Arita, Saga

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Arita (有田町; -machi) is a town located in Nishimatsuura District, Saga, Japan.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 12,646 and a density of 466.81 persons per km². The total area is 27.09 km². Arita produces the Imari porcelain that is well known to European collectors. It is also the holder of the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, the Arita Ceramic Fair. This event is held from April 29 to May 5 every year. Always a popular event, thousands of stores and stalls line the six-kilometre main street.

[edit] Places To visit

The Kyushu Ceramic Museum (Kyushu Toji Bunkakan, 九州陶磁文化館) is located in Arita town. It is famous throughout Japan for its research on ceramics. There are large exhibits of old and modern style ceramics. Closed on Mondays, admission is free. Located near Kami Arita station.

The Porcelain Park is a theme park of ceramics. It also has ceramic ware from the heyday of Arita on display in the gallery of the Palace and is modelled on the Zwinger Palace in Germany.

Arita Kan (有田館) has an exhibition of modern art porcelain, 400 different cups for coffee or tea and a theater with mechanical computerized puppets made of porcelain. Admission is 200 yen.

At China On The Park you can experience pottery and porcelain design. The establishment dates back to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops and a restaurant.

Tozan Shrine is famous for its porcelain archway and other items of porcelain, which are usually made of stone at other shrines. This shrine is and was particularly revered by Arita’s ceramists.

Rokuroza (ろくろ座) If you are really interested in pottery but only have a half day you can spare, then Rokuroza is the place for you. Here you can learn how to make your own pottery. Located near Kami Arita Station.