A must-see for adult girls! A trip to meet fashionable pottery at Yachimun no Sato in Yomitan.

date：: 2023.12.12 (Last Updated: 2024.03.01)
author：: OkinawaTraveler editorial department

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Yachimun's traditional Okinawa pottery "Yachimun" is attractive for its simple texture and plump form. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly popular, especially among younger generations. Yachimun no Sato, located in Yomitanson, central Okinawa, is home to many potteries that make Yachimun are gathered. Why don't you take a leisurely tour of Yachimun no Sato while looking for a wonderful bowl?

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Knowing Yachimun's treasure trove "Tsuboya Yachimunri"

About 1 hour by car from Naha. Yachimun no Sato, located in the central part of Okinawa Prefecture, Yachimun no Sato is home to many potters and has a pottery pot. There are 19 potteries in this area. It is a popular tourist spot with cafes and shops.

Yachimun no Sato began about half a century ago. At that time, many potters set up pottery in Tsuboya, Naha City, and made works using climbing kiln. However, with the development of Naha, the number of houses began to increase in this area, making it difficult to burn kilns that emit smoke. Friends began to gather when Jiro Kaneshiro, a master craftsman who became a living national treasure, moved to Yomitanson, seeking an environment suitable for pottery making. Nowadays, four climbing kilns are jointly used to produce unique pottery.

See the information of Yachimun no Sato

Traditional yachimun, here! “Yomitanyama Kiln Joint Stand”

Yomitan Yamayaki is a Yachimun baked in the Yomitanyama kiln. The Yomitanyama kiln was opened in 1980 by four potters, Minoru Omine, Akimitsu Kaneshiro, Terumasa Tamamoto, and Maman Yamada. The beautiful figure of climbing kiln, located a little deep in Yachimun no Sato, is a symbol of Yachimun no Sato. At the joint stand, many vessels with a presence made in four studios are sold.

See the details of the Yomitanyama Kiln Joint Stand

Yachimun, which has a cute vivid color, is at "Gallery Utsuwaya".

"Gallery Utsuwaya", which has a shop near the entrance of Yachimun no Sato, is a gallery that deals with works made by the famous potter Tsunehide Shimabukuro, a well-known ceramic artist both inside and outside the prefecture. Due to its cute pattern and vivid color, it is gaining popularity among young female customers.

Among them, Yachimun, made with a special technique called "Gosuru Nuki" using indigo pigment "Kuresu", is a representative work of Shimabukuro. There are many customers who come all the way to look for this. The price range is wide, and the works lined up at the storefront are especially reasonable.

In addition, the pottery buttons and chopstick rests made by the staff are also affordable, so they are recommended as souvenirs.

See the details of Gallery Utsuwa Ie Tsunehide Studio

Yachimun "Ceramics Studio Fuji" with tropical patterns

The late Jiro Kaneshiro, Okinawa's first living national treasure, who laid the foundation of Yachimun no Sato. Relatives who inherited Mr. Kaneshiro's technique have set up a number of pottery in Yachimun no Sato.

"Ceramics Studio Fuji" is one of them. It is a pottery studio made by Kanako Fujioka, a ceramic artist who is the grandson of Kinjo, and also serves as a gallery. Mr. Fujioka has been watching his family's pottery making up close since he was young. Aiming to become a path of nature and ceramics, he became independent from his mother's Miya Tobo, a few years ago. We have opened the pottery workshop Fuji.

Jiro Kaneshiro's representative work is a fish crest vessel depicting fish. While inheriting this tradition, it incorporates new patterns such as hibiscus, turtles, and whales, creating works that match more modern life.

See the details of Ceramics Studio Fuji

"Forest Chaya" Okinawa Zenzai "Mori no Chaya"

There are almost no restaurants on the premises of Yachimun no Sato. In such a place, "Gallery Mori no Chaya" is a valuable place where you can take a break.

This is a cafe and gallery run by Mr. Hisae, the wife of ceramic artist Meiko Kaneshiro, one of the members who opened the Yomitanyama kiln. As a potter, I also work on a variety of vessels.

The specialty is Okinawa-style zenzai made by Hisae. Sweetly boiled kinto beans with brown sugar are plenty of shaved ice, and topped with vanilla ice and shiratama are topped. Sweetness with sweetness of brown sugar permeates your body. Of course, the bowl is the work of Akimitsu Kaneshiro and Hisae, and the glass exclusively for iced coffee is exceptionally unique. This is an original item made to have a straw on the lid.

See the details of Gallery Mori no Chaya

How was it? Veves that have been nurtured in the rich nature of Yachimun no Sato. Each pottery and gallery has a different personality of Yachimun is placed. There are other pottery pots besides those introduced this time, so be sure to find one of your favorites in the relaxed air.

Post: December 7, 2018
Update: December 12, 2023

Watching a special feature of a trip to search for Okinawan pottery “Yachimun (pottery)”

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