Travel Guide Imari – Arita

These two pottery cities began their trade in the 17th century. It was on their return from Korea, after the failure of their expedition, that Japanese soldiers brought back with them Korean potters. They jealously guarded their secrets and developed a fruitful industry, the most beautiful of which are Imari and Arita. Imari pottery had a great success in France at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays, most of the pottery comes from Okawachiyama and Arita. In Okawachiyama, about twenty kilns are still used for this production. Kaolin was discovered in the Arita area in 1615 by Sampei Ri, a Korean potter. If Imari can be visited very quickly (the most interesting being Okawachiyama, a potters' village located six kilometers away), most often between Arita and Karatsu, we strongly recommend staying in Arita, a very pleasant town full of small treasures and one of the most attractive stops in Kyushu. The old houses built at the end of the 19th century, of western inspiration, are real jewels, and cohabit with the old workshops where potters still do their work.