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Unzen Pottery

I enjoy the time I spend immersed in creation. Creating one-of-a-kind vessels

Unzen pottery is said to have its origins in 1926, when the tea master Shigeta Hyakonsai visited Unzen and opened a kiln for making tea bowls. At the Unzen Pottery in the Unzen hot spring resort area, visitors can experience the pottery wheel with a lecture by the fourth generation owner.

The pottery requires delicate work to shape the clay while evenly stretching it with an electric potter's wheel, but even children can feel safe as they are assisted through the difficult process. The time spent touching the clay and getting absorbed in the creative process is also a good memory. After detailed finishing, drying, and firing, the finished product is delivered to the customer three to four months later.

At the gallery, you can see the beauty of Unzen Pottery in three different ways

A visit to the gallery next to the studio is also recommended. Currently, the gallery features works by the fourth generation and his parents, the third generation and their wives, in three different styles.
A representative piece of Unzen pottery is "Yuteitatemoku," which uses volcanic ash from Mt. Unzen as a glaze to create a unique texture with countless mottled patterns. The color of the glaze, which contains iron, and the unique pattern are unmistakable. There are also tea ceremony utensils such as flower vases and water jars, as well as modern vessels that you will want to use in your daily life. Just looking at these everyday vessels is enough to make one's heart skip a beat.

Unzen Pottery

• 304 Unzen, Kohama-cho, Unzen City, Nagasaki MAP
• 5 minutes walk from Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen
• 9:00-17:00
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• Experience of pottery making: 3,300 yen + shipping cost of finished products (takes about 1 hour) *Age 5 and up; children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• 080-6970-3532
• Free of charge
• Experience reservations can be made in advance by phone or through the website (or on the day of the experience).

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Unzen Beadlo Museum

Experience authentic glass making by designing your own glassware

This is the largest glass museum in Kyushu, with a collection of about 300 pieces, including blown glass from the Edo period, Bohemian glass from the 19th century, and oil lamps. In addition to the works of art, the museum also has a gorgeous space that matches the exhibition theme.

The Glass Museum's unique "Glass Making Experience" is a popular attraction among visitors. There are five different experience menus, including original glass, stained glass-style photo frames, earrings and other accessories, glass beads, kaleidoscopes, etc. The time required for each experience varies from 30 minutes to two hours. The time required varies from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the menu.

Museum store sells valuable glassware.

The museum store on the first floor offers a wide range of domestic and international glass products. Some of the items include rare Bohemian glass and vintage European glass such as "Baccarat," and if you are lucky, you may be able to find a bargain. These are all beautiful pieces that you will want to take home with you as a memento of your trip.

In addition to viewing the museum, visitors can also experience glass making and look for souvenirs. The time you spend experiencing art with all your senses will be etched in the pages of your memories of your trip to Unzen.

Unzen Bead Art Museum

• 320 Unzen, Obama-cho, Unzen City, Nagasaki MAP
• Approximately 7 minutes on foot from Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen
• 9:30 - 17:00 (varies according to the season)
• Wednesdays, Year-end and New Year holidays
• Adults 700 yen, Junior and senior high school students 500 yen, Elementary school students 300 yen, Free for infants
  Glass-making Experience: 1,700 yen and up (varies according to the menu)
• 0957-73-3133
• Free of charge
• Glass-making Experience is available on the day of your visit. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis (by phone).

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Unzen Toy Museum

A nostalgic candy shop with a surprisingly large selection of items

Retro candy and toys can be found all over the store. There are about 2,000 varieties, ranging from the classic to the rare. The nostalgia is likely to bring many visitors back to their childhood.

The first floor is a candy shop and the second floor is a toy museum (closed as of April 2024). When it was first established in the early Showa period, it was a very common souvenir store, but around 1990, it changed to its current business format. Today, it has become a famous spot in Unzen's hot spring district.

A candy shop experience that is nostalgic for adults and fresh for children

In addition to candy, there are also many other products called "spoiled toys," such as lottery tickets, menko (Japanese pinball), tin toys, and so on. Many of the dagashi toys are no longer in production, so there is a possibility that rare items are lurking in the area. There are also cards with characters from the 1950s, and even if you are not of the real-time generation, the retro and kitschy designs will catch your eye.

For adults, the candy and toys are nostalgic, and for children, they are fresh. It is a fascinating spot where families can visit and enjoy different perspectives.

Unzen Toy Museum

• 310 Unzen, Kohama-cho, Unzen City, Nagasaki MAP
• About 2 minutes walk from Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen
• 10:00-17:00
  Open mainly on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, major holidays, and during the season of autumn foliage.
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0957-73-3441 (available only on business days)
• Free of charge

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Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall (Gamadasu Dome)

Experience a Volcano Museum full of fun and educational experiences

Opened in 2002 to pass on to future generations the lessons learned from the eruption of Mount Fugendake in Unzen, which began in 1990, it is the nation's first Volcano Experience Museum.

In the permanent exhibition, visitors can experience the eruption disaster in an easy-to-understand and powerful way through the "Heisei Eruption Diorama Mapping" and "Great Eruption Theater" that use the latest technologies such as mapping technology and drone images. Visitors can learn why disasters occurred, the reality of volcanic disasters and their threats, the state of reconstruction, and the blessings that volcanoes bring. With all kinds of natural disasters occurring these days, the whole family can learn how to be prepared in case of emergency.

Don't miss the "Children's Geopark," an indoor playground where you can learn while playing

The Children's Geopark, an indoor playground, is an Experience zone where visitors can enjoy, feel, and learn about the power of the earth and the fascination of Unzen volcanoes with their entire bodies. There is also "Geo Mountain," which offers a 360-degree view from the top of Heisei Shinzan, and a bouldering area that resembles the geological formations of Heisei Shinzan and Unzen volcanoes, bringing out the excitement and thrill in children.

There is also a "Wonder Lab" where children can learn about volcanoes, science, and disaster prevention through experimental workshops. There are a variety of programs that can be experienced only here, such as the "Pyroclastic Flow Experiment" and the "Lava Dome Experiment. Adults are also welcome to participate, as well as accompany visitors.

Mt. Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall (Gamadasu Dome)

• 1-1 Heisei-cho, Shimabara-shi, Nagasaki MAP
• About 30 minutes from Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen by car
• 9:00-18:00 (last admission at 17:00)
  Children's Geopark 9:30-17:00
• Open all year round (with maintenance closures)
• Permanent exhibits: Adults: 1,050 yen, Junior high and high school students: 740 yen, Elementary school students: 530 yen
  (Children's Geopark: 350 yen per person, WonderLab: 500 yen per person)
• 0957-65-5555
• Free of charge

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Honda Wax Industry

100% naturally occurring Japanese candles made using traditional methods

The Japanese candle studio was established in 1930. Japanese candles are made of wax based on vegetable oils such as mokuro (wood wax) and wicks made of Japanese paper. The hollow structure of the wick allows the flame to flicker beautifully, and the candle can be lit for a long period of time.

Haze, the raw material of the wax, is a tree that is deeply associated with this region, which even supported the finances of the Shimabara Clan during the Edo period. The type of wax used at Honda Wax Industry was discovered in Shimabara in 1790 and later named "Showa Fukuhaze" (Japanese wax tree). No chemical agents are used, and we have inherited the method of production using a tamajime type pressing machine that has been in use since the Edo period (1603-1868).

Experience painting Japanese candles to create your own unique design

The "Japanese Candle Making Experience," in which visitors can learn about Japanese candles, which are now rare, is also popular. In addition to the candle-making process, the one-hour Experience also includes an explanation of the characteristics of wood wax and the history of Shimabara and its goby, as well as a tour of the oil-pressing plant. In addition, there is a "Painting Experience" where you can paint your own picture on the finished candle using acrylic paints. The experience, which takes about 30 minutes including drying time, can be enjoyed even by small children.
In the studio, you can also buy Japanese candles of various designs and shapes that have been painted by craftspeople. They are also recommended as souvenirs from Unzen.

Honda Wax Industry Factory

• 545, Daisanto Hei, Ariake-cho, Shimabara-shi, Nagasaki MAP
• Approximately 33 minutes from Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen by Car
• 9:00-18:00
• Mon.
• Japanese candle making and painting experience: 1,500 yen per person each, 2,300 yen per person for both experiences
• 0957-68-0015
• Free of charge
• Reservations for the candle-making and painting experiences are accepted through the website or by phone.