6 Galleries and Shops Where You Can Buy Modern "Mashiko-yaki" Pottery
Since the first kiln was built at the end of the Edo period, Mashiko-yaki has been popular for everyday use. There are about 250 kilns and 50 pottery shops. The styles vary from young artists to veterans. In Mashiko Town, you can purchase a variety of Mashiko-yaki, from works with a rustic, folk-art charm to highly designed, modern, and humorous pieces.
With so many Mashiko-yaki galleries, here are some recommended shops.
1Pottery Gallery Touko
A wide selection ranging from original brands to unique works by individual artists
Located on Jonai-zaka Street, the main street of Mashiko Town, the shop offers a variety of Mashiko ware, primarily featuring works from its own kiln, 'Sado Wada Kiln'.
The charming building from the end of the Taisho era is a shop based on the 'Modern Mashiko' concept, featuring a gallery renovated from a merchant's Oya stone warehouse. The store also sells works by about 30 artists creating in and around Mashiko Town.
A charming gallery that is enjoyable even just to look around
The spacious interior offers the excitement of touring an art museum. Pottery that evokes a sense of 'handiwork' is lined up, and there are many pieces that can only be bought here.
The characteristic of 'Sado Wada Kiln' is that it has both handmade pieces using a potter's wheel and molded pieces. Because a large number of diverse works can be produced, it is widely popular.
In addition to tableware, there are also small items and miscellaneous goods, so you can enjoy just looking around.
Local
Supporter
There are many highly original pottery pieces by individual artists active in Mashiko. Exhibitions are also held regularly, allowing you to encounter a wide range of works.
- Pottery Gallery Touko
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2 Jonai-zaka, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture MAP 
Approx. 15-minute walk from Mashiko Station on the Moka Railway
10:00–18:00
Year-end and New Year holidays
0285-72-2081
Free
2Moegi Jonai-zaka Store
Many works by up-and-coming young artists
Located near the Jonai-zaka intersection on Jonai-zaka Street, where many Mashiko-yaki pottery shops are lined up, this store features a registration of about 1,000 artists and offers a wide selection of works by young creators. There are many one-of-a-kind pieces, making it a pleasure to find items that suit your personal taste.
Pottery that is rotated every two weeks
The gallery is spread across several levels: the first floor hosts seasonal exhibitions, the basement is mainly for solo exhibitions, the mezzanine features a large collection of works, and the second floor is also primarily for solo exhibitions. Since the displays change every two weeks, you can enjoy unexpected discoveries or visit to see specific artists you are interested in.
A popular event is the "Maneki-neko (Beckoning Cat) Exhibition" held every year during the New Year period. It is an exhibition that gathers artistic cat-themed works from all over the country and is especially recommended for cat lovers. Other workshops are also held irregularly, so it is a good idea to check in advance before visiting.
Local
Supporter
The layout is wonderful, and each floor is very easy to view, including the selection of tableware and the use of lighting.
- Moegi Jonai-zaka Store
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- 150 Jonai-zaka, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 15-minute walk from Mashiko Station on the Moka Railway
- 10:00–18:00 (until 17:00 during winter, December–February)
- Thursdays (for both Jonai-zaka store and Base)
- 0285-72-6003
- Free
At moegi Base, we hold solo and special exhibitions on a basic one-month cycle. We also have an attached cafe where you can relax and enjoy the leisurely pace of Mashiko time.
3Yamani Otsuka Main Store
A popular spot that also features a cafe and pottery classes.
At "Yamani Otsuka Main Store," there are two galleries introducing young Mashiko-yaki artists and a floor where you can enjoy seasonal fashion. All the products available are handmade and can be purchased at reasonable prices, which is one of the reasons for its popularity. There are also original Yamani works, and the premises include a pottery class, a restaurant, and a cafe.
High-priced, one-of-a-kind items and works by Living National Treasures are sold at the adjacent "Craft Yamani" and "Gallery Ryutori."
A wide variety of items, from traditional pieces to works by young artists.
The shop carries works from popular kilns like "Wakasama Togei" and "Yoshizawa Gama," as well as pieces by popular ceramic artists such as Mr. Sakon Fujimoto and Mr. Kotaro Okabe. It features a wide range of works by about 100 artists, from traditional Mashiko-yaki to up-and-coming young creators. Many people shop here for everyday tableware or items to use as interior decor.
Local
Supporter
A Mashiko-yaki shop themed around 'seeing, eating, playing, relaxing, discovering, and memories.' With cafes and restaurants on-site, you can lose track of time while enjoying yourself.
- Yamani Otsuka Main Store
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- 88 Jonai-zaka, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 24-minute walk from Mashiko Station on the Moka Railway
Take the bus from Mashiko Station on the Moka Railway, get off at "Togei Messe Iriguchi," and walk for approx. 2 minutes- 10:00–17:00
- 0285-81-6363
- Free (1,000 yen during the pottery market)
4pejite
A select shop featuring Mashiko pottery, antique furniture, apparel, and more.
Tucked away just off the main street of Mashiko's old town, you will find "pejite," a stone storehouse covered in ivy.
The owner of "Nihei Antique Furniture Store," which has locations in the neighboring city of Moka and in Mashiko, fell in love with the atmosphere and space of this storehouse and opened it as a shop dealing in antique furniture, pottery, and clothing. The selection of pottery focuses on contemporary artists from the local Mashiko area, offering a lineup that is easy to use in daily life and reasonably priced. The shop also features a wide selection of pieces by Tadao Akutsu, pictured here, and Akiko Tao, whose pottery is popular for its plump, comfortable feel in the hand.
Items are tastefully displayed in a space that was formerly a rice granary.
The 60-year-old former rice granary building, constructed with Oya stone, is spacious, covering about 230 square meters. After it was no longer used as a rice granary, it had a unique history, having been used as a practice field for a local youth baseball team and as an atelier for a sculptor. In this calm, gallery-like space, the way the antique tools, pottery, and small items enhance each other's charm is well worth taking the time to browse. It is also in a convenient location to stop by during pottery markets or while exploring the town.
Local
Supporter
All the products are sophisticated. The atmospheric building is spacious, quiet, and filled with a slow, relaxing flow of time.
5Enokida Kiln Main Store
The charm lies in the three distinct styles of the fourth-generation potter and the fifth-generation couple.
Located about an 8-minute drive east from Mashiko Station along Route 230 is "Enokida Kiln Main Store." With over a hundred years of history, it is a kiln with a prestigious reputation, especially for making teapots. The shop features works by three family members: the fourth-generation potter who inherited the traditional techniques, and the fifth-generation potter and their spouse. Even when using the same clay and glaze, each has a unique style, and the fun of choosing and combining pieces by the parent, child, and couple is unique to this shop. The retail space on the first floor of the two-story building was originally a workshop, while the second floor serves as the pottery studio for the three family members.
A wide selection of everyday tableware, such as tea sets and mugs.
The fifth-generation potter's works feature patterns such as polka dots and lattices created using the "Enokida Kiln" traditional wax-resist technique, where wax is applied to repel the glaze. The gentle, feminine color palette is inspired by nature—the earth, greenery, and sky seen during walks—and is very popular for brightening up the dining table. The fifth-generation potter's husband expresses the "tobikanna" (chattering) technique, passed down directly from the fourth generation, with a modern sensibility. His pieces are perfect for pasta, Asian food, and of course, Japanese cuisine, and they pair beautifully with other tableware.
Local
Supporter
There are many simple and easy-to-use pieces. Even within the same family of artists, the colors, shapes, and atmospheres of their works differ, making it hard to choose.
- Enokida Kiln Main Store
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- 4240 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 8 minutes by car from Mashiko Station on the Moka Railway
- 10:00–16:00
- Tuesday–Thursday
- 0285-72-2528
- Free
- Please check social media for details
6Tsukamoto
Mashiko's largest pottery studio, boasting over 160 years of history.
Tsukamoto, with over 160 years of history, is located about a 7-minute drive east of Mashiko Station. Set on a spacious property in the mountains, it is a Mashiko-yaki pottery destination where you can enjoy everything from shopping to leisure, with facilities including a main building, a gallery, and pottery workshops. For casual, everyday tableware, head to the main building. It offers a wide selection of affordable original products and works by individual artists, such as warm, characteristic Mashiko-yaki dishes and vases. Additionally, the containers for the 'Toge no Kamameshi' sold at Yokokawa Station on the Shinetsu Main Line (commonly known as 'Kamakko') are made by Tsukamoto. The mini one-go clay pots, which are reminiscent of the 'Kamakko,' make perfect souvenirs.
Gallery Tsukamoto, where works ranging from Living National Treasures to up-and-coming artists are on display.
For those looking for special gifts or a favorite masterpiece, the gallery is recommended. It exhibits and sells works by artists representing Mashiko, including Living National Treasure Shoji Hamada and Shoji Kamoda. In addition, pottery classes such as 'potter's wheel experience,' 'hand-building experience,' and 'painting experience,' which can be enjoyed by both adults and children, are also popular (advance reservation required).
Local
Supporter
This is a spot where you can learn about and experience various aspects of pottery. While the pottery experience is quite challenging, I was able to feel the depth of creating tableware.
- Tsukamoto
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- 4264 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 7 minutes by car from Mashiko Station on the Mooka Railway
- 10:00–17:00
- Thursdays, year-end and New Year holidays
Potter's wheel experience 4,500 yen / Hand-forming experience 3,000 yen / Painting experience from 800 yen (tax included)- 0285-72-3223
- Free (may be charged during the pottery market period)
MAP
- Nearby Hoshino Resorts facilities
Local supporter in charge of this article
- Keisuke WatanabeNikko Charm Exploration Team
KAI Kinugawa
Kinugawa Onsen, Tochigi Prefecture
A hot spring inn nestled in the forest along the Kinugawa mountain stream, shining with Tochigi folk crafts and dappled sunlight
Access About 5 minutes by taxi from Tobu Railway Kinugawa-Onsen Station
- Accommodation rate example
- Per person per night From ¥30,000