Okawachiyama - Hidden Porcelain Village

What?
The history of Okawachiyama Village (大川内山) is an interesting one. After discovering the necessary materials for porcelain production, local lords decided to hide skilled craftsmen in a remote valley to protect their techniques—techniques originally brought over by Korean artisans from the peninsula. Even today, road signs still call it the “Hidden Porcelain Village,” a nod to its secluded location. The village still quietly rests in the same valley, surrounded small peaks that provide a picturesque backdrop. Porcelain manufacturers line the narrow streets with their shops. While I imagine the furnaces have evolved over time, many still proudly display their traditional brick chimneys.
Where?
Okawachiyama Village is tucked away in some remote countryside of Saga Prefecture. It’s accessible by bus from Imari Station (伊万里駅), but with only one departure every two hours, it’s not the most flexible option. Renting a car is definitely the easier choice.
URL
Japan Guide Visit Kyushu

Ceramics, porcelain,… let me be honest and say that I do not get its beauty. It’s just a matter of interest; I’m sure other people will understand its appeal.
But I did want to check the hidden Pottery Village. I mean, while the end product might not really speak to my imagination, the kilns and their chimneys do, as well – I think – the use of the kilns. So as the town was not far away from Mount Kurokami I decided to give it a short look.

Village is a euphemism – the town is not bigger than two streets where ceramic shops are lined up next to each other. With the Sakura trees in bloom, the dramatic mountain peak in the background and the static kiln chimneys, I could find some charm in the looks of the town. I even entered a few of the shops but found little that piqued my interest – again, it’s just a matter of personal taste.

I wondered around a bit but was slightly disappointed in the absence of anything else than ceramic shops: no small museums, no workshops, no videos of kilns in use, not even any eateries apart from one – closed – café.

Porcelain map of the village.

The chimneys are important to the look of the village.

I wandered back to the parking lot, took a few pictures of the Nabeshima Kiln Bridge and headed for the Imari Village Aritayaki Traditional Industry Hall of which I hoped it would learn me a bit more and as such increase my interest in the matter.
Unfortunately, the rather big building wasn’t anything more than 2 rooms of boring exhibits, and one room where you could practice a hand in decorating the ceramics. I didn’t try it out, but it might have been that thing that separates the village from being just a big outdoor ceramic mall. There was no English signage whatsoever and I wasn’t in the mood to decipher technical Japanese, so in the end, I didn’t really learn much at all.

Too bad. I think I would have enjoyed it more if my wife was with me – she tends to notice the little details that I overlook and brings places to life. But even she would fine the lack of eateries a big drawback.

The town looked pretty, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get here, that’s for sure.