Arita In Depth

Gain a broad understanding of the area in and around Sasebo through attractions that highlight its extraordinary porcelain and natural beauty.

Mifuneyama Rakuen is a particularly lovely floral landscape, as it features a colorful floating garden, thousands of cherry trees and an outstanding view of Mt. Mifune. While you may find porcelain while stopping briefly to shop, you will behold some of the absolute finest examples of it at a gallery that honors famed 19th-century porcelain craftsman Chuji Fukagawa.

Fukagawa’s treasured vase that won a gold medal at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris is encased in glass. The first porcelain produced in Japan was made in nearby Arita, a legendary town for potters since the 17th century. The craftsmen donated the white porcelain torii archway at Tozan Shrine and it has become the town’s beloved symbol. While meandering about the shrine, you can also expect to see unusual porcelain statues and porcelain plaques on which visitors write prayers.