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Aichi Prefecture is home to two of Japan’s most celebrated pottery regions, both recognized among the nation’s “Six Ancient Kilns.” These areas preserve traditional techniques handed down through generations while reimagining them in innovative ways that captivate visitors. At our recommended spots, you can experience pottery-making firsthand, creating lasting memories that touch both your heart and hands.
Places to visit
Maneki-neko MuseumYou can admire a variety of uniquely charming Maneki-neko.
This is a museum that showcases a personal collection of thousands of Maneki-neko, a traditional Japanese good luck charm. The exhibits range from folk toys to everyday items, offering a rich display for visitors. In the museum shop, you can admire and purchase works by various Maneki-neko artists.
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The Seto Mingei Pottery MuseumLet’s appreciate the beauty found in everyday tableware.
This facility exhibits pottery made in the Horadanchi district, where Seto Hongyo Kiln is located, as well as in Seto City, from the late Edo period onwards, focusing on the perspective of craftsmanship. Here, you can appreciate the beauty found in everyday items created by unnamed artisans.
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TOKONAME STORECreate Your Own Original Tableware
TOKONAME STORE offers a pottery experience using molds from the MOM kitchen, crafted by the Yamagen Toen studio. Choose your base from around 20 different molds and let your creativity flow as you design your own custom tableware. The easy “tatara forming” technique ensures that anyone can enjoy the experience, no matter your skill level.
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Other nearby spots include:
Tokoname Pottery Footpath (Pottery Trails)
It is located in Tokoname City. This walking course takes you through a townscape that preserves the scenery from the time when the ceramic industry flourished, featuring charming buildings and picturesque views.
Fukagawa Shrine
This prestigious shrine was founded in Hōki 2 (771). It is known as the guardian deity of Seto, based on the legend that Tōsō Tōshirō, the founder of pottery, obtained high-quality clay through a divine revelation from this shrine.
Takita Family Shipping Dealer
It is located in Tokoname City. This residence belonged to the Takita family, who operated a shipping business from the Edo period to the Meiji period. The house features exhibits of Japanese ship models and the history of maritime transport.
Kamagaki no Komichi
It is located in Seto City. The walls and fences made by stacking old kiln tools are called ‘kamagaki.’ These atmospheric alleys, lined with kamagaki, create a unique landscape that can only be seen in Seto.
Experience
Craftsmanship
In Aichi, you’ll find people who are passionately dedicated to preserving time-honored techniques. We’ll show you a few places where you can watch these skilled artisans at work and even try their crafts firsthand. Feel the atmosphere of the workshop, get hands-on with the materials, and discover the incredible skill behind these creations.
Places to visit
Suzuki Violin Co,. Ltd.Workshop Tour & Crafting Experience
After exploring the violin-making workshop, you’ll have the chance to apply varnish to the “bridge”—the piece that carries the strings’ vibrations to the violin’s body. You’ll be working with the same authentic materials used in real violin production. When you’re done, you can take your finished bridge home as a memento, crafted into a unique strap.
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Konya namihoMiniature Indigo Shoji Workshop
Take part in a special workshop where you’ll create a miniature indigo-dyed shoji screen. You’ll start by assembling a mini frame, specially created by an artisan who makes Shinto ritual tools, then dye handmade Mino washi paper with indigo, and finish by attaching it to the frame. This is a wonderful chance to explore Japan’s traditional craftsmanship. You can bring your finished piece home with you that day.
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Other nearby spots include:
Okura Park
It is located in Ōbu City. This residence, built around 1917 (Taishō 6), features a thatched gate that evokes the period’s charm. Beyond the gate lies a garden that showcases the beauty of each season.
Guardian Cat “Tokonyan”
It is located in Tokoname City. Within the Pottery Footpath, there is a giant Maneki Neko (beckoning cat) that watches over the town.
INAX MUSEUMS
It is located in Tokoname City. This museum is filled with attractions where you can experience the craftsmanship developed in the pottery town of Tokoname.
Aichi Healthy Forest Park
It is located in Ōbu City. This expansive park is themed around health and features three roller slides that are popular with children.
Discover
Something New
Aichi was a leader in the aerospace industry even before the automotive industry took off.
You can visit a museum that traces the history of this industry, which has been shaped by a deep passion for the skies.
There’s also a tour where you can see the normally hidden areas of a zoo and learn about the connection between nature and humans while having fun.
Places to visit
Aichi Museum of FlightExperience the Passion Behind Aviation
In Aichi Prefecture, where manufacturing expertise runs deep, the aerospace industry was flourishing well before the automobile industry took off. The exhibits allow you to feel the passion of those who have devoted themselves to aviation. Dive into the history of the aerospace sector, now standing as a major industry next to automotive manufacturing, and explore the mechanisms behind aircraft.
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Toyohashi Zoo & Botanical Park (Non Hoi Park)A Behind-the-Scenes Segway Tour
At Non Hoi Park, a dedicated team works to maintain the health and happiness of the park’s animals and plants. On this Segway tour, you’ll not only visit the main exhibits but also venture into the backstage areas, guided by professionals. Through this immersive experience, you’ll discover the ways in which humans and nature can coexist, and leave with a deeper respect for the natural world and the creatures we share it with.
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Other nearby spots include:
Nagoya Airport
It is located in Toyoyama Town, near the Aichi Aviation Museum. From the observation deck of the terminal building, you can view the runway and various aircraft.
Tagata Jinja Shrine
It is located in Komaki City. This shrine has a unique folk custom based on ancient traditions, where a phallus-shaped object is offered in prayer.
Toyohashi Trams
It is located in Toyohashi City. The only streetcar in Aichi Prefecture runs here, allowing you to leisurely enjoy views of Toyohashi townscape from the window.
Yoshida Castle (Toyohashi Park)
It is located in Toyohashi City. These are the ruins of an old castle within Toyohashi Park. The iron watchtower, reconstructed in 1954 (Shōwa 29), stands along the banks of the Toyo River.