Ceramics and Green Tea Private Tour of Saga and Nagasaki

There is a hidden pottery village located in the mountainous area of Imari Town in Saga Prefecture. It is such a gem of a location that not many people know about it, except of course those who are ceramic lovers. For these people the location is 7th heaven as it is so peaceful and tranquil, at times it feels as though one has stepped back in time. Okawachiyama which translates as "Big River in the Mountains" doesn't feel like a place designed for the 21st Century. Time runs a lot slower in these parts of the countryside and its a place where you can forget about life for a half a day and feel the time slip of the region.

Approx. 400 years ago, in 1616, a group of Korean potters, led by Yi Sam Pyeong, discovered porcelain stone at this location in Arita Town and became the first in Japan to successfully fire porcelain. The porcelain production, which began around the beginning of the 17th century and grew exponentially, consisted of Koimari wares which fans of early Imari wares just had to have, that also enchanted the royals and aristocrats of Europe. It all began here, at the porcelain stone deposit discovered at Izumiyama. For that reason, Izumiyama can certainly be considered a treasure trove. Nowadays the quarry is not in operation and has been partitioned off with a fence but tours are still held here. This is a spot which shouldn't be missed by pottery enthusiasts, as you are sure to capture a sense of being in the cradle of Arita-yaki.

You know you are in Ceramic Territory when the Shrines are decked out in Porcelain designs. It's actually quite remarkable for such a religious and hence traditional institution to allow these designs but when you think about it, it's actually a marketing masterpiece that will attract more customers to the region to see something unique. The Tozan Shrine is specifically located just above a train station is its easy to find but of course you just have to be careful when crossing the tracks. But don't worry since we are in the remote countryside of Kyushu there aren't too many trains in a daily routine. Walking towards the Shrine is a cultural event in itself. You literally have to stop and look intensely at every statue, pillar, column and of course the main torii entrance gates that feature at every Shinto Shrine in Japan.

If you want to experience and understand the history of pottery from the area, there is definitely enough English provided to give you plenty of background information and to allow you to delve into the finer details of all this regarding Kyushu Ceramics. The range of products and displays at the Kyushu Ceramic Museum are as diverse and wide ranging as you would expect from a highly rated institution. They get visitors from all over Japan and many more from abroad and this reflects in their efforts to provide as much English signposting and subtitling.

One of the biggest issues I had in the past was finding the right Porcelain shops for the right customer. It is extremely different to know what type of ceramics someone might have a tendency to be impressed by, therefore it was necessary to frequent many different shops to sample the pottery style of the area in general and the artisian in particular. As you can probably guess, this takes up a lot of precious time traveling from place to place and obviously very hit and miss. This is a problem that I don't have to worry about anymore! These days I head straight to the Arita Sera shops and just let the clients roam at their hearts content. There are over 20 ceramic speciality shops, so there is a lot to see and appreciate. You can window shop, enter as many places as you like to get up and personal with the products (touch and feeling is just as important as how visually appealing the products are) and if you wish a private talk with one of the shop owners can be arranged.

Arita Porcelain Park borders Nagasaki so closely that one could be forgiven to think that you were still in the same Prefecture. A mere hop, skip and jump from Nagasaki and you are in Saga and one of the most famous pottery producing areas in all of Japan. Arita is known for producing Arita Porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan. It also holds the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, called the Arita Ceramic Fair. This event is held from April 29th to May 5th every year and has thousands of stores and stalls lining the six-kilometer main street. One of the best well known places is the Arita Porcelain Park Nagasaki, where a replica of Dresden's Zwinger (Baroque Palace) houses a collection of Arita and European porcelain. A very interesting place to wander around and appreciate real beauty, not only are the buildings wonderful to gaze at but the blue and white porcelain pieces on display are to be seen to be believed. A MUST for all art lovers!

This a great location to pursue all things ceramic and porcelain. Hasami is a town with a population of 15 000 citizens and is surrounded by mountains and rolling hills of greenery. Although it is very popular with the tourists it has still been able to maintain its rich history and strike a balance between traditional life and achieving a certain amount of modernism. Anyone interested in pottery will absolutely enjoy the Hasamiyakimono Ceramics Park, lots of history and information to be obtained.

There is something about Green Tea that is very fascinating. We all know that Green Tea is good for us, it's great for the brain and improves cognitive function, great for aiding digestion and it's an excellent drink to help with weight loss and for skin and eye quality. The green tea industry in Japan is booming as demand from abroad has been peaking in the last 10 to 15 years. The best thing is that the Green Tea region of Ureshino is right in my backyard and its such an interesting and picturesque location to explore. I will endeavor to promote this region of Kyushu and give those Green Tea lovers insights into production techniques and the history of the town.

Meet the wife of the owner of a speciality Tea Producer from the region. She is a Tea sommelier originally from Europe and now a professional in her field. She will guide you through the intricate details of what kind of tea from region specializes in. A true tea enthusiasts special moment.

There is a very impressive place located in the rural confines of Saga Prefecture that has significant historical and cultural connotations. It is called the giant tree of Ureshino and for a green tea buff it is the origins of the green tea industry in this region of Kyushu. Not only is the location completely in the countryside (it's about as rural as you are ever going to get) but no matter what the season the Green Tea fields are still an amazing shade of vibrant green. It's hard to explain that in the middle of winter that colors like this even exist. The contrast is so mazing that it actually blows your mind. The manicured hedges of the Green Tea fields are absolutely mesmerizing. It could be just me but every time I see another interesting hedge shape along the river bank or on the hill I just have to step out of my car and take another picture. It's like a drug, you just can't get enough!