The Kyushu Ceramic Museum

The Kyushu Ceramic Museum collects and exhibits a wide range of ceramic art from all over Kyushu, including contemporary ceramists’ works.

The new exhibition rooms renovated in April 2022 added a new section for the history of Arita Ware. Especially the Kanbara collection is worth checking for the old Imari porcelain arts, which fascinated European loyal families and aristocrats and were made for exportation. You will certainly be impressed with these gorgeous wares.

Mr. & Mrs. Shibata’s Collection room is centered round the Arita porcelain works produced during the Edo Period and systematically exhibited. About 1,000 rare pieces out of over 10,000 in their collection are carefully selected and artfully displayed.

Also, there is another interesting exhibition room that includes ko-garatsu ware, porcelain produced in the Kakiemon style, along with works from the Nabeshima Clan kiln, as well as the permanent exhibition room for contemporary ceramic scenes in Kyushu. A variety of special exhibitions are held in the general exhibition hall which also features a tea ceremony room.

The Arita ware musical clock is set in the alley in between the halls. The clock plays beautiful music in addition to the sounds of the 25 porcelain bells outside of the museum gifted from Missen in Germany to its sister town of Arita.