Saga Prefecture · Town
Arita
有田町ありたちょうArita-chōFour centuries of porcelain in one valley
Arita is a small town in western Saga Prefecture where porcelain was first made in Japan in the early 17th century. Its porcelain, exported to Europe as Imari, is still produced by dozens of kilns along a narrow valley.
Overview
Arita lies in a narrow valley in the hills of western Saga, near the border with Nagasaki. In the early 17th century potters brought from Korea found porcelain stone at Izumiyama at the head of the valley, and the town grew into the first and for a long time the only centre of porcelain production in Japan. The Saga domain controlled the industry closely, keeping its techniques secret and channelling sales through the port of Imari, which gave the ware its name abroad.
When civil war disrupted Chinese exports in the mid-17th century, the Dutch East India Company turned to Arita, and its blue-and-white and enamelled wares reached European palaces, inspiring the porcelain of Meissen and other factories. The Kakiemon style, with its sparse overglaze decoration on milky white ground, and the richly gilded Kinrande style date from this period.
Today Arita remains a working pottery town. The old main street of Uchiyama, lined with merchant houses and kiln-owner residences, is a protected historic district; lanes walled with recycled kiln bricks lead between workshops; and the spring ceramics fair turns the whole town into a market.
Landmarks
Izumiyama Porcelain Stone Quarry
泉山磁石場Izumiyama JisekibaThe pale, hollowed-out hillside where porcelain stone was first quarried; a national historic site.
Tōzan Shrine
陶山神社Tōzan JinjaA hillside shrine with a porcelain torii of 1888, porcelain guardian dogs and lanterns; a railway line crosses its approach.
Tonbai walls
トンバイ塀tonbai-beiWalls built from discarded kiln bricks and fire clay along the back lanes of Uchiyama.
Kyushu Ceramic Museum
佐賀県立九州陶磁文化館Saga Kenritsu Kyūshū Tōji BunkakanThe prefectural museum of Kyushu ceramics, with a major collection of export porcelain returned from Europe.
Kakiemon Kiln
柿右衛門窯Kakiemon-gamaThe workshop of the Sakaida Kakiemon line, whose milky-white nigoshide body and overglaze techniques are a designated Important Intangible Cultural Property.
Tengudani Kiln Site
天狗谷窯跡Tengudani kama atoRemains of an early climbing kiln on the hillside, among the sites of the first porcelain production.
Arita Porcelain Park
有田ポーセリンパークArita Pōserin PākuA park with a replica of Dresden's Zwinger palace housing European and Japanese porcelain.
Districts
Uchiyama
内山UchiyamaThe historic core along the upper valley, a preservation district of kiln-owner houses, galleries and Western-style Meiji buildings.
Sotoyama
外山SotoyamaThe outer valley with further kilns, including the Kakiemon and Genemon workshops.
Nishi-Arita
西有田Nishi-AritaThe rural western part of the town, with the Ryūmon gorge and terraced rice fields.
History
Tradition credits the discovery of porcelain stone at Izumiyama in 1616 to Ri Sanpei (Yi Sam-pyeong), a Korean potter brought to Japan during Hideyoshi's invasions, who is honoured as the founder of Arita porcelain. By the 1640s the Sakaida Kakiemon family had developed red overglaze enamels, and from 1659 the Dutch East India Company placed large orders for export.
In the 18th century Chinese competition returned, and Arita concentrated on the domestic market. A great fire in 1828 destroyed most of the town, which was rebuilt with the merchant houses that still line Uchiyama. In the Meiji era Arita porcelain won medals at world's fairs in Paris and Vienna, and the town developed industrial production. Arita merged with the neighbouring town of Nishi-Arita in 2006.
1616
Porcelain stone is discovered at Izumiyama, traditionally by the Korean potter Ri Sanpei.
1640s
Sakaida Kakiemon develops overglaze red enamels.
1659
The Dutch East India Company begins large-scale orders of Arita porcelain for export.
late 17th c.
The Nabeshima domain's official kilns are established at Ōkawachiyama near Imari.
1828
The Bunsei fire destroys most of Arita.
1867
Arita porcelain is shown at the Paris Exposition Universelle.
1991
Uchiyama is designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
2006
Arita merges with Nishi-Arita.
2016
Arita marks four hundred years of porcelain making.
Culture
Arita's culture is its porcelain: families of potters, painters and merchants have worked in the valley for generations, and the division of labour between clay makers, throwers, painters and kilns still shapes the town. Several lines of master potters, above all Kakiemon and Imaemon, have been recognised as bearers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties. The founder of the craft, Ri Sanpei, is venerated at Tōzan Shrine, and a monument to him on the hill above the town looks over the valley.
Festivals
Arita Ceramics Fair
有田陶器市Arita Tōki-ichiFrom 29 April to 5 May some four kilometres of the main street become a pottery market, one of the largest in Japan.
Tōso Festival
陶祖祭Tōso-saiA ceremony on 4 May honouring Ri Sanpei as founder of Arita porcelain.
Autumn Arita Ceramics Festival
秋の有田陶磁器まつりAki no Arita Tōjiki MatsuriA smaller porcelain fair in November, combined with autumn foliage in the valley.
Food
Godōfu
ごどうふgodōfuA soft, springy tofu of soy milk thickened with kudzu or starch, served with sweet sesame sauce — Arita's traditional festive dish.
Meals on Arita ware
Local restaurants serve set meals and curries on locally made porcelain, a custom promoted during the ceramics fair.
Imari beef
伊万里牛Imari-gyūWagyu raised in neighbouring Imari and served in the area's restaurants.
Getting around
- JR Arita Station on the Sasebo Line is served by limited express trains from Hakata in about an hour and a half; Kami-Arita Station is closer to Uchiyama.
- The Matsuura Railway runs from Arita to Imari and along the coast; Takeo-Onsen, on the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, is a short train ride away.
- Uchiyama is best explored on foot; rental bicycles and community buses help with the more distant kilns.
Day trips
Imari and Ōkawachiyama
The secluded village of the Nabeshima domain's official kilns, surrounded by steep crags.
Takeo Onsen
Hot-spring town with a vermilion tower gate and a striking public library.
Hasami
A neighbouring porcelain town in Nagasaki Prefecture, known for everyday tableware.
Naval port and gateway to the Kujūkushima islands, about half an hour by train.
The other great pottery town of Saga, on the Genkai coast.
Other cities in the prefecture
Frequently asked questions
Why is Arita porcelain called Imari in Europe?
In the Edo period Arita's wares were carried to the port of Imari and shipped from there, so traders and collectors knew them as Imari; 'Old Imari' (ko-Imari) still designates early Arita porcelain.
When is the Arita Ceramics Fair?
Every year from 29 April to 5 May, during Golden Week. The town is very crowded then, and extra trains run.
Can visitors try making porcelain in Arita?
Several kilns and workshops offer painting or throwing experiences; check with the town's tourist association for current offers.
Where did Japanese porcelain begin?
At Izumiyama in Arita, where porcelain stone was discovered in the early 17th century; tradition dates the discovery to 1616.
Related
Sources
- 1.令和2年国勢調査 人口等基本集計 (opens in a new tab) — 総務省統計局
- 2.有田町公式ホームページ (opens in a new tab) — 有田町
- 3.佐賀県立九州陶磁文化館 (opens in a new tab) — 佐賀県
- 4.Saga (opens in a new tab) — Japan National Tourism Organization