When Taraveling to Naha in Autumn, Join The Festival of “Yachimun Street” & Look for Your Favorite Pottery

Naha City in Okinawa holds ‘Tsuboya Yachimun Street Festival’ (壺屋やちむん通り祭り) on 5th and 6th November. Yachimun means pottery in the Okinawan dialect. The plump and round bowls and plates painted with unique patterns are actually used in Okinawan homes and their masterpieces make you feel warm. It’s also popular as a souvenir for tourists. Come try to find nice pottery for yourself and an important person.

You Can Meet The Works of The Ishikura Family, Which Also Attract Attention on Instagram “Ncha ze-ku”

‘Ncha ze-ku’ (んちゃぜーく) which runs led by shop owner, Tomiko Ishihara who has a reputation for being friendly and warm to customers, the potteries made by the owner’s husband and his two sons line up at the narrow space. Among them, the works of Kazuto Ishikura are especially popular, and which also getting attention on Instagram. This shop has a wide range of works from traditional designs to modern ones that blend into modern life, so you can use them in any scene. It’s also nice that people who can’t visit the Ishikura Pottery Factory in Nanjo City can easily stop by here. Time seems to pass by just looking at them carefully such as tea cups, cups, chopstick rest and teapots, so please make a flexible plan! By the way, The shop’s name is ‘Ncha ze-ku’, Ncha means soil and ze-ku means the person who makes things, and Kazuto named it.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 6:30PM Closed on Wednesday
Address	1-21-12 Tsuboya, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access	A 15-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Naha
URL	https://www.instagram.com/kazutoishikura/

「Kamany」– You Can Enjoy The Masterpiece By Young Craftsmen

“Kamany” (カマニ－) was born at ‘Tsuboya Pottery Studio Ikutouen’ (壺屋焼窯元 育陶園), which has a history of over 300 years since continuing to make pottery Ychimun in Naha City. It has kept protecting the tradition, and the works of the Takaesu family (高江洲家) which keep making potteries line up. The characteristic is the generation of Tadashi Takaesu (高江洲忠), who is the current 6-generation master potter, and their family decided to open this shop in response to the thought of young craftsmen who will lead the next generation ‘to create new Tsuboya ware that gets used to the life of our generation’. There are also many potteries for western style such as ‘coffee cups and saucers’ and ‘pasta plates’! On the other hand, this shop has Sake cups as well including ‘Kara-kara’ and ‘Chibuguwa-‘, which have been popular in Okinawa for a long time. While inheriting the traditional Tsuboya pottery technique, the sensibility of young craftsmen shines from the stylish works. There is the main store of IKutoen along the same street, so how about stopping by? The meaning of the “Kamany” is “the root of the kiln”.

Opening Hours	10:30AM – 6:00PM
Address	1-22-33 Tsuboya, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture 沖縄県那覇市壺屋1-22-33
Access	A 15-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Naha
URL	https://www.instagram.com/kamany_tsuboya_pottery/

You Can find The Cute & Reasonable Works – “UTSUWA Chataro”

“UTSUWA Chataro” sells not only Yachimun but also cutting boards and pop knickknacks made of Pinus luchuensis. This shop is a specialty store style, which lines up the goods from Inside and outside Okinawa Prefecture and it’s a popular one where you can casually stop by. It has unique items that you won’t find anywhere else such as Goya which reminds us of Okinawa and chopstick rest with a motif of bougainvillea, it’s perfect as souvenirs! It must be interesting that you will be asked ‘Where did you buy them?’ It’s recommended that you buy them as gifts for that person who likes a cute atmosphere and also for people at work and friends. Please try to stop by the sister shops “Craft Gift Yatch and Moon” and “Utsuwa Skirt” on the same street.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 6:30PM
Address	1-8-12 Tsuboya, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access	A 13-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Naha
URL	https://www.yacchi-moon.jp/