Welcome to Arita

Welcome to Arita

With over 400 years of history, porcelain production is still an important traditional craft in Arita. Over 100 kilns in the town still produce Arita ware (arita-yaki), maintaining the town's legacy as the birthplace of porcelain in Japan. Today, at kilns across Arita, craftsmen carefully preserve heritage designs while adapting traditional products for contemporary markets.

A short walk from JR Arita Station, Kiln Arita is a one-stop information center. The staff can introduce you to places to learn more about Arita ware such as the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, the Arita History and Folklore Museum, as well as the museums at the Fukagawa Seiji, Genemon, Imaemon, Kakiemon, and Koransha kilns. Kiln Arita staff can also help reserve tours and experiences at many of the kilns in Arita. Arita ware can be purchased at the kilns or at Arita Será, a collection of 22 shops built in a repurposed wholesale market.

East of the JR station is the historical neighborhood of Uchiyama. Settled in the late 1630s, Uchiyama was registered as an "Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings" in 1991. Many of Arita's most famous kilns and porcelain merchants are based in the neighborhood and sit side by side with cafés, galleries, and new shops built in renovated historical buildings. Look for the tonbai walls made with bricks from old kilns in the smaller streets parallel to the main road through Uchiyama.

Arita is nestled into a river valley surrounded by forest. Long ago, people built terraced rice paddies to make up for the lack of flat land. One of the most picturesque examples of the terraced paddies is Take no Tanada in the northwest of the city. Check the Take no Tanada Walking Map for the best route and photo spots to make the most of your stop. In the mountains north of the old town is Ryumon Gorge, a deep river valley known for its water's clarity. South of Ryumon Gorge is Arita Dam, which is a popular place to escape the summer heat and enjoy the reflection of the autumn leaves and spring flowers on the water.