Tamba Traditional Craft Park

Tamba Traditional Craft Park is located in Tamba-Sasayama City in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, a region renowned for its centuries-old pottery tradition. The area has been producing Tamba-yaki ceramics since the Kamakura period (1185-1333), making it one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. This traditional craft park was established to preserve and showcase the artistic heritage of Tamba pottery, which is characterized by its distinctive natural ash glazes and earthy tones created through wood-firing techniques that have been passed down through generations.

The park serves as both a cultural center and working studio complex where visitors can observe master potters practicing their craft in authentic workshop settings. The natural beauty of Tamba-yaki comes from the local clay and the effects of wood ash settling on pieces during the lengthy firing process in traditional climbing kilns called noborigama. These kilns can reach temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius and produce the signature reddish-brown colors and unique surface patterns that make each piece one-of-a-kind.

Visitors to Tamba Traditional Craft Park can participate in hands-on pottery experiences, including wheel-throwing sessions and hand-building workshops guided by experienced ceramic artists. The facility features exhibition spaces displaying both historical pieces and contemporary works by local potters, along with a shop where authentic Tamba-yaki pottery can be purchased directly from artisans. Walking paths throughout the park connect various kiln sites and workshops, allowing guests to explore the complete pottery-making process from clay preparation to final firing.

The park is accessible by car from Osaka in approximately 90 minutes via the Chugoku Expressway, or from Kobe in about 60 minutes. Public transportation users can take the JR Fukuchiyama Line to Sasayama-guchi Station, then transfer to a local bus heading toward Tamba-Tachikui, the pottery village district. Admission to the general exhibition areas is free.