Near Nagoya! 9 Unforgettable Places in Tajimi, a Charming Pottery Town
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Tajimi City in Gifu Prefecture is one of Japan's largest pottery-producing towns. It is also conveniently located just 35 minutes from Nagoya by train. There are plenty of sightseeing spots, such as the Mosaic Tile Museum Tajimi and photogenic Japanese sweets worthy of sharing on social media.
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Tokyo, Japan
Tajimi City: Easily Accessible From Nagoya!
Tajimi can be reached in just 35 minutes by train or 50 minutes by car from Nagoya. This city is one of Japan's largest pottery and ceramic producing areas.
Pottery and ceramics made in Tajimi are referred to as Minoyaki (Mino ceramic ware).
During the Warring States Period of Japan, Minoyaki pottery flourished in the form of tools for tea ceremonies. During the Edo Period, these ceramics quickly became daily necessities throughout Japan.
Due to its long history, Tajimi is characterized by a diverse range of pottery-making techniques. There are many kinds of Minoyaki products, ranging from highly ornamental works of art to utensils that make ideal souvenirs.
In recent years, Tajimi has been garnering attention.
For example, Yakunara MugCup Mo (Let's Make a Mug Too)—a popular manga (comic) set in Tajimi—will become an animated film in April 2021. The story follows the lives of high school students who join a pottery club.
In this article, we'll focus on the many attractive features of Tajimi. We'll be introducing nine impressive places to visit from the perspective of pottery, culture, and gourmet food!
3 Unforgettable Places for Pottery and Art Lovers!
First, let's head to a museum where you can dive into Tajimi's ceramics heritage. Then we'll introduce some pottery studios nearby.
Mosaic Tile Museum Tajimi
Mosaic Tile Museum Tajimi is located in Tajimi's Kasahara Town, an area boasting Japan's largest production volume of mosaic tiles (*1).
The building's eye-catching exterior is modeled on a mountain quarry, where the clay used in tile production is found. It was designed by the world-famous architect Terunobu Fujimori.
There's an exhibit on the museum's fourth floor showcasing a large collection of tiles that Mr. Fujimori beautifully arranged. This collection includes tile designs from many parts of the country, sento (public bath) picture tiles, and tiles used in baths.
In addition to a studio (*2), visitors can try their hand at making small accessories using tiles. There's also a shop with a full selection of tile products, including decorations and ornaments.
*1: Tiles with a surface area of less than 50 square centimeters are called mosaic tiles.
*2: Due to COVID-19 measures, the studio is operating on a reservation-only basis (as of March 2021).
Tajimi Mino Ceramic Art Museum
During its 1,300 year history, the Mino region has created a wide range of products. Names such as Setoguro, Kiseto, Shino, and Oribe represent the various styles that are characterized by differences in color and texture.
After visiting the Tajimi Mino Ceramic Art Museum, you'll truly understand the history and unique features of Minoyaki pottery!
On the museum premises, you'll see works of art by popular and well-known Minoyaki ceramic artists. In the tea room (*3), you can enjoy refreshing matcha green tea. In fact, you could be sipping from a teacup (chawan) made by a ceramicist designated a living national treasure!
*3: Due to COVID-19, the tea room is currently closed (as of March 2021).
Kobei-gama Ceramics Studio
The Kobei-gama Ceramics Studio was founded during the Edo Period in 1804. It was a purveyor of tableware for the shogun and staff living in the Edo Castle.
The previous and current heads of Kobei-gama have pursued the beauty of pottery. This pursuit includes actively collaborating with others, including members of Iran's ceramic culture and distinguished artists from other fields.
The sixth-generation head of Kobei-gama, Takuo Kato, was designated a living national treasure.
The Kobei-gama Ceramic Village offers visitors numerous places to deepen their knowledge of pottery and ceramics.
The Old Ceramic Museum has exhibits featuring ancient pottery such as Persian ceramics and ancient glass art. The Craft Center showcases the artworks of the successive heads of Kobei-gama. The village was even awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide.
3 Sightseeing Destinations: Exquisite Architecture and Beautiful Gardens!
In addition to museums and pottery studios, be sure not to miss Tajimi's exquisite architecture and beautiful gardens.
Eihoji Temple
Kokeizan Eihoji Temple was founded in 1313 by the famous Zen Buddhist monk Muso Soseki.
The two temple structures, the Kannon Hall and the Founder's Hall (Kaisando) were built during the latter part of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). Both have been designated National Treasures of Japan.
There is a beautiful garden in the middle of the temple grounds. It's especially popular in fall when the Japanese maple and Ginkgo trees display their brilliant autumn colors.
Hiraku Building
The Hiraku Building was once filled with shops selling jewelry, mirrors, clocks, and watches. It was recently renovated and bestowed with its unique name with the sincere wish that Tajimi City and its visitors would "hiraku" ("open") and realize their future potential.
At present, a cafe and a bookstore have moved into the building.
Inside the bookstore, there are some interesting features, including bookshelves decorated with Minoyaki tiles. Some decorative elements include a center table and chairs remade from pieces left over from the former eyeglass store.
Anyone who visits the Hiraku Building will find it a worthwhile destination!
Tajimi Monastery
A wine festival is held here during the fall season.
The Tajimi Monastery was built in 1930. This wooden structure is three stories high and includes a basement floor.
A mural depicts the life of Christ, while the fresco painting and stained glass inside the large cathedral enchant visitors.
On the monastery grounds, there's a large vineyard. A shop on the premises sells wine made with the grapes grown here.
The open space on the monastery grounds has become a place for locals to relax. It's an ideal spot for taking a break during your trip!
3 Places to Visit for Local Treats, Including Japanese Sweets and Sake!
Don't forget to try the exquisite food, decadent sweets, and delicious sake of Tajimi!
Romantei Uoseki
Tajimi is located in a basin, so during the summer it gets quite hot. From ancient times, unagi (eel) has been believed to boost stamina in this harsh environment. Even today, there are many unagi restaurants in the city.
Popular among these is Romantei Uoseki, a shop that opened in 1897. The unagi served here isn't steamed, but rather patiently grilled for some time. This delicacy is crispy on the outside and soft and plump on the inside.
Toshoken
Toshoken is a Japanese-style confectionery shop that was established in 1929. It is located close to the Mosaic Tile Museum Tajimi.
The shop's manju (steamed buns) and cookies are called "Edible Mosaic Tiles®." Their appearance is quite eye catching, making them highly popular sweets.
There's also a baked confectionery that uses two types of filling: kuri kinton (mashed sweet potatoes, sweetened chestnuts, and red bean paste) and matcha (red bean paste mixed with matcha powder).
This tasty treat is called Anono®. It's a play on the local dialect for "anone," a Japanese word that's used when calling out to someone. This is one of the shop's specialty products.
Michisakari
Michisakari is a brewery that was founded during the mid-Edo Period. Although sweet tasting sake has become the norm in recent years, this cellar continues to brew the more traditional dry sake.
Michisakari's sake has an honest, straightforward, and refreshing taste. This is why it's an ideal drink to enjoy with a meal.
At the Japanese Sake Fair (London Challenge) in Europe, Michisakari won medals for four consecutive years starting in 2013, so their products are popular overseas as well.
Tour the Tajimi Area by Bus, Rental Car, or Rental Bike
When touring the Tajimi area, bus and rental cars are the main forms of transportation. On the other hand, renting a bicycle is convenient when exploring the Tajimi Station area.
Bike rentals are available near the station at Tajimi Rental Cycle (reservations required).
The Tajimi Mino Ceramic Art Museum is four miles from the station, while Eihoji Temple is just three minutes away. It's easy to reach both spots by bicycle.
We also recommend riding along the Tosai no Michi (Japanese), a street lined with cherry trees that come into full bloom during spring.
Mino Ceramic-Related Spots: Many Locations Left to Explore!
Video courtesy of Tajimi City
In addition to our featured spots, Tajimi City has many highlights including the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu and Tajimi Honcho Oribe Street (Japanese), a street lined with galleries and cafes.
There's also the success of the ongoing Ceramic Valley Plan. Under this recent joint venture, ceramic artists, pottery-making studios, and related companies have joined forces to expand and further develop ceramics culture.
Tajimi is continuously becoming an interesting destination spot. On your next trip, drop by for a visit and see for yourself!
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All pictures courtesy of Tajimi City
Sponsored by Tajimi City
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Tokyo, Japan
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