Okawachiyama Village

Tourist attraction · Imari ·

Okawachiyama Village

Tourist attraction · Imari ·

Mountain village with numerous pottery workshops and scenic views

Information

Otsu-1848 Okawachicho, Imari, Saga 848-0025, Japan Get directions

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I Spent 3 Days Biking Around Kyushu, Japan — Here’s Why It Was an Incredible Way to See the Island

"Known as the "village of secret kilns," this remote pottery village flourished under the Nabeshima family in the 17th century, which helped conceal its ceramic techniques. Narrow, cobblestoned streets wind past studios selling distinctive blue-and-white pottery amid mist-shrouded mountains, lending the place a timeless, otherworldly atmosphere." - Rosecrans Baldwin Rosecrans Baldwin Rosecrans Baldwin is a Los Angeles Times best-selling author and essayist. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, Slate, Salon, GQ, and The Morning News, among other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/kyushu-japan-biking-trip-8728706

Okawachiyama Village

Sophia C.

Google

It’s okay - not super exciting or much to do unless you are shopping for artisan pottery. There’s pretty much one little street of shops and that’s it. Like come after you’ve already eaten bc there is really NO food here except for one pottery shop/cafe selling coffee and shaved ice and another little pottery shop by the parking lot selling a coffee/cake set. We took some very scenic pics but otherwise I don’t know if it was worth the $50 cab ride there. Leaving , we did take the bus which stops at the parking lot (with the bathroom and vending machine & benches) there a few times a day (12:22pm, 2:22pm, 4:22pm) and takes you to Inari train station for the bargain price of 200¥ pp.

Kevin

Google

Very beautiful village, especially if you are looking for pottery. The town itself is small, is placed in a very picturesque landscape and has 1-2 streets with several pottery shops

Visan S. (.

Google

A great destination. A village with heritage in making finest porcelain. A few top notch porcelain shops here. Luckily, I found an amazing horse piece done almost 40 years ago from Seizan, a shop that's opened since 1886. (1st generation owner started making porcelain since 350 years ago). Another shop with great craftmanship is Hataman. Very fine & beautiful porcelain pieces.

Jonathan B.

Google

One of the most beautiful places we visited in Japan. Of course there's a variety of lovely handcrafted porcelain, but honestly it's worth the visit even just for the views. Be prepared for quite a bit of uphill walking.

Lee P.

Google

Nice place to travel and learn more knowledge of the history of their products and arts works! It takes 1.5km for a round trip but if you drill into their shops and taking photos here and there, easy to spend half a day for sure.

人風

Google

Extremely quaint. Definitely a place to get some quality ceramic souvenirs and wind chimes. Also there was a café that had some top notch shaved ice. Go early and you'll beat all the visitors and have the entire village to yourself.

Jacky N.

Google

We went on a day where it was raining. Very scenic regardless but not all the shops were open. Lots of pottery

Eddy B.

Google

This place is so surreal, like something from a fairy tale. Beautiful and unique without feeling too gimmicky or pandering too much to tourism.

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

I Spent 3 Days Biking Around Kyushu, Japan — Here’s Why It Was an Incredible Way to See the Island

https://www.travelandleisure.com/kyushu-japan-biking-trip-8728706

Okawachiyama Village

Sophia C.

Google

Kevin

Google

Very beautiful village, especially if you are looking for pottery. The town itself is small, is placed in a very picturesque landscape and has 1-2 streets with several pottery shops

Visan S. (.

Google

Jonathan B.

Google

Lee P.

Google

人風

Google

Jacky N.

Google

We went on a day where it was raining. Very scenic regardless but not all the shops were open. Lots of pottery

Eddy B.

Google

This place is so surreal, like something from a fairy tale. Beautiful and unique without feeling too gimmicky or pandering too much to tourism.

Okawachiyama Village

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I Spent 3 Days Biking Around Kyushu, Japan — Here’s Why It Was an Incredible Way to See the Island

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I Spent 3 Days Biking Around Kyushu, Japan — Here’s Why It Was an Incredible Way to See the Island