Arts

The island of Kyushu is known worldwide for its ceramics. Kumamoto prefecture is the birthplace of the Shodai and Koda styles, and the city of Amakusa produces high-quality ceramics from porcelain called Amakusa pottery stone. You can see, purchase, and even make pottery yourself at several galleries and workshops around the prefecture. Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center Near Kumamoto Castle, you’ll find the Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center. Along with other crafts, the museum and shop have a large selection of pottery, ranging from traditional ceramics to modern styles in bold colors and with fun motifs. In addition to purchasing pottery as souvenirs and checking out the temporary exhibitions, you may be able to join a craft workshop. Where: 3-35 Chibajomachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City (map) Website: kumamoto-kougeikan.jp Open Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday Ichiyama Kujiraya Potter Fumiko Ichiyama has established a pottery gallery called Ichiyama Kujiraya, which is a combination of her name and the word in Japanese for whale (kujira). Located in a converted 50-year-old house in Amakusa, the gallery displays various dishes decorated in simple yet effective designs and painted in pastel colors. Since this is a private gallery, the open hours can…