Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Overview
Highlights
-Explore Japan’s fermentation culture through traditional ceramic crocks and natural indigo dyeing.
-Walk Tokoname’s historic Pottery Path, shaped by over 1,000 years of ceramics.
-Visit Tokoname’s only traditional fermentation crock workshop and meet third-generation artisan Yuji Koie.
-See how ceramic crocks for miso, pickles, and other fermented foods are made.
-Dye your own tenugui using a natural indigo vat created through fermentation.
Overview
Discover Japan’s fermentation culture through two traditional crafts in Tokoname, a pottery town with over 1,000 years of history. Walk the historic Pottery Path, then visit Yamagen Toen, a workshop making traditional fermentation crocks for over 60 years. Meet third-generation artisan Yuji Koie and see how local clay becomes vessels for fermented foods such as miso. Finally, visit Konya no Namiho, an indigo studio where fermentation creates natural indigo dye. Dye your own tenugui and experience Japan’s iconic deep blue.
What's included
Pottery workshop visit
Professional, English-speaking guide
Natural indigo dyeing experience
Train and taxi transportation during the tour
Transportation to the meeting point
Personal purchases
What to expect
2h 15m
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.
1h 15m · Admission ticket included
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.
1h 45m · Admission ticket included
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.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
Meet your professional, English-speaking guide and travel together from Nagoya to Tokoname by train.
End point
Meet your professional, English-speaking guide and travel together from Nagoya to Tokoname by train.
Additional information
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.
A Mandarin, French, Spanish, German, or Korean-speaking guide may be available. Please contact the supplier in advance to check availability.
Please wear clothing that you do not mind getting stained during the indigo dyeing experience.
Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes suitable for exploring the Pottery Path.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
