Journey from Nagoya to Tokoname, one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns and a celebrated center of ceramic craftsmanship for more than 1,000 years. Today, Tokoname is also Japan’s leading production center for bonsai pots, making it an ideal place to explore the close relationship between pottery and bonsai.
Begin on the historic Pottery Path, where the legacy of Tokoname ware is woven into the townscape. Walk past old brick chimneys, climbing kilns, pottery-lined lanes, and small workshops and galleries that reveal how ceramics have shaped everyday life here for generations.
Continue to Ikko Pottery Studio (Ikko-gama), the studio of bonsai pot artisan Ikko Watanabe. He is one of the craftspeople preserving “kata-oshi”, a traditional mold-pressing technique used to create richly patterned bonsai pots with a distinctive sense of depth and presence.
Meet the artisan, hear about his craft, and step inside a working pottery studio rarely seen by casual visitors. Browse an impressive collection of bonsai pots and discover how form, texture, and craftsmanship influence the way each pot complements the tree it holds.
The visit extends into the studio’s bonsai garden, where numerous bonsai are displayed in carefully chosen vessels. Here, the pot is not simply a container but an essential part of the composition, creating a quiet harmony between tree, vessel, and space.
This half-day journey offers an intimate look at Tokoname through its historic streets, living craftsmanship, and the refined Japanese aesthetics of bonsai.
Meet your professional, English-speaking guide at the Nagoya Station Tourist Information Center. Travel together by train to Tokoname, one of Japan’s most historic pottery towns.
Stroll through Tokoname’s atmospheric pottery district, where more than 1,000 years of ceramic history remain part of everyday life. Walk past historic brick chimneys, climbing kilns, the famous Clay Pipe Hill, and charming workshops and galleries scattered throughout the neighborhood.
Continue on foot or by taxi to Ikko Pottery Studio, a pottery studio specializing in bonsai pots.
Meet bonsai pot artisan Ikko Watanabe, who preserves the traditional Tokoname technique of kata-oshi, or mold pressing. Discover the distinctive patterns and substantial forms created through this technique while exploring his working studio and collection of bonsai pots.
Continue into the adjoining bonsai garden, where numerous bonsai are displayed in carefully selected vessels. See how the character of each pot enhances the tree it holds and experience the harmony between two closely connected Japanese art forms.
Walk back toward the station with your guide.
Travel back to Nagoya by train.
Guests who would like to spend more time in Tokoname may instead end the tour here and continue exploring the Pottery Path or enjoy lunch independently.
Arrive back at Nagoya Station, where the tour concludes.
Nagoya Station Tourist Information Center
This tour involves walking through the historic Pottery Path, including slopes and uneven surfaces. Please wear comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
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.
This experience is booked on request. We will respond to the request within 5 days
| Cancellation Date | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|
| No-show or cancellation after tour departure | 100% of the tour price |
| On the tour date | 50% of the tour price |
| 1 day prior to the tour date | 40% of the tour price |
| 2 to 7 days prior to the tour date | 30% of the tour price |
| 8 to 10 days prior to the tour date | 20% of the tour price |
| 11 or more days prior to the tour date | Free |
Tokoname City