Arita

Arita has been the heart of Japanese porcelain production since Korean potter Yi Sam-pyeong discovered porcelain stone here in 1616. The town's Uchiyama district preserves rows of historic pottery workshops and kilns along a charming hillside street designated as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The Kyushu Ceramic Museum houses an outstanding collection tracing the evolution of Arita ware from its origins to contemporary masterpieces, and admission is free. The annual Arita Ceramic Fair held during Golden Week in early May draws over one million visitors with hundreds of stalls offering pottery at bargain prices. Visitors can try their hand at pottery painting or wheel-throwing at several workshops throughout town.