Arita

Arita (有田) is a town in Saga, Kyushu, Japan.

porcelain archway of Tozan Shrine

Understand

Arita is known as the home of Imari porcelain, internationally the most famous type of Japanese pottery. (The separate town of Imari is simply the port they were shipped through on their way to the outside world.)

If you search using the kanji, don't confuse the town with Arida (有田) City, Wakayama.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

Get in

By Train

• 1 Arita Station (有田駅), Hei Hokaomachi. An express train connects directly to Fukuoka. (updated Jul 2024)

See

Replica Zwinger Palace

• 1 Kyushu Ceramic Museum (九州陶磁文化館 Kyushu Toji Bunkakan) (Near Kami-Arita Station). Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. It is famous throughout Japan for its research on ceramics. There are large exhibits of old and modern style ceramics. free. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Arita Porcelain Park (有田ポーセリンパーク), Otsu-340-28, Toya. 9AM-5PM. A considerably large replica of a wannabe German village, located in the outskirts of Arita on the road to Hasami. Most stunning is probably the copy of the “Zwinger” a famous German castle in the city of Dresden. Inside the castle is a permanent exhibition of European porcelain held in one track and Arita porcelain in the other. Both are pretty impressive. Behind the castle lies a European style garden, and behind that a large ancient kiln can be visited. The rest of Porcelain Park is like a theme park. (updated Feb 2016)
• 3 Arita Kan (有田館), 1-1-1 Kobira, ☏ +81 955-43-2121. Has an exhibition of modern art porcelain, 400 different cups for coffee or tea and a theater with mechanical computerized puppets made of porcelain. ¥200. (updated Jul 2024)
• 4 Tozan Shrine (陶山神社), 2-5-1 Odaru, ☏ +81 955-42-3310. Famous for its porcelain archway and other items of porcelain, which are usually made of stone at other shrines. This shrine is and was particularly revered by Arita’s ceramists. (updated Jul 2024)
• 5 China On The Park (深川製磁 チャイナ･オン･ザ･パーク), 111 Haraake, ☏ +81 955-46-3900. Experience pottery and porcelain design. The establishment dates back to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops and a restaurant. (updated Jul 2024)

Do

• 1 Rokuroza (ろくろ座), 1-30-1 Izumiyama (Near Kami-Arita Station), ☏ +81 955-41-1302. If you are really interested in pottery but only have a half day you can spare, then Rokuroza is the place for you. Here you can learn how to make your own pottery. (updated Jul 2024)
• Arita Hall Ceramic Puppet Performance. Based on the local folktale of the Giant Snake of Kurokamiyama, the world's first joruri (ballad drama) performance by ceramic puppets is held in the Arita Hall. The colourful stage is painted in the three styles of Kakiemon, Ironabeshima and old Imari.

Buy

Imari porcelain

Eat

• RanRanRan (RUNらんラン) (Near Arita Porcelain Park.). Specializes in fried curry and blueberry parfaits. Temporarily closed as of April 2024. (updated Jul 2024)
• hapi cafétta (ハピ カフェッタ). A burger restaurant across from Arita Station. (updated Sep 2024)
• Hitofushi. A restaurant with ramen, udon, champon, and gyoza dishes. (updated Sep 2024)

Sleep

• Guesthouse Keramiek (ケラミック有田). Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A guesthouse with Japanese and Western-style room options. (updated Sep 2024)
• Zoku Ijinkan (続異人館). Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. A building in the historic pottery district that has been rennovated for use as an accommodation. Only 1 reservation can be made per night for up to 4 people, so you will have the place to yourself. Bookings may be made in English. (updated Sep 2024)

Go next

• Imari
• Karatsu
• Genkai
• Takeo
• Matsuura
• Hirado
• Hasami
• Sasebo
• Omura