Shigaraki Pottery Village
One of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns — Shigaraki pottery has been produced for 1,200 years and is famous for its natural ash glaze and warm clay body. The village is lined with kiln workshops and galleries, and tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines from Shigaraki are the iconic lucky charms displayed outside almost every Japanese shop.
Half day
Free (workshops ¥2,000)
Village accessible year-round; workshops: typically 9:00–17:00; tanuki (raccoon dog) statues visible everywhere
Year-round
Shigaraki Station on Shigaraki Kohgen Railway (50 min from Kibukawa)
Location
Why Visit
- 1
One of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns — continuous pottery tradition for 1,200 years
- 2
The tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines displayed at shop entrances across Japan originated here
- 3
Pottery workshops let you throw clay on a wheel and glaze your own Shigaraki-ware piece
Local Tips
Shigaraki is one of Japan's six ancient kiln sites — the chunky, flame-marked Shigaraki ware is immediately recognizable. The distinctive ceramic tanuki (raccoon dog) statues outside shops are a Shigaraki signature. Several large kilns (including the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park) offer excellent throwing workshops for 2–3 hours. Combine with the Miho Museum (25 min by car).
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