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Bizen Pottery Festival
October 13, 2023 ,5:00 pm - October 15, 2023 ,12:30 am
The Bizen ware festival is held around JP Imbe Station of Bizen city, Okayama, known as “a village of Bizen ware.” The festival lasts two days in October every year.
It is a large event fully supported by the town, held for more than 30 years, and attracting about 100,000 people from all over Japan.
The outskirts become a vehicle-free promenade in front of JR Imbe Station. Many works are sold at 20% discounted price at a specially installed meeting space or stall.
In addition, there are many events including “a potter’s wheel demonstration” by the ceramist. Visitors can experience “a potter’s wheel challenge,” “Commission-style photography event” of Bizen ware Komachi by the campaign staff, “Sale of the lucky bag” a bag of the works of living national treasures and the cultural assets writers,” an “exhibition of the field” flower arranging, and “the tea ceremony” in the Tenshin Shrine precincts.
You can enjoy two star gourmet dished such as Bizen burger, Bizen curry, Hinase Kakioko, and a soy sauce ice-cream cone at the gourmet food stands.
The powerful charm of the Bizen ware festival is the interesting contrasts among many ceramists and works at a time. You may observe a favorite work while enjoying a conversation with the ceramist and hear their explanation and feelings about the work. It is also an opportunity to find a favorite ceramist and pottery, which you can revisit after the festival.
You can thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere of the town that originated Bizen ware during your visit. For example, there is the ceramic art museum as soon as you leave Imbe Station. When you look around brick chimneys are seen in many places and create the scene only available in this town of ceramics. In addition, you will see many examples of Bizen ware all over the town: on the sightseeing sign, on the roof an elementary school and the police station, at a bus stop and even a telephone booth. The town has a pair of Komainu (stone guardian lion-dogs) and Ema (a votive picture of a horse) on the pavement of the shrine.
Please enjoy the atmosphere of this traditional cultural town in Japan.