Arita & Ceramics Kiln
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Port
Fukuoka (Hakata), Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$350
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Escape from the bustle of the city on a two-hour drive to the mountain village of Arita and learn about one of Japan's most treasured art forms. In the late 16th century, skilled potters settled in the little village of Arita. They had learned from the Chinese how to produce fine ceramics and, with a steady supply of kaolin nearby — the clay required for making porcelain — Arita became Japan's major porcelain production center.
In the early 17th century, Arita porcelain was made with deep-blue patterns on a white background, and later with bright colors. The Dutch East India Company exported the porcelain, and royal palaces across Europe snapped up vases, tea sets, dinnerware, and figurines from Arita. Today, many Arita ceramics are mass-produced in factories, but your experience today includes a visit to an authentic kiln, where you can watch skilled artisans create beautiful pieces in accordance with time-honored techniques.
An enjoyable Japanese lunch is followed by some free time to shop. Keep an eye out for the tall brick chimneys — remnants of the 150 kilns that once populated the area. Take a peek into some back yards, and you'll find them lovingly decorated with fences made out of used bricks and pottery.
Reboarding the coach, you'll visit a small gallery to browse and purchase beautiful ceramic pieces if you wish.
Head back to the ship via the hilly, volcanic landscape of Kyushu.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Travel time to Arita is two hours each way. Observing the artisans at work in Arita is not possible on Sundays and holidays. You must remove your shoes at one or more location(s). Unfamiliar accents can be challenging; feel free to ask your guide to repeat or elaborate on information, and to speak more slowly so you can fully comprehend and converse.