Arita Ceramic Fair

As Japan’s largest ceramic fair, Arita Ceramic Fair is held almost every year from April 29th to May 5th during the golden week. It is one of the three most important ceramic fairs in Japan, together with International Ceramics Festival Mino, and Seto Pottery Festival. 
 
Every year, Arita Ceramic Fair receives more than a million visitors and businessmen. Most visitors come here to find wonderful ceramic products. Fortunately, it’s easy to find those slightly flawed ceramics on the market at an attractive price, and the flaws are just too tiny for people to see.

The fair spreads along the streets for around 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Arita JR Station to Kami-Arita Station. More than 500 stalls are on the streets during the fair. Apart from these unfixed porcelain booths, there’re many stores selling elegant porcelain products.

Famous Ceramic Stores along Arita Ceramic Fair:

Gallery Arita:

Gallery Arita is actually both a ceramic shop and a restaurant. Once stepping into the Gallery Arita, you will be immediately captured by the numerous ceramic products displayed. There are more than 2,000 sets of ceramic products like cups, plates, and bowls. They are all very exquisite and unique. If you order a cup of hot drink, then you can choose a cup you like to drink with.
 
There’s a unique dish served in Gallery Arita. The most important ingredient of this dish is the local chicken. The chicken will be made into roast chicken wings, sweet-sour fried chicken, and chicken balls, accompanied by fresh vegetable salads and steamed egg with sea food. Customers can taste all five dishes in one meal. But only 10 customers are able to order this dish in a day. What’s more, all the dishes are contained in various Arita porcelain tableware.
 

Kōransha:

Koransha has been a ceramic workshop for around 130 years. Early in the Meiji era (1868-1912), porcelain handiworks made by the craftsmen of Kōransha gained quite a few awards at Universal Expositions in many different overseas countries. The main feature of its products is the mixed Japanese and Western styles. You can feel both the simple art of Arita porcelain and European style of complicated patterns.
 

Arita Sera Porcelain Shops:

Till the very end of the ceramic market, you’ll find this local porcelain mall. 22 porcelain shops gather here. You can’t find a mall of such scale that especially sells Arita ceramics. They have all kinds of ceramic products that you can imagine, and an English shop guide is available on their official website. There is no closed time for the shops here, so you can come to search for your favorite tableware or anything made from pottery whenever you want.

Visiting Tips:

Reserve Hotels in Advance:

The fair during the golden week in Japan usually receives a large quantity of visitors. Therefore, it’s important to book the hotel at least a week earlier. 
 

Lessen Your Baggage:

Ceramic products are very delicate, so it’s recommended that you bring fewer belongings in case ceramics break in your baggage. It can also leave you more space for purchasing ceramics.
 

Wear Comfortable Shoes:

You need to walk back and forth for your favorite piece of porcelain in the long enough market street, so sneakers or flats are better choices.

When you come to Arita, it’s highly recommended that you rent a bike in KILN ARITA Tourist Information Centre across from Arita JR Station because it’s not easy to grab a taxi in Arita. It only takes 500 JPY to rent a bicycle and 1,000 JPY for an electric bike for one day.

Arita - Birthplace of Japanese Porcelain：

The history of making porcelain in Japan dates back to the 17th century. A mine was found in Arita, and some mineral substances vital for making porcelain were dug out. After that, Japan’s first piece of porcelain was successfully produced in Arita. Then Arita porcelain trade developed so fast that it soon went viral in the European upper class. At that time, almost all of the ceramic products were exported to Europe from Imari Port, so Arita porcelain is also called Imari porcelain.

How to Get to Arita Ceramic Fair:

Take the JR train from Saga JR Station and get off at Arita Station. It will take about 40 minutes in total to reach Arita.
 

Nearby Attractions:

Arita Porcelain Park:

On the hill in Arita, stands a beautiful and exotic palace. It was built based on the Zwinger, a German palace back in the 18th century. It is now open as a theme park, and the exhibition halls in the park mainly introduce the development of Arita porcelain and display ceramic products from different times.
 

The Kyushu Ceramic Museum:

The museum displays important Arita porcelain works. You’ll also learn the history of Arita porcelain from 17th century till present.