Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park

In Shigaraki—Koka City’s pottery town in Shiga Prefecture—you’ll find this lush park surrounded by greenery.

The park is divided into four areas. There’s a ceramics-focused art museum (the Ceramic Art Museum), the Shigaraki Industrial Exhibition Hall with a shop and gallery showcasing the latest in Shigaraki ware, the Creative Training Center with an artist-in-residence studio and a rich international cultural atmosphere, and plazas displaying a wide range of works—together forming a well-rounded complex dedicated to ceramics.

Right in the Ceramic Art Museum, exhibitions on a variety of themes run throughout the year, along with plenty of intriguing programs. Be sure to also stop by the on-site museum shop, “6senses,” where you can find original items such as capsule-toy machines featuring ceramic goods.

It’s also a great place to enjoy nature. At Star Plaza, you can take in dramatic large-scale outdoor works along with sweeping views from an elevation of 300 meters (984 feet). The greenery-filled Sun Plaza is ideal for a relaxing break, while Spring Plaza—with its quiet stream—lets you spot Japanese rice fish. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy nature you won’t find in the city.