Pottery Kilns at Shigaraki

One of the 'Six Old Kilns of Japan'

Cathy Cawood Mar 11, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Cross-draft kiln (noborigama) with many chambers  </p>

<p>The rounded top of a clay kiln chamber</p>

<p>Cracks and scorch marks on the clay of the kiln chambers</p>

<p>Looking into a chamber of the kiln</p>

<p>You need a lot of wood to fire a kiln!  </p>

<p>Tall chimney rising from the vegetation</p>

<p>The sloping roof of a noborigama (cross-draft kiln)</p>

<p>They make more than just pottery tanukis in Shigaraki</p>

<p>Stacks of pots beside the driveway</p>

<p>Bridge in Shigaraki decorated with colorful tiles</p>

They have been making beautiful pottery in Shigaraki for thousands of years. Shigaraki pottery has a simple earthy elegance that was greatly valued by tea ceremony masters of the past, and is still very popular today. If you go there you can view a noborigama (climbing kiln) You probably won't be able to resist buying some hand made pottery from one of the many stores, but you may have trouble choosing! There are also pottery tanuki of all shapes and sizes available, and a pottery park with a small but excellent museum.

Things to Do in Shiga

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...