The locally beloved Kutani ware workshop will be renewed for the first time in 21 years as to-an in Kanazawa

On April 20th, Enso Co., Ltd. (Kanazawa City) completely renovated the locally beloved Kutani ware workshop for the first time in 21 years and will reopen it as to-an.

Before renewal, the company delivered a pre-opening event for media and influencers in early April.

This is an experience-based Kutani ware workshop operated by the company that opened a popular art cafe, Kanazawa Saryo, which attracts more than 5,000 visitors annually. The renewed workshop in a residential area in Kanazawa has dried flowers covering the ceiling, and a counter made from old wood.

Relate: Kanazawa Saryo, a hands-on art cafe opens in Kanazawa. A two-hour spiritual retreat at the base of Mt. Utatsu near Higashi Chaya-gai Geisha District awaits you

In traditional pottery classes, the main experience is molding clay, but to-an provides visitors with more in addition to taking on a potter’s wheel.

In the to-an, you can understand the fundamental basis of Kutani ware, touch the clay, make ware on a potter’s wheel, try to glaze pottery, put pottery in a kiln, and taste sweets with Kutani ware.

The experience lasts about 75 minutes for 6,600 yen, and reservations are mandatory for all the experience programs held three times daily. The maximum number of participants for each session is 6. Opening hours are from 10:30 to 16:30.

After being painted, coctile, and dried, your pottery will be delivered to your home after about two months.

Souvenirs will also come with your pottery. They allow you to enjoy the taste of Kanazawa such as to-an‘s original tea, a blend of roasted green and Japanese black tea leaves, and Japanese sake from a local brewery.

(Comments from the editorial department: I was responsible for this interview. Reflecting on oneself is recently a precious moment. The creation of pottery enabled me to reflect on myself: Takei, the developing director

On that day, a reporter from the Yomiuri Shimbun was also there to cover us, which was covering to-an. The most vivid memory is the dried flowers spreading across the ceiling above my head in the workshop. When the spring breeze blew in through the slightly open window for ventilation, the dried flowers were swaying—the supervising pottery artist who gave a lecture delivered warm and charming jokes. Even though the workshop was in a residential area, it was another dimension. It’s slightly far from Kanazawa Station, but enough parking lots are available. Locals from the Hokuriku region won’t have any problems: Masayoshi, the editor-in-chief

For travelers, experiencing the culture of their destinations enables them to have a favorable impression of the place. As the editor-in-chief of Hokuroku described, the workshop might be well-designed and a perfect place to enjoy Kutani ware making. I also like to feel the atmosphere of the place: Akashi, producer)

Story: Yasushi Takei
Photo and translation: Masayoshi Sakamoto