Bizen ware is one of six most popular potteries in Japan. Superior clay is used and put in the tunnel kiln unglazed and fired with pine wood at 1250°C for 20 days . It acquires various subdued colors. You visit the potteries and learn the process of Bizen ware. You can make your own china with the help of the potter. You also visit Kurashiki Bikan historical area.
At Okayama Station or your hotel in the case your hotel is near the station
Bizen ware potteries with a big tunnel kiln
Making your own china by yourself with the help of the potter
Watching various traditional Bizen ware and buying your favorite Bizen ware
Visiting Kurashiki Bikan historical area
At Okayama Station
Are you interested in pottery? If you are interested in pottery, Bizen ware Area is one of the most interesting places in Okayama. Bizen ware is very special. Pottery is usually painted or glazed. But Bizen ware isn't . Superior clay is used and put in the tunnel kiln unglazed and fired with pine wood at 1250°C for 20 days . It acquires various subdued colors. You can visit the pottery and see various kinds of Bizen ware and the tunnel kiln. You can also buy your favorite Bizen ware china. If you hope, you can also make Bizen ware by yourself with the help of the potter. Kurashiki Bikan historical area is a very popular sightseeing spot. After visiting Bizen you will visit Kurashiki Bikan historical area and see old Japanese warehouses and the residents of the then wealthy merchants along the stream with the willow. They are used as shops or the museum or restaurants. You can find good souvenirs.
guide fee
transportation fee (you and guide) the train fare between Kurashiki and Inbe 1680 yen round trip per person
entrance fee (you and guide) if you want to visit the museum in Kurashiki historical area
experience fee making your own Bizen ware if you want to make it about 4000 yen
lunch
I can guide you according to your request.
If you stay in the hotel in Kurashiki, we can meet in Kurashiki.
Yoko was tremendously helpful both long before our custom tour and even after! She patiently answered so many questions I had as a first time visitor to Soja City/Kurashiki, Okayama in the weeks before our tour. She set up a taxi driver and helped me navigate Japanese gravesite customs. Someone in the taxi compoany even happened to know my family and where my family's grave was located! Her English is excellent and she is a caring and capable guide that w connected with so easily. Our visit to my family's grave in Soja City was magical for me, my wife, and our daughter and granddaughter. Our granddaughter asked me if she could meet a relative her age. Yoko and the ancestors made that happen. (See picture with two happy 10 year olds, one from the US, one from Soja CIty, Japan). We bid our newly found relatives goodbye and returned to Kurashiki. After a refreshing lunch, we had a wonderful (and cooling!) visit to the Ohara Art Museum and Ohara houses. After our tour, Yoko was once again such a star! My cousin wanted to visit our family grave a couple days after us. Yoko helped arrange a taxi for them and my cousin got to spend additional time with our Soja City relatives! Yoko is such a caring, generous, knowledgable and helpful guide! Words cannot express our deep gratitude to her. Our request was complex and she delivered! We cannot recommend her to you enough!
Thank you for a nice review. I also had a nice time with you and your family. I appreciate you.
We saw a lot on this tour. Important to have an umbrella on hand if touring in June as it rained a bit. Yoko packed a lot into this day which was good. Because it rained the river boats were not operating. We instead walked along the beautiful river bank. Yoko understood and spoke good English.
Thank you for your nice review. I am very happy to read it. Is your leg all right? We walked long. So I am worried about that. I wish you can get Nintendo tickets. Yoko
This is an interesting island to visit. Yoko helped us navigate transportation. It does take a fair bit of time to get to the island including a train from Okayama (which can require a transfer), a ferry and local buses on the island. We enjoyed seeing the red and yellow pumpkins. Yoko knows the island well and was able to highlight key sites and told us about the artworks.
Thank you for your nice review. June is a rainy season in Japan. This year we had a lot of rain. You had a lot of luck. Though the weather forecast said it would rain a lot on both days , we had a little rain and could enjoy the sightseeing in almost all the places without an umbrella. Yoko
We had a wonderful time exploring Naoshima and Teshima with Yoko. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for good evaluation.