Seto is a rare region in the world that has been producing pottery for over 1,000 years. It is counted as one of the "Six Ancient Kilns of Japan" and has been designated a "Japan Heritage Site" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Here we bring you a schedule of events that are unique to this region, taking place in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, in 2025!
April 12th (Sat) & April 13th (Sun) " Mizuno Kiln Tour"
The Mizuno district of Seto City is home to vast fields and a satoyama landscape. Twice a year, the Mizuno Kiln Tour is held in this area, where potters open their workshops to the public.
This time, there are five potteries that can be visited : Suihogama , Shigetoka, Tsubakigama , Sonegama , and Hazukigama . The general information center will have the Traffic Park East Ground (Seto Kuruland) available.
If you ask the receptionist, they will even take you to and from the pottery studio of your choice. It is run by the generosity of local people, so don't ask for too much!
Each pottery manufacturer has its own parking lot. If you are going by car, please note that the number of spaces is limited, so please check the availability before visiting.
Mizuno Kiln Tour
[Dates] April 12th (Sat) & April 13th (Sun)
[Time] 9:00-16:00
[Venue] Mizuno area
*General Information Center "Traffic Park East Entrance Ground (Seto Kuruland)" (2-466 Kamimatsuyamacho, Seto City)
[Access] The general information center is approximately 2.5 km from Mizuno Station or Nakamizuno Station
April 19th (Sat) & April 20th (Sun) Land of Pottery - Seto Pottery Market 2025
This is the fourth annual pottery market run by pottery-related people in Seto City. In addition to selling pottery and tools, each exhibitor has also prepared a plan that allows you to experience how the pottery is made. Come and experience the current state of Seto's pottery industry!
[Participant: Pottery]
Aito Manufacturing , Antonova Mariko , Abe Mirai , Umemura Shoten , Ena Silk Co., Ltd. , mmd , Kageto Akatsu Pottery , Kajita Paint Store , Tokumi Kato , Kanesan Shoten , Kitagama Kasen , Craft Workshop Lazuli , Takamatsuen Porcelain , Shin Kiln , SUIYO , Seishin Pottery Co., Ltd. , Seto ware Tsubaki kiln , Sojuen , Hirofumi Taruta , Fuji Pottery , pottery tree [ki] , Murakami Hardware Store , Yummy Life Design Store by M.M.Yoshihashi
[Participant: Food & Drink]
andtoday082 , Unknown Coffee , Mom's Kitchen , Chicken Teriyaki , TERRACOTTA BAGEL Meguru Diverse Dining , Medicinal Tea Soybean Flour & Rice Flower
Land of Pottery -Seto Pottery Market 2025
[Dates] April 19th (Sat) - April 20th (Sun)
[Time] 10:00-16:00
[Venue] Former Seto Municipal Fukagawa Elementary School building (53 Miyawaki-cho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture)
[Access] Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Owari Seto Station
[Admission fee] Free
April 19th (Sat) and April 20th (Sun) 64th Seto Pottery Festival
It began in 1962 as a festival to commemorate the virtues of Toshiro (Kato Shiro and Saemon Kagemasa), the founder of pottery in Seto City. Looking at the website , there is a huge traffic jam of events (lol).
A personal highlight is the "Toso Kuyo" ceremony, where monks gather at the Hexagonal Hall of Toso Park and recite sutras in unison. It will be held on the 19th (Sat) from 11:15 to 11:45 am.
A must-see for pottery lovers is the "Seto Young Artists Market 2025 ," which will be held at Ao no Hiroba. There will be an exhibition and sale of ceramics and glass works by young artists with ties to Seto. There will be many noteworthy artists, so be sure to check it out!
[Participating ceramic and glass artists]
Yae Imai, Keisuke Imagawa, Natsuki Ukai, Miyako Kara, Nariko Matsuki, Rina Kawai, Ayumi Kiso, Aiko Sato from Kobo Kai, Mitsuri Sawamura, Tsugumi Takahashi, Mami Takeyumi, Shiori Teramoto, Naoki Omori from Hamaguri Kiln, Natsuki Nakayama, Fuka Yamakawa, Tsuyuki Hachishichi, Shogo Yoshida, atelier notari, indigo-style design, Nobuko Sugawara, haruharu, Manabu Sakuchi from Seto Kiriko, Aya Nakai
The 64th Seto Pottery Festival
[Dates] April 19th (Sat) - April 20th (Sun)
[Time] 10 : 00-17 :00 *Depends on the venue.
[Venue] Around Owari Seto Station
May 10th (Sat) and 11th (Sun) Akatsu Kiln Village Tour
Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, is known as a pottery town, and Akatsu district is home to many people involved in the pottery industry. Many of the things that catch your eye are kilns and wholesalers, and the scenery remains strongly reminiscent of a "village of kilns." In the Akatsu district, the "Akatsu Kiln Village Tour" is held twice a year, where workshops are opened to the public.
The appeal of this event is the wide range of artists and potters, from traditional potteries with long histories to newcomers. There are over 20 participating studios, so enjoy a stroll!
[Participating workshops]
24 potteries, ceramic artists, and artists featured on the "Akatsu Kiln Village Tour" website are scheduled to participate. Be sure to check it out!
Akatsu Kiln Village Tour
[Dates] May 10th (Sat), May 11th (Sun)
[Time] 9:00-16:00
[Venue] Around Akazucho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture
[Access] Get off at Owari Seto Station on the Meitetsu Seto Line. Take the Meitetsu Bus bound for Akatsu from platform 3 and get off at Omatsu. (Approximately 8 minutes) *Click here for the timetable. Meitetsu Bus website
[Parking] " Nagasogama Santo " (30 spaces). * Alternatively, please park in the parking lots designated by each pottery company.
May 10th (Sat) and May 11th (Sun) Shinano Workshop Tour
The " Shinano Workshop Tour " will be held in the Shinano area in the mountains. 12 workshops, including pottery kilns, are scheduled to participate. Each workshop is a little far away, so we recommend deciding which one you want to visit first!
[Participating workshops]
Yume Kobo Takashi Shibata Pottery , M.M. Yoshihashi , Mizuyoshi Pottery , Seto Kiriko , Yamada Crafts, Blue and White Pottery Shin Kiln , Smoke Log House Tenyu , Iwatsuki Chikuko Ceramic Studio, Hatsuhira Kiln, Chikudoen , Shinamaru , Kanesan Shoten
[Dates] May 10th (Sat), May 11th (Sun)
[Time] 9:00-16:00
[Venue] Shinano area [Access]
By bus: Take the Meitetsu bus bound for Shinano Bus Center or Joshinano from platform 3 at the Meitetsu Bus "Seto Station Bus Stop."
The nearest bus stop to each workshop:
[Shinano Baba] Takedoen [Shinano Sakaue] Hatsudaigama [Shinano Hinomishita] Yumekobo, Mizuyoshi Pottery, MM Yoshihashi [Shinano Honmachi] Iwatsuki Takemitsu Pottery, Smoke Log House Tenyu [Shinano Bus Center] Shingama, Yamada Kogei, Seto Kiriko, Shinamaru, Kanesan Shoten
*Please see the timetable here. Meitetsu Bus website
By car: There are several parking spaces at each workshop.
* Parking is limited. We recommend parking at the Seto Shinano Roadside Station and taking a leisurely walk around the area.
September 13th (Sat) and 14th (Sun) 95th Ceramics Festival
This is one of the busiest pottery markets in the country, and is the busiest in Seto. This festival began in 1932, before the war, as an industrial festival to honor the legacy of Kato Tamikichi, the founder of porcelain, who went to Kyushu to train and dramatically improved porcelain manufacturing technology in Seto, where pottery production was the norm.
As you get off at Owari Seto Station, you'll see about 200 pottery-related stalls lined up along the Seto River, which flows right in front of you. Participants will come from potteries in Seto City as well as the neighboring Mino ware area and all over the country!
As usual, the participants are announced just before the event, so we will let you know again as the event approaches.
The 95th Ceramics Festival
[Dates] September 13th (Sat), September 14th (Sun)
[Venue] Around Owari Seto Station
September 13th (Sat) - November 30th (Sun) International Art Festival "Aichi 2025"
Aichi 2025 is the largest international art festival in Japan, taking place in Aichi Prefecture. This year's festival will take place at the Aichi Arts Center, located close to Nagoya's Sakae Station, as well as the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum and downtown Seto City.
Hiroki Uemura's "Voice of Ubusuna" Regional Development Project, Exhibition View, 2024
Ako Goto "Narrow Eyes" Regional Development Project Exhibition View 2024
Last year's pre-event, "Touching the Bottom: Contemporary Art in Seto," used city facilities such as Mufuan and the Seto City New Century Crafts Museum in Seto City, as well as private facilities such as the old-style rental space Umemura Shoten in front of the station and Matsuchiyokan in Suehirocho Shopping Arcade. We're looking forward to the opening in September!
It seems likely that a number of events will be held in the city to coincide with the dates of this art festival, so we will gather information on these and introduce them again as the festival approaches.
International Art Festival " Aichi 2025 "
[Dates] Saturday, September 13th, 2025 to Sunday, November 30th, 2025 [79 days]
[Venue] Aichi Arts Center / Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Art Museum / Downtown Seto City [Organizer] Aichi International Art Festival Organizing Committee [Theme] A Time Between Ashes and Roses [Artistic Director] Hoor Al Qasimi (Chairman and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation / President of the International Biennial Association)
November 8th (Sat) and 9th (Sun) - A leisurely autumn kiln tour
Every November, The " Mizuno Kiln Tour ," " Akatsu Kiln Village Tour ," and " Shinano Workshop Tour " will be held simultaneously, with potteries in the Mizuno, Akaatsu, and Shinano areas of Seto City opening their workshops to the public on the same day!
There is so much to see that it would be impossible to see everything in one day, so be sure to research the pottery studios you want to visit in advance before you go.
A leisurely tour of autumn kilns
[Dates] November 8th (Sat), November 9th (Sun)
[Time] 9:00-16:00
[Venue] Mizuno area, Akatsu area, Shinano area
