Top Attractions in Arita for Sightseeing
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Arita Town in Saga Prefecture is known as a pottery town and the home of Arita ware, a ceramic tradition with more than 400 years of history. In the Uchiyama district, visitors can see traditional townscapes and tonbai walls, which were built using materials from old climbing kilns. At Tozan Shrine, unique sights that reflect Arita’s pottery culture can be found, including a porcelain torii gate and porcelain guardian dogs. Throughout the town, kiln sites, pottery studios, galleries, and shops selling ceramics are scattered around, making it a pleasure to explore on foot while experiencing the local ceramic culture. In spring, the Arita Ceramic Fair is held, attracting many visitors who come to browse shops and kilns and enjoy choosing their favorite pieces. At the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, visitors can learn about the history and masterpieces of ceramics from Hizen and other parts of Kyushu. It is also recommended to combine a museum visit with pottery painting experiences or kiln tours. Cafés and restaurants serving food and drinks in Arita ware vessels are another highlight, making this an area where visitors can experience pottery culture in an accessible and enjoyable way.
Recommended Local Products and Traditional Crafts in Arita
Arita-yaki (Arita Porcelain)
Arita ware is a traditional type of porcelain produced in and around Arita Town in Saga Prefecture, with a history of more than 400 years. It is known for its wide range of decorative styles, including pieces that highlight the beauty of white porcelain, sometsuke designs painted in indigo blue, yokoku raised relief decoration carved into the surface with tools such as spatulas, colorful overglaze enamel, and celadon. Arita ware ranges from everyday items such as rice bowls, plates, and mugs to fine art pieces and modern tableware. Its appeal lies in the way people can experience Arita’s craftsmanship and refined sense of beauty through objects used in daily life. Visitors can deepen their understanding of Arita ware by walking through the historic Uchiyama district, visiting kilns and galleries, trying a porcelain painting experience, or exploring the Saga Prefectural Kyushu Ceramic Museum. In spring, the Arita Ceramic Fair is held throughout the town, with many shops lining the streets and visitors coming from all over Japan.
Explore Arita: Top Spots and Must-Know Topic
Arita Ceramic Museum
The Arita Ceramic Museum is the oldest museum in Saga Prefecture. It is housed in a stone warehouse building that was originally built in 1874 as a storage facility for ceramics, and the building itself is an important part of the historic townscape of Arita’s Uchiyama district. Inside the museum, visitors can learn about the history of Arita ware through ceramics from the Edo period, as well as works mainly from the Meiji period through the early Showa period. The exhibits include pieces produced by local kilns and wealthy merchants, offering a glimpse into the development of Arita’s ceramic culture. Highlights include the **Sometsuke Arita Sarayama Shokunin-zukushi Ezu Ozara**, a large blue-and-white porcelain dish designated as an Important Cultural Property of Saga Prefecture, and the **Tobori Akae Guardian Dog**. Since opening days and exhibition contents may change, it is recommended to check the latest information before visiting.
Arita Uchiyama Preservation District
Arita Uchiyama is an area where the historic townscape that prospered through the production and distribution of Arita ware still remains. It developed as a center of porcelain production during the Edo period, and today, machiya townhouses, Western-style buildings, merchant houses, and other structures built from the late Edo period to the early Showa period can still be seen along the streets. The main streets are lined with merchant houses and shops, while the back streets are home to kiln owners’ residences and workshops, creating a distinctive atmosphere unique to a pottery town. One of the highlights is the tonbai walls, made using fire-resistant bricks from climbing kilns and fragments of pottery. As visitors walk through the narrow lanes, they can feel Arita’s ceramic culture up close.
Tozan Shrine (Sueyama Shrine)
Tozan Shrine is located in Otaru, Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, and is a shrine where visitors can feel the distinctive character of Arita as a pottery town. It is said to have been established around 1658 and enshrines Emperor Ojin as its main deity. Within the shrine grounds, there is also a monument dedicated to Yi Sam-pyeong, regarded as the founder of Arita ware. The shrine is known for its many ceramic features, including a large torii gate, guardian dogs, large water jars, and decorative fences made of Arita ware, making it a rare shrine that could only be found in a pottery town. Among them, the beautiful porcelain torii gate, decorated with pale blue arabesque patterns on white porcelain, is especially famous. It was donated by local potters in 1888 and has become one of Arita’s symbolic sights.
Arita Porcelain Park
Arita Porcelain Park is a theme park-style sightseeing facility where visitors can experience the appeal of Arita ware. Its most distinctive feature is the Zwinger Palace, a recreation of 18th-century German Baroque architecture. The elegant scenery created by the palace and gardens makes it a popular spot for photography. Inside the park, there are workshops where visitors can try Arita ware painting and pottery wheel experiences, as well as shops selling souvenirs and local sake. In the Baroque garden, guests can enjoy a stroll while taking in seasonal flowers and views of the palace. As of May 2026, the exhibition hall inside the Zwinger Palace is closed, and the restaurant is accepting group reservations only. If you plan to visit for the exhibitions or dining, it is recommended to check the latest operating status in advance.
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Izumiyama Quarry
Izumiyama Quarry, located in Izumiyama, Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, is the porcelain stone quarry that became the origin of Arita ware. In the early 17th century, Yi Sam-pyeong, regarded as the founder of Arita ware, and others are said to have discovered high-quality porcelain stone here, the raw material for porcelain, leading to Japan’s first successful large-scale production of porcelain. After being quarried for around 400 years, the site now presents a distinctive landscape with steep exposed rock faces and remaining quarry pits. Marks left by pickaxes can still be seen in the quarry pits, offering a glimpse of how porcelain stone was once extracted by hand. In 1980, part of the site was designated a National Historic Site. Today, quarrying at Izumiyama is rarely carried out, and porcelain stone from places such as Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture is also used for Arita ware. Please note that visitors cannot enter the quarry pits.
Arita Será
Arita Será is a shopping resort located in Akasaka, Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, where specialty shops for Arita ware are gathered. Across its spacious grounds of about 20,000 tsubo, 22 shops line the area, offering a wide variety of Arita ware, from everyday tableware to gifts, commercial-use dishes, and high-end art ceramics. The facility also includes galleries, restaurants, and a hotel, making it a place where visitors can enjoy not only shopping but also dining and overnight stays. It is recommended not only for those looking for ceramics, but also for anyone who wants to casually experience the diverse designs of Arita ware and the atmosphere of its production region.
Saga Prefectural Kyushu Ceramic Museum
The Saga Prefectural Kyushu Ceramic Museum is a prefectural museum dedicated to ceramics from across the Kyushu region. Inside, visitors can view a wide range of ceramics, including the history of Arita ware, as well as Karatsu ware, Hasami ware, Mikawachi ware, Satsuma ware, and other ceramic traditions from different parts of Kyushu. Through masterpieces and video materials, the museum offers an easy-to-understand introduction to the history of Kyushu ceramics and the characteristics of each period, making it approachable even for those who are not familiar with pottery. Special exhibitions and themed exhibitions are also held.
Former Tashiro Family Western-Style House
The Former Tashiro Family Western-Style House is an early Meiji-period pseudo-Western-style building located in Kohei, Arita Town, Saga Prefecture. It is said to have been built in 1876 by the Tashiro family, leading ceramic traders of Arita, as a place to entertain and accommodate foreign visitors who came to purchase ceramics. The two-story wooden building has a tiled roof and plastered exterior walls. Its Western-style appearance is characterized by a row of columns at the front, with a porch on the first floor and a veranda on the second floor. The windows feature transoms with stained glass, and the interior includes elements such as a spiral staircase and Western-style decorative details. At the same time, the rooms are fitted with tatami mats, reflecting the distinctive features of pseudo-Western architecture. In 2018, the building was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Today, it is generally open to the public on weekends and national holidays, as well as during events such as the Arita Ceramic Fair and the Arita Autumn Ceramic Festival.
Fukagawa Seiji China on the Park
Fukagawa Seiji China on the Park is a ceramics-themed facility where visitors can experience the appeal of Fukagawa Seiji, a long-established Arita ware brand. In this name, “China” is said to refer to the English word “china,” meaning porcelain. Located within the company’s factory grounds, the facility has a calm and refined atmosphere. It is divided into four areas, each offering a different way to experience the world of Fukagawa Seiji. At the Fukagawa Seiji Gallery, visitors can admire historic works and beautiful tableware by the brand. At the outlet shop, Jikigura, you may find everyday-use pieces and special bargains. Other attractions include local Saga gourmet products and a memorial garden, making it a place with plenty to enjoy beyond ceramics.
Gallery Arita
Gallery Arita is a restaurant located in Honmachi, Arita Town, Saga Prefecture, where visitors can enjoy a meal surrounded by Arita ware. Inside the restaurant, around 2,500 Arita ware coffee cups are displayed, and when ordering a hot drink, guests can choose their favorite cup from the collection. The menu includes dishes, sweets, and drinks made with local ingredients. It is also known for set meals featuring godofu, a local Arita specialty, and as a restaurant serving the local gourmet dish Arita-yaki Gozen. The restaurant also has a select shop for Arita ware, where visitors can enjoy shopping while browsing tableware, small
List of Local Products and Traditional Crafts from Arita
Aritadori
Aritadori is a branded chicken known as a local specialty of Arita Town in Saga Prefecture. On the official Arita Town website, it is introduced as chicken that won an Excellence Award in a taste contest for jidori and branded chicken, and is described as having a tender and juicy texture. In the town, visitors can enjoy fried chicken and other dishes made with Aritadori. Locally produced chicken is also used in Arita-yaki Gozen, a regional gourmet meal that features local ingredients served in Arita ware dishes.
Godōfu (Arita, Saga)
Godofu is a traditional local dish long enjoyed in Arita Town, made by kneading soy milk with kudzu starch or other starches. Unlike ordinary tofu, which is set with nigari, godofu is known for its chewy, mochi-like texture and smooth, glossy appearance similar to pudding. It is commonly eaten with sesame soy sauce, but it can also be enjoyed as a Japanese-style dessert when served with kinako roasted soybean flour or brown sugar syrup. With its mellow soybean flavor and pleasantly springy texture, godofu is one of Arita’s well-loved specialties.
Arita-yaki Curry (Arita, Saga)
Arita ware curry is a local specialty of Arita Town, served in an Arita ware dish. It is an authentic baked curry made with a handmade curry roux using 28 kinds of spices, topped with cheese and baked to perfection. The dish is also made with carefully selected ingredients such as rice and wagyu beef from Saga Prefecture, as well as water from Arita. It is sold as an ekiben lunch box at JR Arita Station and is also known for having won first place in a “Kyushu Ekiben” ranking. The Arita ware dishes come in various designs, including zodiac patterns, character designs, and styles that reflect the charm of Arita ware. After finishing the curry, the dish can be kept and used as a memorable souvenir from the trip.