The Kyushu Ceramic Museum — Attraction in Arita

Highly Recommended - for anyone who is interested in the evolution of authentic Kyushu ceramics.

While I enjoyed shopping in various pottery villages with all of the shape sizes colours and firing techniques on offer, this museum allowed to me to understand the different styles and transformation of technique over centuries. It’s small and intimate- with a narrative that is very digestible.

The chronological explanations were accurate and gave kudos on early technique to both the Koreans as well as the Chinese, then lead us through the journey of developing a style that is definitively and beautifully Japanese.

It’s small enough for younger children to wander and enjoy the chiming ceramic clock that bursts into action on the hour (possibly 1/2 as well).

We had the pleasure of meeting the director of the museum Ezoe-San who was gracious and welcoming.

FYI there is a lovely coffee shop upstairs which allows you to sip coffee from a 200 year old porcelain cup and provides a solid home style lunch. Be sure however to bring CASH as there is no electronic payment system! Overall a very lovely afternoon and a great way to...

Visited the Kyushu Ceramic Museum in Arita, Saga Prefecture, it is a treasure trove for ceramic enthusiasts. With its impressive permanent collection and frequent special events, the museum celebrates the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of ceramics created in Kyushu, particularly Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures. There is an interesting giant ceramic clock with four seasons and melodies every 30 minutes! The displays are well-curated, informative, and even include English translations. Whether you're a pottery aficionado or simply curious about Japanese porcelain, this museum is a must-visit. Plus, the free entrance makes it even more...

I highly recommend this museum. The museum itself is located on the top of a small hill over Arita and has some beautiful modern architecture. The collection of Arita ware is stunning and very diverse in terms of ages and styles, going from the very first decades of ceramic production in the region all the way to cutting edge contemporary pieces. The collection is well showcased and I appreciated the museography a lot. I learned about the history of Arita potteries and how they are made. I went in the afternoon on a week day in June and there were very few visitors so it felt like I had all the collections to myself. Also the museum is...