Tobe-yaki Ceramics in Matsuyama

Traveling around Japan, a common theme from island to island is beautiful ceramics. Pottery towns are found from Okinawa in the south to Hokkaido in the north with each region offering unique styles and production styles. Matsuyama is no exception, so if you’ve added Ehime’s capital city to your travel itinerary, head for Tobe, the prefecture’s pottery district par excellence and the home of classy indigo blue on white ceramic designs. Visitors can not only purchase to bring these ceramics back home, but also join the potters to make their own Tobeyaki as it is known locally.

Tobe-yaki Ceramics in Matsuyama

Before you buy the local pottery, why not try your hand at making Tobeyaki yourself. Although potters abound in the town of Tobe, the best way to join a hands-on pottery workshop is at the Togei Sosakukan. With the guidance of the local experts, you can choose from three different workshops; a pottery painting experience, hand molding experience, or the pottery wheel experience. Which experience you choose depends on how much you want to get involved in the pottery-making process and how much clay you want to get on your hands.

Tobe-yaki Ceramics in Matsuyama

The painting experience, which does not require a prior reservation, is perfect if you are on an improvised trip and just happened to decide on the Tobeyaki workshop on the day of your visit. It is also a convenient way of getting a taste for this traditional craft while avoiding getting the messy clay on your hands. You can choose from seven different types of ceramics for the painting experience and get the final piece mailed to you once the glaze firing is complete. Although the indigo blue on white ceramic is the traditional style in town, local young potters are adding a new spin to their art and you’ll be able to add more colours if you wish to do so.

Tobe-yaki Ceramics in Matsuyama

For those that want to get more involved in the process and a little bit dirtier, choosing between the hand molding or pottery wheel (Rokuro course) experiences is the way to go. Both of these options are fun and with the help of the friendly local potter at the Togei Sosakukan, you’ll get the hang of the techniques that have made Tobeyaki popular over centuries. If you are serious about your pottery a more advanced “rokuro” course is also available and will allow you to dig deeper into this traditional art form.

Tobe-yaki Ceramics in Matsuyama

After honing your pottery skills at the Sosakukan and with a better appreciation of how Tobeyaki is produced, a short walk down the road will take you to Higashihama, a charming pottery store where Phillipine-born artists, Ohigashi Alyne, is pushing the boundaries of Tobe-yaki. Taking the knowledge passed on to her by a Japanese master craftsman, and making alluring ceramics, that although not the traditional indigo blue style, are still works of art perfect as an omiyage for your loved ones or to decorate your home. The gallery space is cozy and reflects the beauty of the ceramic pieces. If you want to add a refreshing splash of colour to the Tobe-yaki experience, then this is the place.

Tobe-yaki Ceramics in Matsuyama

Tobemachi Ceramics Creation Center

4.0

11 Reviews

Ehime Pref. Iyoguntobechou Gohonmatsu 82

0899626145

9:00-17:00(Last entry16:00)

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