Mashiko
About This Destination
Over 300 pottery studios and kilns make this tranquil town northeast of Tokyo one of Japan's most important ceramic centers, famous for the humble beauty of Mashiko-yaki earthenware. The influential potter Shoji Hamada established his studio here in 1930, elevating everyday folk pottery to high art through the mingei movement. Visitors can browse galleries ranging from traditional to contemporary, try their hand at the wheel in workshops, and explore the Mashiko Reference Collection Museum showcasing Hamada's extraordinary collection.
Location
Prefecture: Tochigi
Address: Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan
Nearest Station: Mashiko Station
Best time to visit: Early November and early May for the Mashiko Pottery Fair; the pottery town is pleasant in spring and autumn
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Unknown
Access
Tochigi, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Mashiko?
Take the Moka Railway from Shimodate to Mashiko, about 45 minutes, or a direct highway bus from Akihabara in Tokyo, about 2 hours 30 minutes for around 2,300 yen. By car it is easiest from Utsunomiya, roughly 40 minutes away.
What is Mashiko known for?
It is a pottery town producing Mashiko-yaki, made there since 1853. It was the home of folk-craft master Shoji Hamada, a Living National Treasure, whose compound is now the Togei Messe museum. Many kilns offer hands-on wheel-throwing and painting classes.
When are the Mashiko pottery fairs and how much is the museum?
The pottery fairs run in spring, from late April to early May, and again in early November, with around 500 stalls each time. The Togei Messe museum, on Hamada's former compound, costs 800 yen. The fair periods are the liveliest but also the most crowded times to visit.
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