Go to Find Your Favorite Pottery in Hasami, a Pottery Town

Town of Hasami (波佐見) is a traditional pottery area where potters have produced Hasami wares for around 400 years. Hasami wares attract people with the beauty of white porcelain and the delicate indigo dyeing technique, yet are loved as tableware items that can be used every day. Since about a decade ago, the HASAMI brand has become renowned, and the town of Hasami came to be a popular destination among people who like tableware and knick-knacks. In this issue, let’s take a look at 4 spots that you definitely want to visit in the town of Hasami if you like pottery.

By taking the bus from Sasebo Ekimae Bus Stop which is a 3-minute walk from Sasebo Washington Hotel, you can easily visit all the spots without any transfers on the way towards Ureshino Bus Center Bus Stop.

“Minami Soko” where you get to pick up and feel pottery of SAIKAI

“Minami Soko” (南倉庫), in a renovated warehouse that used to be used as a storage of a pottery maker established in 1960, is a shop opened in 2011 introducing the uniqueness of manufacturing in the town of Hasami. The shop carries a large number of unconventional pottery items and collaboration items with designers, including tableware such as plates and bowls of the original brand ‘essence of life’ handled by SAIKAI (西海), a Hasami based pottery trader established in 1946. A special experience where you can cut a paper into a shape you design and transfer that shape onto the surface of a pottery item is also available upon on advanced reservation. If you are interested, don’t forget to apply by phone beforehand.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 6:00PM / Closed on Wednesday
Address	2187-4 Isekigo, Hasami Town, Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture
Access	A 1-minute walk from Nishinohara Bus Stop which is about a 50-minute bus ride from Sasebo Ekimae Bus Stop
URL	https://www.facebook.com/minamisouko/

Designers’ store “OYANE” where you can find pottery from all over Japan

“OYANE” is the place to visit if you are interested in browsing Japanese pottery in general not limited to Hasami’s with reasonable prices. Stepping into the store which also served as a gallery, you’ll be welcomed by the interior decorated with many tools for making pottery. The space designer ‘DO.DO.’, who was in charge of the store design, rediscovered the charms of many tools that were left behind in villages of pottery and incorporated them as interior items to express the ‘richness’ of Hasami. On the 1st floor, you’ll find countless tableware items that are perfect for everyday use. Enjoy a favorite item hunting in your own way.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 6:00PM / Opened All Year Round
Address	2204−4 Orishikisego, Hasami Town, Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture
Access	A 1-minute walk from Hasamiyakubamae Bus Stop which is about a 46-minute bus ride from Sasebo Ekimae Bus Stop
URL	https://www.facebook.com/gallaryOYANE/

“Kurawan-Kan”, a souvenir center offering the best selection of products in Hasami

Located on the 1st floor of ‘Toge-no-Yakata’ (陶芸の館, the house of pottery) in Yakimono Park (やきもの公園, Pottery Park), there is “Kurawan-Kan” (くらわん館), a souvenir center offering pottery items of 35 pottery makers and traders based in Hasami. With a wide range of less expensive items to fancy tableware, it is an ideal place looking for items not only for home use but also for gifts. Souvenirs other than pottery, such as local sake and handmade miso, are also available. Since you can experience pottery painting, pottery wheeling and pottery molding, why don’t you try making your own pottery as a memory of your trip?

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 5:00PM / Opened All Year Round
Address	2255-2 Isekigo, Hasami Town, Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture
Access	A 2-minute walk from Yakimono Koenmae Bus Stop which is about a 50-minute bus ride from Sasebo Ekimae Bus Stop
URL	http://kurawankashop.sakura.ne.jp/

“No.1210”, a pottery shop/cafe managed by a potter

A sophisticated pottery shop/cafe “No.1210” is directly managed by a potter ‘Aizen-Gama’ (藍染窯). In the attached antique-style cafe, a truly unique menu only a cafe directly managed by a potter can offer is available; A set of a mug that’s slightly scratched during the manufacturing process and your choice of drink is offered for 1,000 yen. It should be a great opportunity to get your Hasami ware mug and savor the rich aroma of specialty coffee at the same time.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 6:00PM / Closed on Wednesday and Thursday
Address	1210 Yumutago, Hasami Town, Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture
Access	A 1-minute walk from Uchiumi Bus Stop which is about an hour bus ride from Sasebo Ekimae Bus Stop
URL	https://aizengama.stores.jp/