Japan has many pottery towns, and each has its own clay, glaze and style. A plate from Arita does not look like a bowl from Bizen. Once you know a few regions, you can recognise them on the table and choose pieces that match your taste. Here is a short guide.
Arita (Saga): white porcelain and fine painting
Arita in Saga Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu, is known as one of the first places in Japan to make porcelain, in the early seventeenth century. Arita ware, which is also called Imari ware after the port nearby, is known for bright white porcelain with blue underglaze painting and, in some styles, rich overglaze colours and gold. Look for: crisp white, delicate drawing and precise shapes.
Mino (Gifu): glazes with character
Mino, in Gifu Prefecture, is one of the largest centres for tableware in Japan. It is known for Shino (a thick, milky white glaze, often with small pinholes) and Oribe (green glaze with painted patterns). Mino makes everything from restaurant tableware to artistic pieces. Look for: thick, soft glazes, green and white, and comfortable everyday forms.
Kutani (Ishikawa): bold colour
Kutani ware comes from Ishikawa Prefecture, near Kanazawa. It is known for strong, deep colours such as green, yellow, purple and blue, applied over the glaze, and for gold decoration. Look for: vivid colour and detailed painting.
Shigaraki (Shiga): rustic and earthy
Shigaraki is one of the "Six Ancient Kilns" of Japan, along with Seto, Tokoname, Echizen, Tamba and Bizen. Its clay is coarse and rich in small stones, so the surface is textured and often shows warm orange or reddish marks from the firing. Look for: rough texture, natural ash glaze effects and a warm, earthy feeling.
Bizen (Okayama): unglazed and fire-marked
Bizen ware is usually left unglazed. The colours and patterns come from the clay, the kiln and the fire, so no two pieces are exactly alike. Look for: deep brown and reddish tones, and fire marks on the surface.
Karatsu (Saga) and Hagi (Yamaguchi): tea-ceremony favourites
Karatsu ware has muted, earthy glazes and a simple form, and is often used for tea and sake. Hagi ware is known for a soft, porous clay body and a pale glaze, often with fine cracks, that gradually changes colour with use. Look for: quiet colour and a modest, calm shape.
Other makers: iron and tin
Not all of our pieces are ceramic. Cast-iron teapots come from Morioka in Iwate, the home of Nambu ironware, and tin tableware comes from Takaoka in Toyama, a town with a long tradition of metal casting. You can read about both in our story.
How to use this guide when you shop
- If you like clean, white and detailed pieces, look for Arita and similar porcelain.
- If you like soft glazes and everyday shapes, look at Mino.
- If you want strong colour, look for Kutani-style decoration.
- If you prefer natural textures, try Shigaraki, Bizen, Karatsu or Hagi.
Each product on our site lists the tradition or region, so you can find pieces by place. And many regions share styles, so do not worry about being exact.
Questions people ask
What is the most famous Japanese pottery?
Arita and Imari porcelain are among the best known internationally, while Bizen and Shigaraki are celebrated for their natural look.
Is Japanese pottery handmade?
Some is made entirely by hand, and some is made with moulds and then finished and glazed by hand. Product pages describe each piece.
Read more in The Techniques and Traditions Behind Japanese Ceramics, or see our story.
Arita, Mino, Kutani, Shigaraki: A Guide to Japan's Pottery Regions
Japan has many pottery towns, and each has its own clay, glaze and style. A plate from Arita does not look like a bowl from Bizen. Once you know a few regions, you can recognise them on the table and choose pieces that match your taste. Here is a short guide.
Arita (Saga): white porcelain and fine painting
Arita in Saga Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu, is known as one of the first places in Japan to make porcelain, in the early seventeenth century. Arita ware, which is also called Imari ware after the port nearby, is known for bright white porcelain with blue underglaze painting and, in some styles, rich overglaze colours and gold. Look for: crisp white, delicate drawing and precise shapes.
Mino (Gifu): glazes with character
Mino, in Gifu Prefecture, is one of the largest centres for tableware in Japan. It is known for Shino (a thick, milky white glaze, often with small pinholes) and Oribe (green glaze with painted patterns). Mino makes everything from restaurant tableware to artistic pieces. Look for: thick, soft glazes, green and white, and comfortable everyday forms.
Kutani (Ishikawa): bold colour
Kutani ware comes from Ishikawa Prefecture, near Kanazawa. It is known for strong, deep colours such as green, yellow, purple and blue, applied over the glaze, and for gold decoration. Look for: vivid colour and detailed painting.
Shigaraki (Shiga): rustic and earthy
Shigaraki is one of the "Six Ancient Kilns" of Japan, along with Seto, Tokoname, Echizen, Tamba and Bizen. Its clay is coarse and rich in small stones, so the surface is textured and often shows warm orange or reddish marks from the firing. Look for: rough texture, natural ash glaze effects and a warm, earthy feeling.
Bizen (Okayama): unglazed and fire-marked
Bizen ware is usually left unglazed. The colours and patterns come from the clay, the kiln and the fire, so no two pieces are exactly alike. Look for: deep brown and reddish tones, and fire marks on the surface.
Karatsu (Saga) and Hagi (Yamaguchi): tea-ceremony favourites
Karatsu ware has muted, earthy glazes and a simple form, and is often used for tea and sake. Hagi ware is known for a soft, porous clay body and a pale glaze, often with fine cracks, that gradually changes colour with use. Look for: quiet colour and a modest, calm shape.
Other makers: iron and tin
Not all of our pieces are ceramic. Cast-iron teapots come from Morioka in Iwate, the home of Nambu ironware, and tin tableware comes from Takaoka in Toyama, a town with a long tradition of metal casting. You can read about both in our story.
How to use this guide when you shop
Each product on our site lists the tradition or region, so you can find pieces by place. And many regions share styles, so do not worry about being exact.
Questions people ask
What is the most famous Japanese pottery?
Arita and Imari porcelain are among the best known internationally, while Bizen and Shigaraki are celebrated for their natural look.
Is Japanese pottery handmade?
Some is made entirely by hand, and some is made with moulds and then finished and glazed by hand. Product pages describe each piece.
Read more in The Techniques and Traditions Behind Japanese Ceramics, or see our story.