Chestnuts, black beans, and wild boar meat are the specialties of the area, and many people come here to enjoy the rich food, and you can find some fancy restaurants in the middle of the countryside that have been converted from old private houses.

A trip to the green, rural area to dine on some delicious food is appealing, but this time I would like to recommend a trip with the theme of “pottery”.

The Tamba-yaki pottery produced in this area is from one of the six oldest kilns in Japan with a history of 800 years. There is a pottery village with about 60 kilns, and it is a sacred place for “Mingei” (folk art) pottery.

“Mingei” means ‘the daily necessities of the people.’ Made by unnamed craftsmen, the beauty of this pottery was described by the philosopher Mr. Muneyoshi Yanagi. Their simple and practical designs are very appealing, and recently they have been attracting more and more young fans.

If you are visiting from Tokyo, the quickest way is to rent a car from Kyoto, but I wasn’t too confident in my driving skills, so this time I took the train from Shin-Osaka to Sasayama-guchi station and rented a car from there to start my trip to Tamba-Sasayama.

The first place I headed to was the Konda area, where the pottery makers of “Tamba Tachikui-yaki” are located. If you are a fan of Mingei, this is a must-see place.

Lunch Spot: Tama no suke (玉の助）

A quick lunch at a restaurant “Tama no suke” (玉の助） specializing in “Tamagokakegohan” (a dish of white rice mixed with raw egg, seasoned with soy sauce) in the Konda district.

Place1 . Tanso Klin（丹窓窯）

The first place I visited was Tanso Kiln, where the spirit of Mr. Shigeyoshi Ichino is still alive. Ichino trained in the studio of Bernard Leach, a British potter who participated in the Mingei movement, and was a close friend of Muneyoshi Yanagi.

Small slipware dishes and other items can be purchased at relatively low prices.

Place2 . Toshihiko Kiln（俊彦窯）

Next was the Toshihiko Kiln, owned by Mr. Toshihiko Shimizu, who is also a second-generation pupil of Mr. Kanjiro Kawai.

This kiln has recently become popular overseas as well.

Place3 . Tamba-yaki Tachikui Noborikama（丹波焼立杭登窯）

Located near the Toshihiko Kiln, the Tamba-yaki Tachikui Noborikama Kiln is also a must-see. It is the oldest Noborikama style of kiln in Tamba-yaki and the prefecture has designated it as an important tangible asset of folk culture heritage.

The view of the woodland area from the top is also beautiful.

After the luxurious shopping experience of buying pottery while listening to the craftsmens’ stories, I went to Sasayama, a historic castle town.

Place4 . Tamba Kotokan Pottery Museum（丹波古陶館）

Here, be sure to visit the Tamba Kotokan Pottery Museum and see the masterpieces of Tamba-yaki.

Place5 . Taos Guest House

I stayed at Taos, a century-old traditional Japanese house that has been recently turned into an inn, with a co-working space, dining room, two bedrooms, and spacious accommodation for up to six people.

In fact, one of the inn’s specialties is “Mingei tableware”.

Why are there so many Mingei folk-art pieces inside? It’s because this inn is run by Plug, a nearby store with a large selection of Mingei pieces.

Place6 . plug (interior shop)

If you find a product you like, be sure to visit Plug as well. This store is also very sophisticated, and you will have a great shopping experience here.

Dining Spot . Shunsai Matabee(旬菜又兵衛)

In the evening, I went to Shunsai Matabee, which is run by Kinmata, a historic ryokan established in the Edo period, within walking distance from the inn.

As expected of an izakaya run by a high-class ryokan, all the dishes were delicious and beautifully arranged.

Place7 . Chinese Tea Cafe Kotori

If you want to explore more folk-art spots, head to the Chinese Tea Cafe Kotori.

The interior of the renovated samurai residence next to Sasayama Castle is very tasteful, but the restaurant is actually run by the daughter of Masaaki Shibata, a potter who is also deeply involved in Mingei, and the dishes served here are made with his pottery.

There is also a corner in the store where Mr. Shibata’s pottery is sold.

In this article, I have only introduced you to the Mingei folk-art spots, but it is also fun to wander around the castle town, which still retains the atmosphere of the Edo period.

The post 7 Places You Must Visit in Tamba-Sasayama to Discover “Mingei” Pottery appeared first on Trip Planner Japan.

Kyoto is the most famous tourist destination in this region. When you think of Japan, you are probably picturing Kyoto.

It is not only known for its history. Japanese magazines run special features on Kyoto almost every month and there is always something new to talk about – from seasonal scenery and new restaurants and cafes, to museum exhibitions and hotel openings.

It is often said that Osaka is a city of commerce or a city of comedy. People in the city have relatively good communication skills, you may find yourself having pleasant conversations with them at Izakayas and such.
Osaka is also known for its local specialties such as Takoyaki (Fried Octopus Balls) , Okonomiyaki, and Kushiage.

They have the largest Korean neighborhood in Japan, Tsuruhashi. Eating Korean barbecue is also popular for food lovers. Japanese call Osaka a city of “kuidaore” (it means bringing ruin upon oneself by extravagance in food). It has recently become a destination well-known to Hollywood movie fans because there is the Universal Studio Japan.

Nara once had the capital of ancient Japan. Since it is an older capital than Kyoto, there are many ancient tombs and ancient ruins, giving it a mysterious charm. The quality of its Buddhist statues in particular is said to be the best in Japan.

Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture is a popular city for going on dates among people in Kansai. Because Kobe has many Western-style buildings that are exotic to the Japanese.
A scenic and fun drive on Awaji Island, and Rokko Mountains are famous for their night views. Both places places are also known as favorite destinations for dating.

Wakayama, with its many sacred places such as the World Heritage Kumano Kodo and Mt. Koya, is also known these days for its many pandas.

Shiga is renowned for Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, Hikone Castle, a national treasure, and Hieizan Enryakuji Temple, a World Heritage site.

However, La Colina, a pastry store, is becoming popular for its unique architecture. It is said to be more popular than Hikone Castle and Hieizan Enryakuji Temple.

If you like

Shopping:

Osaka, one of Japan’s three major cities, has department stores that are comparable to those in Tokyo. Kobe is famous as a fashion city, with the headquarters of many apparel companies and a museum dedicated to fashion.

In Kyoto, you can buy Japanese patterned tenugui, stationery made of Japanese paper, kitchenware made by artisans.
Tamba in Hyogo Prefecture, and Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture are known for their historic pottery.

Arts and culture:

Osaka has a lot of large museums. There are many small museums in Kyoto that make use of former private residences, such as Shigemori Mirei Garden Museum and Kawai Kanjiro’s house,  where you can enjoy viewing art that is unique to Kyoto and cannot be experienced anywhere else.

Hot springs:
Arima Onsen, which is one of the top three famous hot spring towns in Japan is particularly popular, however, Kinosaki Onsen has also recently been gathering attention due to the revitalization of the town encompassing the themes of art and architecture.

Traditional townscape:

While Kyoto and Nara are well-known, there are also many traditional townscapes that remain such as Omihachiman and Hikone in Shiga prefecture, Tondabayashi in Osaka prefecture, Yuasa in Wakayama prefecture, and Tatsuno in Hyogo prefecture.

Gourmet food:

Although there is a strong image of Japanese cuisine associated with Kyoto, the city is actually also well-known for its many famous bakeries and ramen shops.

Takoyaki from Akashi are fluffy like an omelet and have a completely different flavor from the Osaka version and are worth a taste. Kobe is a mecca for not only Kobe Beef but also Western-style pastries and cakes.

Shiga prefecture has its own unique fermented food products made from lake fish. On the Sea of Japan side of Japan, the fish caught are very delicious, and in the wintertime, crab is a specialty of the area.

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