Tokoname Pottery Indigo and Japanese Fermentation Experience

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Tokoname Pottery Footpath

  Explore the atmospheric heart of one of Japan’s oldest pottery towns. Walk among brick chimneys, historic kilns, the distinctive Clay Pipe Hill, and a maze of small workshops and galleries. More than 1,000 years of ceramic history remain woven into the streets and daily life of this remarkable neighborhood.

  2 hours 15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2

  Step inside Tokoname’s only pottery workshop specializing in traditional fermentation crocks, where the craft has been passed down for more than 60 years. Third-generation artisan Yuji Koie will introduce you to a process that remains rooted in traditional methods and local materials. See how raw local materials are prepared into workable clay and shaped into large ceramic crocks. These vessels have long played an important role in Japanese food culture, used for fermenting and preserving foods such as miso, umeboshi, and pickles. After exploring the workshop, visit TOKONAME STORE to discover another side of Tokoname ceramics. Browse fermentation crocks alongside the popular pastel-colored collection and other pieces designed for contemporary everyday life.

  1 hour 15 minutes • Admission ticket included
• 3

  Discover a traditional indigo studio that handles the entire process from growing indigo plants to preparing dye and coloring textiles. The studio follows time-honored techniques using natural materials including sukumo—composted indigo leaves—wood-ash lye, shell lime, and wheat bran. Using a natural indigo vat brought to life through fermentation, create your own one-of-a-kind tenugui hand towel. Watch the cloth transform as repeated dipping and exposure to air gradually reveal the deep, distinctive blue of Japanese indigo. Travel back to Nagoya with your guide. Alternatively, end your guided tour in Tokoname and stay longer to enjoy lunch, browse the pottery shops and galleries, or continue exploring the Pottery Path at your own pace.

  1 hour 45 minutes • Admission ticket included

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• This tour includes walking through Tokoname’s historic pottery district. Some sections of the Pottery Path have slopes and uneven surfaces.
• Gloves and an apron are provided for the indigo dyeing experience.
• This package tour includes statutory accident compensation in accordance with Japan’s Travel Agency Act. We also recommend that travelers purchase their own travel insurance for broader medical and travel-related coverage.
• Minimum age of participants is 7.

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