Highlight:
This program is designed to experience and learn the traditional pottery making carried on in Akazu area, Seto. You will be staying at a pottery studio and learn to make casual Japanese dishes with old-established glazes. During the stay, you will be spending several hours working as a “Craftsman”, of course under the guidance of professional potter. Through experiencing the use of handbuilding techniques to create sophisticated forms, you will find yourself improving your basic skills along the way.
Tour price per 1 person: 145,000 JPY
*500JPY per night as “heating expense” is charged during January and February in addition to the above price.
The price includes:
- Materials (clay max. 100kg, glazes etc)
- Facility/tools use
- Firing fee for 2 or 3 times
- Accommodation for 29 nights (*You will stay on the 2nd floor of the pottery studio)
The price does NOT include:
- Transportation fee to/from the studio, Meals, Packing service, Delivery service, etc.
Pottery facility: Kita-gama Kasen (in Seto city, Aichi prefecture) [Web /Photos]
Minimum participants: 1 person
Booking limit: 30 days prior to the tour start date
Payment limit:
- Advance payment of 10% of total tour cost must be deposited within 7 days of receiving a tentative confirmation (Refundable).
- Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to the tour start date.
Payment method we accept: Paypal, Bank transfer, International postal money order
Cancellation fee (Based on Japan time):
- 30 days to 15 days prior to the tour start date: 30% of the tour price
- 14 days to 1 day prior to the tour start date: 50% of the tour price
- Cancellation on the tour start date: 100% of the tour price (No refunds)
About firing:
- You will use a gas kiln of 90cm x 60cm x 90cm (0.7 cubic meters) or an electric kiln of 40cm x 40cm x 40cm.
- Your works will be fired together with other items when the studio fires the kiln on their regular schedule, therefore you can not specify the firing method. Also, please understand that there may be some limitations in terms of sizes and numbers of items to be fired.
- They usually fire once a week, so you will probably get 2 or 3 chances to fire during your stay of 30 days. (The firing frequency depends on the schedule of the studio.)
- Please contact us to inquire about chartering the kiln.
About your work at the studio:
You will work as a craftsman to help the studio for several hours a day. Your work program will be decided after discussions with the pottery owner, taking into account your skills and work schedule of the studio.
About the accommodation:
You will stay in a room on the 2nd floor of the pottery studio. The room is a Japanese style room with Tamami mats, futon (Japanese style tick), a small kitchen, a fridge, a bathroom and a toilet. You will share a washing machine. The internet connection is available in your room.
There maybe apprentice potters residing in other rooms.
About the meals:
You can use the kitchen in your room. The studio owner will tell you where the nearest grocery store is.
English: The pottery owner can speak English, but not as fluently as native speakers.
A Message from the Pottery Owner “It requires 3 years to master wedging, and 10 years to master the wheel.” Here in Seto, the phrase has been handed down from generation to generation, to inherit the importance of spending plenty of time to learn. We believe that it would be a very good experience for you to work with the craftsman. |
