Arita ceramics district

Arita is the birthplace of Japanese porcelain — the first kilns lit in the early 1600s after Korean potter Yi Sam-pyeong discovered porcelain stone at Izumiyama Quarry just outside town. The historic Uchiyama district preserves the kilns of the Kakiemon, Imaemon, Gen-emon, and Fukagawa-Seiji families, all still firing today, alongside Tozan Shrine — the kiln-god shrine whose torii gate is built from white porcelain. The Kyushu Ceramic Museum and the Arita Ceramic Museum trace the wider story; the Arita Porcelain Park gives a hands-on workshop experience. Allow a full day to walk between the kilns, museums, and the quarry.