Each year, hundreds of pottery stores and exhibitors participate in Kiyomizu-yaki Pottery Festival . They sell pottery in the Kyoto style at a discount. Several pottery workshops open their doors along the main street so that people can meet potters and note the process of making Kyoto pottery.
Exploring Kiyomizu-yaki and More
Kiyomizu-yaki is the famous pottery style of Kyoto, known for its quality and elegance. Historically, Gojo Street was home to many pottery artisans and kilns, although now most have moved to Yamashina. Despite this, Gojo Street remains popular for its Kiyomizu-yaki pottery shops.
Finding Bargains and Artistic Treasures at Kiyomizu-yaki Pottery Festival
During the festival in August from the 7th to the 10th, you can buy Kiyomizu-yaki at more affordable prices. Many renowned kilns sell imperfect pieces known as ‘seconds’ at this time. These pieces, while having minor flaws, are still of high quality and difficult to spot imperfections without a trained eye. Additionally, young potters from Kyoto and other parts of Japan set up stalls selling various styles of pottery, ranging from traditional to more artistic designs.
Gojo-zaka Pottery Festival: A Festival of Value and Tradition
Prices at the festival start very low; for instance, you can find small bowls for as little as 90 yen (about 90 cents US), which is unusually cheap. Normally, similar bowls would cost between 1,500 to 3,000 yen. This festival is a great opportunity to explore and purchase Kyoto’s rich pottery tradition at more accessible prices.
With almost 200 kiln owners contributing to its rich ceramic history, Kyoto boasts a diversified ceramic culture. Kyoto’s sophisticated cuisine and tea rituals have created a demand for superb ceramics that has pushed potters to constantly innovate and refine their craft.
Kyoto’s Pottery Heritage
Since its founding in 1920, the Gojo-zaka Pottery Festival—also referred to as Gojo-zaka Toki Matsuri in Japanese—has expanded to rank among the biggest pottery fairs in Japan. It fshares the same day as the Obon Festival, when families pay respects to their ancestors by visiting their graves. In addition to attending the festival, many people explore the neighboring cemeteries and temples.
Supporting Emerging Artists
In addition to exhibiting well-known pottery, this festival offers a venue for up-and-coming potters to present their creations to the public, officially starting there career in the field of pottery craftsmanship.
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Kiyomizu-yaki Pottery Festival Location
The festival takes place on both sides of Gojo Street between Kawabata and Higashi-oji Streets. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other. The closest station is Kiyomizu Gojo on the Keihan Railway.
If you walk up Gojo Street toward the mountains for another 15 minutes or so you will be in the scenic Kiyomizu Temple neighborhood.
Dates and Times
August 7-10, every year
9 am to 11 pm
Article Links and Reference
Gojo-Zaka Pottery Festival website (Japanese language)
Yakimono (Japanese pottery) Wikipedia article
Hi! I was at this festival last year and I am trying to track down one of the vendors. The pottery I bought was, I believe, made by mentally handicapped adults.
If you can help, I would love to know. I am returning to Kyoto
in three weeks and would like to order some ceramics for my store.
Thank you!
I need to buy different ceramics for a new restaurant opening here in the uk.
Normally I buy from catalogues however this restaurant is a bit more special and I am making the journey to kyoto to buy different things. However I have never done this before and dont know prices and am a little worried how it will all work out for me.
Can you advisee me a little please:
Is this ceramic festival in august the best time for me to see many different ceramics?
Is it cheaper then usual?
Can I find more unusual items in Kyoto the in catalogues?
Can you recommend some shops to see when I come to kyoto in mid july please perhaps some might have websites.
I would appreciate any help.
Than you
A
Hi, I am a ceramic artist from Canada and will be visiting Kyoto October and November this year. Is there a potter’s guild that I can join or a place to volunteer in Kyoto. My husband and I will be living near the Kyoto University. Thank you.
Hi there,
Well, I’m afraid I don’t really know of a potters guild you could join, however I think inquiring at Kyoto Art Center would be helpful: https://www.kac.or.jp/eng/
Do you know about Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in neighbouring Shiga Prefecture? They have some programs there too but also might be a useful point of contact. https://www.sccp.jp/e/
Good luck!