Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, is the birthplace of "Setomono." As a pottery production center with a history of over 1,000 years, various techniques have been accumulated over its long history, and you can enjoy a variety of pottery experiences, such as potter's wheel, painting, and transfer printing. Please try out the experience that suits you best.
[table of contents]
If you want to paint a "beckoning cat," come here! "STUDIO 894"
Learn about and experience the traditional craft of Seto Sometsuke ware at the Seto Sometsuke Crafts Museum
Painting with a dropper. Icchin's painting experience "Gallery Moyu"
For lovers of Oribe ware: A painting experience at Rokubei Touen, a long-established pottery manufacturer in Akazu, Seto
Just cut and stick. talo-K is a craft-like transfer sticker experience.
For those who want to learn in depth! Pottery turning, Tatara making, hand-building, mold making "pottery wood"
"Tosui" pottery studio run by ceramic artist Koichi Kamei
If you want to paint a "beckoning cat," come here! "STUDIO 894"
STUDIO 894 is an experience studio run by Chugai Touen, which was founded in 1952. At Chugai Touen, they make ceramic figurines, mainly beckoning cats, and you can try painting them. There are various sizes of beckoning cats to choose from, including ones with right hands, left hands, and even ones with both hands raised. At the end of the year, they also make Christmas trees and zodiac animals.
You can choose from two base materials: porcelain or ceramic, and you can paint on the ceramic base with paints or pens and take it home as is. You will receive your painted porcelain piece after it has been fired.
Participants will also receive an admission ticket to the Maneki-neko Museum next door. Inside the facility, you can take a break at the coffee stand, and there is also a gallery that hosts special exhibitions of maneki-neko created in collaboration with popular artists and designers, so it is especially recommended for maneki-neko fans.
STUDIO 894
[address] 1 Yakushicho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Time] 10:00-17:00
*Last reservation for painting experience is at 3:30pm, last order at the coffee stand is at 4:30pm
[Closed] Tuesdays (open on public holidays)
[Price] Pottery: 1,500 to 1,600 yen, Porcelain: 1,500 to 3,600 yen, Copperplate transfer experience: 1,500 to 3,600 yen (Estimated time for each experience is approximately 60 minutes)
[Target age] 5 years old and above *Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
[Reservations] Please make reservations on our website . For same-day reservations, please call us at 0561-84-0894.
[Parking] Available
[Instagram] studio894_in_seto
Learn about and experience the traditional craft of Seto Sometsuke ware at the Seto Sometsuke Crafts Museum
This facility in Seto City was created to preserve and pass on Seto Sometsuke ware, which has been selected as a "traditional craft." It is located at the top of a narrow, winding slope that is typical of Seto. Inside the facility, there is an exhibition corner that explains what Seto Sometsuke ware is, and you can see the raw materials on display.
Opposite the main building is a restored building that was formerly the Ito Ihei family's blue and white porcelain kiln, which has been in operation for generations since the Edo period under the name "Kotouen." Inside, you can observe trainees painting and creating porcelain.
In the main building, you can choose your base and try painting it, but because it's a city facility, the price is exceptionally low. However, it takes several months for the piece to be fired. Overseas shipping is not available.
Seto Sometsuke Crafts Museum
[Address] 98 Saigocho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Time] 10:00-17:00
[Closed] Tuesdays
[Prices] Chopstick rest 330 yen, cat chopstick rest 440 yen, nameplate 1650 yen, etc.
*There are various base materials available, each with a different price.
[Target age] 5th grade and above *Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
[Reservations] Reservations can be made via the website.
[Parking] Available
[Instagram] setosometsuke
Icchin Painting Experience "Gallery Moyu"
This gallery is housed in an old Japanese-style house and is located just a three-minute walk from Owari Seto Station. It's conveniently located and easy to visit. In addition to Akiko's own works , the gallery also features a wide range of works by popular Seto-based ceramic artists, as well as glass and woodwork artists.
In one corner of the building, you can try painting with Akiko's special technique, "Icchin." You can choose from a variety of vessels, including teacups, teacups, mugs, plates, and chopstick rests.
First, sketch the picture with a pencil, then use a dropper filled with clay to trace the outline of the sketch. Once the outline is complete, use paint to add color with a brush to complete the piece. The piece will be fired and you can receive it in about a month.
Gallery Moyu
[Address] 48-1 Asahicho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Time] 11:00-17:00
[Price] "Easy Course" from 2,800 yen / 30 minutes to 1.5 hours
[Target age] 〓
[Reservations] Reservations required. Phone: 0561-85-8100, email: info@gallerymoyu.com
[Parking] None (please use nearby paid parking)
[Instagram] gallery_moyu
Pottery painting experience at Rokubei Touen, a long-established pottery manufacturer in Akazu, Seto
Rokubei Touen is a pottery manufacturer that has been in business since 1742. This pottery manufacturer mainly produces Oribe pottery. To achieve the deep green color of Oribe, they spare no effort, paying particular attention to the clay they make, and even soak the hat parts in a traditional acorn liquid to create the beautiful color.
You can visit this historic workshop and try painting alongside veteran artisans. You will be given the base of a teacup or vessel, a brush, and glaze, and after a brief explanation, you are free to do whatever you like. Just tell them to add the Oribe pattern here, and they will add it.
Please feel free to wander around the workshop, as there are plenty of interesting things to see.
If you're lucky, you might even get to meet 92-year-old potter Sunagawa Yamauchi! Rokubei, who can make 130 pieces of pottery in an hour. Touen's He is an absolute ace.
Rokubei Pottery Garden
[Address] 38 Akatsucho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Time] 10:00-16:00 *By request
[Business days] Please check the schedule on " Jalan ".
[Price] From 1,700 yen
[Target age] 〓
[Reservations] Please make reservations through Jalan or by phone ( 0561-82-4585 )
[Parking] Available
[Instagram] roku_be_105
Just cut and stick. talo-K is a craft-like transfer sticker experience.
talo-K is a household goods store with the theme of "fun things in daily life ." The store is filled with everyday items, clothing, and Tsukuri-te items selected by the owner, Kaori Yuasa, to make daily life more exciting.
The pottery experience here allows you to create your own original piece of pottery simply by sticking transfer stickers onto plain pottery. It's just like crafting, and anyone can easily enjoy it.
First, choose your tableware from plates, cups, bowls, etc. Then, choose as many transfer stickers as you like. It's just like a candy store!
First, the owner, Kaori, will give you a lecture, and then all you have to do is concentrate on making the cake. Cut the stickers, dip them in water, and once they float off the backing, stick them on the container, repeating this process until the cake is complete. If there are no reservations on the day, you can just drop in and participate. Please feel free to come and enjoy the experience.
talo-K
[Address] 6-19 Suharacho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture (5 minutes walk from Seto City Hall Station)
[Time] 11:00-15:00
[Business days] Wednesday to Saturday
[Fee] From around 1,500 yen (including vessel and sticker fee / about 1 hour per piece)
[Target age]〓
[Reservations] No reservations necessary (prior bookings will be prioritized) Phone: 0561-76-1650 / Instagram DM
[Parking] Available
[Instagram] talo_k
For those who want to learn in depth! Experience pottery wheel and tatara making at "pottery 木"
This pottery class is run by ceramic artist Kiyoko Mori. The location is close to the parking lot at the entrance to the "Kamagaki Path," a 400m long line of kiln fences made from stacks of kiln tools used in climbing kilns.
Mr. Mouri has many years of experience working in a pottery studio, and is an excellent teacher. This class is perfect for beginners who want to learn pottery.
Among the various techniques you can try, we recommend "Tatara making" for beginners. To make Tatara, first use a long, thin board called a Tatara board to slice the clay into uniform thickness. Then use the sliced clay to press the Tatara into a mold. There are relatively few mistakes and the finished product is beautiful.
You can aim to make around two mugs, but if you want to make smaller ones, you can also make multiples. The glaze will be finished in the color of your choice.
Pottery wood
[Address] 24 Nakahoracho , Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Time] 10:00-12:00, 13:30-17:00
*Please refer to the calendar highlights on Instagram for available reservation dates.
[Price] From 5,500 yen (including clay and firing fees / 2 hours)
*Reservations required. Experiences are available for two or more people. If you are traveling alone, you can book two people.
[Target age]
[Reservations] email: mkhn@tf7.so-net.ne.jp / phone: 050-3088-3896 / Instagram DM [Instagram] potteryki
[Parking] None. Go to the Kamagaki Path Parking Lot.
"Tosui" pottery studio run by ceramic artist Koichi Kamei
About a 20-minute walk from Owari Seto Station, the pottery studio "Tosui" is located a little way out of the city center, in an area where many kilns and potters live. Run by potter Koichi Kamei, the studio is a pleasant space surrounded by trees, and around the entrance you'll be greeted by giant sculptures created by Kamei himself.
In addition to using the potter's wheel, you can also enjoy a pottery experience using the "string making" technique, which has been used since the Jomon pottery period. At the beginning, they will teach you the method very carefully and teach you tips and tricks. Along the way, they will also help you if they see that you are having trouble. This is especially recommended for those who enjoy being taught. At the end, you can choose your glaze.
Euphoria
Address: 82 Ichirizuka, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Time] 10:00-17:00
[Business days] Irregular
[Price] From 3,500 yen
[Target age] Elementary school students and above *Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
[Reservations] via " Jalan "
[Parking] Available
［Instagram］ tosuikoubou
Highly recommended for families! Play in the dirt for free at the Novelty Children's Creative Center
The Novelty Children's Creation Center is a hands-on facility that teaches the history and manufacturing process of Seto Novelty, and allows visitors to play with clay, an essential ingredient in pottery. In Seto, "novelty" refers to ceramic dolls and ornaments. Items made in Seto are known overseas as "Seto Novelty," and are highly acclaimed for their intricate designs and delicate paintings, leading to their being exported in large quantities.
Of the various experiences available, the one I highly recommend is the "Tsuchitachi Kobo" on the second floor. You'll receive Seto clay at the reception, so you can freely create and play with it. It's free every day, so it's great.
On weekends only, children in the first grade of elementary school and above can learn directly from artisans on the first floor. Painting experiences are available on both Saturday and Sunday.
There is also a "Clay Modeling" course (300 yen) available only on Sundays, where you can learn the know-how of creating the "prototype" that will serve as the base for making novelty items.
The staff are all pottery students, artists, and potters themselves, so many of them are fun to talk to!
Novelty Children's Creative Center
[Address] 74-1 Izumicho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Time] 10:00-17:00
[Business days] Tuesday to Sunday
[Closed] Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays
[Fee] Free admission (separate experience fee applies)
[Target age] From infants *Children must be accompanied by a guardian.
[Reservations] For paid experiences, please call (0561-88-2668)
［Instagram］ seto_novelty
