See, Make, and Enjoy Shigaraki Ware! 8Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Shigaraki, Shiga

At Shigaraki Toen Tanuki Mura, you can enjoy authentic pottery-making experiences in addition to viewing and purchasing Shigaraki ware.
Options include hand-building and using an electric pottery wheel, as well as a course where you use a mold to create your own original tanuki figurine and an easy pottery-painting course.
Plans combining a pottery experience with a meal are also popular, offering flavors unique to Shigaraki, such as dishes made with Asamiya tea, one of Japan's Five Great Teas, and Omi Koshihikari rice cooked in a Shigaraki ware donabe (earthenware pot).
Pottery experiences and plans that include meals require reservations, so be sure to check in advance before visiting.

This expansive urban park covers 40 hectares of hilly land overlooking the town of Shigaraki.
It consists of several facilities, including the Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art, a museum specializing in ceramics; the Exhibition Hall of Industrial Ceramics, where Shigaraki ware is exhibited and sold; and the Institute of Ceramic Studies, where artists from around the world engage in creative work.
Large-scale ceramic works by artists from Japan and abroad are scattered outdoors, and another attraction is the chance to enjoy seasonal scenery in an open-air museum setting.
At the Shigaraki Sakkaichi (Shigaraki Artists' Market) in spring and the Ceramic Art Market in autumn, visitors can purchase works by ceramic artists and interact directly with their creators.

The Pottery Quarter, extending from Shigaraki Station, is a walking route for exploring the pottery town on foot.
The hilly streets where many potteries are concentrated retain old noborigama (climbing kilns) and kiln chimneys, creating scenery unique to a historic pottery-producing area.
Distinctive potteries and galleries are scattered along the route, offering the chance to choose pieces while discovering the individual approaches of their makers.
Shigaraki ware ceramic tiles are embedded in the road as markers, making the route easy to follow even for first-time visitors.
Enjoy the townscape as you search for a favorite piece of pottery to call your own.

Set amid lush mountains, MIHO MUSEUM was designed around the theme of “Shangri-La” by architect I.M. Pei, known for the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum.
About 80% of the building is set underground, and its distinctive architecture, composed of geometric arrangements of triangular forms, is itself like a work of art.
The approach, which takes visitors through a tunnel colored by cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, and other seasonal scenery before crossing a suspension bridge, creates the feeling of stepping into another world.
Inside, approximately 250 works are on display at any given time, including Japanese art and ancient art from regions around the world such as Egypt and Greece.

Located about a 20- to 30-minute drive from Shigaraki Station, Koka Ninja House (Koka-ryu Ninjutsu Yashiki) is the only surviving authentic ninja house in Japan.
It is the former residence of the Mochizuki family, one of the leading families among the Koka ninja, and the building, believed to have been constructed about 300 years ago, retains its appearance from that time.
Inside are various defensive devices designed to protect residents from enemies, including hidden doors, pitfalls, and secret staircases, allowing visitors to experience the ingenuity and daily life of the Koka ninja.
Visitors can also try shuriken (ninja throwing star) throwing for an additional fee and sample a secret ninja herbal tea, making this an engaging spot for children and adults alike.

Founded in 1913, Suenobe Ryori Uosen is a long-established restaurant about an eight-minute walk from Shigaraki Station.
Originally established as a freshwater fish shop, it now serves Japanese cuisine incorporating local ingredients such as Omi Beef and fish and shellfish from Lake Biwa.
The dishes prepared by the fourth-generation owner, who trained at a long-established restaurant in Kyoto, are delicate and refined.
The owner also has a deep appreciation for pottery, and the harmony between each dish and the carefully selected Shigaraki ware on which it is served is one of the restaurant's distinctive charms.
Guests can enjoy seasonal flavors of Shiga throughout the year, including sansai (edible wild plants) in spring, mushrooms in autumn, and game meat in winter.

Run by Shigaraki ware producer Kato Co., Ltd., this complex combines a café, a shop, and a gallery. It opened in 2013 on the former site of an 80-meter-long tunnel kiln that had operated for 40 years before being dismantled.
The café serves lunch and desserts on tableware crafted by ceramic artists. Soft jazz sets a relaxed mood, while views of the garden’s changing seasonal scenery add to the dining experience.
The gallery showcases ceramics and other works by young artists, and the shop offers pottery and a variety of home goods. Enjoy a meal and discover the many forms of craftsmanship that take shape from Shigaraki clay.

Mutsumian is a popular restaurant housed in a roughly 150-year-old kominka (traditional Japanese house), known for rice cooked in Shigaraki ware donabe.
Using home-grown rice, each guest cooks an individual serving of rice in their own donabe.
The rice has a fluffy texture and a pronounced natural sweetness, and can be enjoyed as part of set meals served with dishes such as hamburger steak or grilled fish.
While waiting for the rice to cook, guests can choose the Shigaraki ware rice bowl and chopstick rest they will use for their meal.
Watching the steam rise from the donabe as the rice cooks is another pleasure unique to the restaurant.
The interior is filled with the warmth of wood, creating the calm atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house.
It is a great place to stop for lunch after exploring the Pottery Quarter or whenever you want to relax and take a break.

The Shigaraki Kogen Railway can be used to travel around the Shigaraki area, but services are limited, so it is a good idea to check the timetable before your visit.
If you also plan to visit spots farther from the station, using a rental car or taxi can make sightseeing more efficient.

Advance reservations are required or recommended for many activities and venues, including pottery experiences at Shigaraki Toen Tanuki Mura, hands-on programs at local potteries, and noborigama cafes.
Weekends and peak sightseeing seasons can be particularly busy, so once your travel date is set, it is best to check availability early.

Shigaraki is located in a mountainous area, and even in summer the mornings and evenings can feel cool, so bringing a light outer layer is recommended.
There are also many opportunities to walk on slopes, including along the Pottery Quarter, so comfortable walking shoes are best for exploring the town.