Kyushu autumn pottery fairs
- Arita begins on November 19, Mikawachi and Okawachiyama start on November 20, and all three overlap November 21–23.
- Admission is free for the Nabeshima Hanyo Autumn Festival in Okawachiyama, and parking is ¥1,000 per car.
- The Mikawachi Ware Kiln Tour costs ¥3,000, with 6 participants per course on a first-come basis.
Five autumn pottery fairs in Kyushu are still ahead in 2026. Miyama in Kagoshima (from Friday, October 30) and the new Open Hasami in Nagasaki (from Saturday, October 31) both run to Tuesday, November 3, a national holiday. Arita, Mikawachi and Okawachiyama in Imari all overlap on the long weekend of November 21–23.
At these fairs, kilns and workshops in each pottery town open their doors and sell their own ware. Some extras, such as guided kiln tours, cost money and need booking.
In short
- Late October to November 3: Miyama CRAFT WEEK (Satsuma ware, Hioki City) or Open Hasami (Hasami ware, first year).
- November 19–24: Arita, Mikawachi (Sasebo City) and Okawachiyama (Imari City). All three are open November 21–23.
- By train, Arita is the easiest: free shuttle buses start a 2–3 minute walk from JR Arita Station.
- Kiln tours with a guide: Mikawachi (¥3,000, book by 10:00 a.m. on November 19) and Okawachiyama (¥7,800, book at least 7 days ahead). The Okawachiyama tour is in Japanese.
- The organizers’ websites do not say whether stall staff speak English; ask them before you go.
Checked with official pages on October 26, 2026.
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Kyushu autumn pottery fairs 2026: dates, parking and shuttles
| Fair | Where | Dates | Parking / shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miyama | Hioki City, Kagoshima | Oct 30–Nov 3 | Free temporary parking |
| Open Hasami | Hasami Town, Nagasaki | Oct 31–Nov 3 | Not stated |
| Arita | Arita Town, Saga | Nov 19–23 | 8 free lots, free shuttles |
| Mikawachi | Sasebo City, Nagasaki | Nov 20–23 | Not stated yet |
| Okawachiyama | Imari City, Saga | Nov 20–24 | ¥1,000 per car |
“Not stated” means the organizer had not published parking details when we checked on October 26, 2026.
1. Late October to November 3: Miyama and Hasami
1.1 Miyama CRAFT WEEK 2026 (Hioki City, Kagoshima): about 30 shops, free parking
Miyama CRAFT WEEK 2026 runs for 5 days, Friday, October 30 to Tuesday, November 3, in the Miyama district of Higashiichiki-cho, Hioki City. Parking is free. Miyama is known as a home of Satsuma ware. About 30 kilns, workshops, galleries and restaurants in the district take part, according to Hioki City’s Miyama CRAFT WEEK 2026 page. The event follows the Miyama Kiln Festival, which ran 34 times until 2019.
On all 5 days, craft makers from Kagoshima and beyond set up booths at the Miyama District Community Hall and Togo Square parking lot, with food stalls at the Togo Square stage area. A digital stamp rally around the streets uses the “Machi no Coin” (まちのコイン) app, which you download first.
The Gurutto Miyama Pass (¥1,200 including tax) collects stamps at member shops; you trade them for a café ticket or a piece from a kiln or workshop. A Miyama hand towel (tenugui, ¥1,200) is on sale, and Katsuragi Togei hands out the written goshuin (shrine seal) of Tamayama Shrine for ¥300.
By train, take the JR line from Kagoshima-Chuo Station to JR Higashi-Ichiki Station (about 24 minutes), then a bus to the Miyama bus stop (about 3 minutes). From JR Ijuin Station, the bus takes about 12 minutes. By car, Miyama IC on the Minami-Kyushu Nishimawari Expressway is about 1 minute away when coming from Kagoshima. You cannot exit at Miyama IC when coming from the Sendai side; use Ichiki IC (about 10 minutes).
Miyama district, Higashiichiki-cho, Hioki City, Kagoshima. Google Maps. Organizer’s office (Hioki City): 099-201-5125.
| Name | Miyama District (Miyama CRAFT WEEK 2026) |
|---|---|
| Address | Miyama, Higashiichiki-cho, Hioki City, Kagoshima |
| Phone | 099-201-5125 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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1.2 Open Hasami 2026 (Hasami Town, Nagasaki): the whole town opens its workshops
Open Hasami 2026 is a new 4-day event, Saturday, October 31 to Tuesday, November 3, held across all of Hasami Town for the first time. According to the Hasami Town Tourism Association’s announcement of October 2, 2026, kilns and workshops that are usually closed to the public open for these 4 days, with craftspeople’s demonstrations, workshop tours, hands-on sessions and special menus at local restaurants. The hub is Hasami Town Auditorium, a registered tangible cultural property (Hasami Town Tourism Association press release, October 2, 2026).
Photo source: “Open Hasami 2026” first edition (Hasami Town Tourism Association press release, October 2, 2026)
Hasami ware is made by a division of labor: mold makers, clay shapers, kilns that paint, glaze and fire, and trading companies. The Open Hasami event list shows places along this chain where you can watch, try and shop, such as open factories at kilns and an exhibition at the auditorium. Opening times differ by business and by event.
The access section of the official site gives Yakimono Park as the venue. By car, it is about 5 minutes from Hasami-Arita IC on the Nagasaki and Nishi-Kyushu Expressways, or about 15 minutes from Ureshino IC. By train, JR Hakata Station to JR Arita Station takes about 90 minutes, then about 10 minutes by taxi. Buses run from JR Mikawachi Station (about 15 minutes) and JR Kawatana Station (about 20 minutes).
Yakimono Park, 2255-2 Iishi-go, Hasami Town, Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki (長崎県東彼杵郡波佐見町井石郷2255-2). Google Maps. Open Hasami office: 0956-85-2214.
| Name | Yakimono Park (Open Hasami 2026) |
|---|---|
| Address | 2255-2 Iishigo, Hasami-cho, Higashisonogi-gun, Nagasaki |
| Hours / Closed | Varies by business and event (October 31–November 3) |
| Phone | 0956-85-2214 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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2. November 19–24: Arita, Mikawachi and Okawachiyama
2.1 Autumn Arita Ceramic Fair (Arita Town, Saga): 5 days from November 19
The 22nd Autumn Arita Ceramic Fair runs for 5 days, Thursday, November 19 to Monday, November 23, a national holiday. Kilns and venues around town hold events such as wood-fired kiln openings and painting sessions (Arita Tourism Association’s 22nd Autumn Arita Ceramic Fair page).
The road from Arita Station to Kami-Arita Station (Prefectural Route 281) has few public parking lots, so the Arita Tourism Association recommends parking at a temporary lot and using the free shuttle buses. There are 8 free temporary lots, open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: 6 for all 5 days, including Izumiyama Quarry, Arita Sera and Arita Porcelain Park, and 2 on weekends and the holiday only (temporary parking guide).
The free shuttles leave from the Arita Ekimae-dori stop in front of the Arita Town Lifelong Learning Center, 2–3 minutes on foot from JR Arita Station. Line 1 goes to the Great Ginkgo and Izumiyama Quarry and back; Line 2 loops around Arita Sera; both run all 5 days. Line 3 goes to China on the Park on November 21–23 only (free shuttle bus guide).
Shuttle stop: Arita Town Lifelong Learning Center, Arita Town, Nishimatsuura District, Saga. Google Maps. Arita Tourism Association: 0955-43-2121.
| Name | Arita Town (Autumn Arita Ceramic Fair) |
|---|---|
| Address | Arita Town, Nishimatsuura District, Saga |
| Phone | 0955-43-2121 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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2.2 Mikawachi Pottery Fair (Sasebo City, Nagasaki): 4 days from November 20
The 69th Mikawachi Pottery Fair runs for 4 days, Friday, November 20 to Monday, November 23, across Mikawachiyama, where the Mikawachi ware kilns stand together. Pieces are sold in each kiln’s workshop and in a tent square (69th Mikawachi Pottery Fair dates). Opening hours and the event program had not been published as of October 26.
On the first 2 days, Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Mikawachi Ware Kiln Tour runs 5 courses a day. At each kiln, potters talk about techniques such as blue-and-white painting (sometsuke), okiage relief and chrysanthemum ornaments. On November 20, the Gyokuho Kiln course includes making a hand-shaped sake cup. Each tour ends with Sechibaru tea and Sasebo sweets served in Mikawachi ware. A Mikawachi ware goshuin book collects seals at the kilns; complete it to be named a Mikawachi Ware Tourism Ambassador and receive a gift.
The tour costs ¥3,000, with 6 people per course on a first-come basis. Apply by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, using the online form (in Japanese) or by phone. On the day, check in at the pottery fair headquarters between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (2026 Mikawachi Ware Kiln Tour).
Mikawachi Ceramic Industry Cooperative, 343 Mikawachi-honmachi, Sasebo City, Nagasaki (長崎県佐世保市三川内本町343). Google Maps. Phone: 0956-30-8311 (weekdays 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.).
| Name | Mikawachiyama (Mikawachi Pottery Fair) |
|---|---|
| Address | 343 Mikawachi-honmachi, Sasebo City, Nagasaki (Mikawachi Ceramic Industry Cooperative) |
| Phone | 0956-30-8311 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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2.3 Nabeshima Hanyo Autumn Festival (Imari City, Saga): free entry, parking ¥1,000
The Nabeshima Hanyo Autumn Festival in Okawachiyama, Imari City, runs for 5 days, Friday, November 20 to Tuesday, November 24, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Entry is free; parking is ¥1,000 per car. It used to be held in early November (November 1–5 in 2025) but moved to late November in 2026 to match the autumn leaves. Besides kiln visits and shopping, restaurants and a hardware shop from Saga Prefecture join the kiln market, and local farm produce is sold on November 22 and 23 (Imari Nabeshima Ware Cooperative press release, October 8, 2026).
Photo source: “Nabeshima Hanyo Autumn Festival” in Okawachiyama (Imari Nabeshima Ware Cooperative press release, October 8, 2026)
On the last day, Tuesday, November 24, from 10:00 a.m., the Brush Memorial Service (fude kuyo) burns used painting brushes at the Potters’ Memorial Tower. A stamp rally runs all 5 days: buy at 5 of the kilns to enter a prize draw at the Imari Nabeshima Ware Hall. Stamp sheets are handed out at the parking lot, the hall and each kiln.
On Sunday, November 22 and Monday, November 23, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., a walking tour led by local staff visits kilns such as Ranzan Kiln and Nabeshima Kosen Kiln for ¥7,800 including tax. Book on the Okawachiyama walking tour page (UNA Laboratories) by sending your preferred date, at least 7 days ahead; payment is by card in advance. The tour is for 2 to 6 people and meets at the Imari-Arita Traditional Craft Center. It is conducted in Japanese; the tour company says an English interpreter can be arranged for an extra fee. You take off your shoes in some workshops.
By car, Okawachiyama is about 20 minutes from Imari-Tobusho IC on the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway, or about 30 minutes from Takeo-Kitagata IC or Hasami-Arita IC. By public transport, go to JR/MR Imari Station, then take a bus or taxi; buses are infrequent. From Fukuoka Airport, the Imari-go highway bus runs to Imari (Access to Okawachiyama).
Imari Nabeshima Ware Cooperative, Otsu 1806 Okawachi-cho, Imari City, Saga (佐賀県伊万里市大川内町乙1806). Google Maps. Phone: 0955-23-7293.
| Name | Okawachiyama (Imari Nabeshima Ware Hall) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1806 Otsu, Okawachi-cho, Imari City, Saga |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:00 (November 20–24) |
| Phone | 0955-23-7293 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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3. Common questions
Is parking free?
Parking is free at Miyama CRAFT WEEK and at the Autumn Arita Ceramic Fair’s temporary lots. At the Nabeshima Hanyo Autumn Festival, parking is ¥1,000 per car.
Can I go to Arita, Mikawachi and Okawachiyama on the same weekend?
Yes. All three are open on November 21, 22 and 23. Arita runs November 19–23, Mikawachi November 20–23 and Okawachiyama November 20–24.
