products, e.g. cup, jar, plate or anything out of your creativity - if the master can help to produce. After you finish shaping your pottery items, you will leave them to the workshop for baking, which is a process taking 2-3 weeks to complete. You will receive your items by post.

You will have the opportunity to have his Michelin-awarded Soba noodle as lunch.

After lunch, relax yourself with a coffee brewed using the pottery produced at this shop. The water, pottery and the traditional wooden house with a Zen garden will give you an unprecedented coffee experience.

After the coffee break, we will bring you to another pottery shop which features another pottery-making technique: the painting. You will be astonished by the large variety of items in different colors, drawing and shapes. You can do your pottery shopping while enjoying the Japanese tea freshly prepared by the shop owner.

Take home your pride and joy making or shopping potteries direct at their origin, as long as the rare and exquisite experience you can show off to friends again and again in life.

We will finish the memorable tour and drop you off at any city location of Fukuoka.

Included

• Transportation from Fukuoka city area to destinations, and return

• Tour guide and translation on site

• Class and workshop fee

• Lunch and afternoon coffee at the workshop

Excluded

• Guest's purchased items at the shop

• Travel or accidental insurance

• Eating, drinking or purchases of your own