All Reviews of Shigaraki Toen Tanuki Mura

I remember a teacher explaining in class that many shops in Japan place cute tanuki statues at their entrances as symbols of good fortune, prosperity, and thriving business. This time, I visited Shigaraki Toen Tanuki Mura in Shiga Prefecture and found myself surrounded by an army of tanuki! With their round bellies, straw hats, and all kinds of funny, adorable expressions, they also reminded me of the tanuki characters in a Hayao Miyazaki film. Shigaraki ware has a history spanning several centuries, and tanuki pottery became even more famous after Emperor Showa visited Shigaraki in 1951. Tanuki can be seen all over the streets of Shigaraki, and if you're lucky, you may even come across a special, unusually colored one for a relaxing and fun treasure hunt!

When I arrived in the Shigaraki area of Shiga Prefecture, my first thought was, “Are there way too many tanuki here?”

Along the roads, in front of shops, and in gardens, you can spot Shigaraki ware tanuki everywhere, each with a charming, goofy expression, almost like they’re greeting travelers.

Shigaraki ware is one of Japan’s six ancient kilns and has a long history of pottery. The area is built into the mountains, and old climbing kilns and cave kilns are still preserved today. Walking through this little mountain village, the air feels simple, quiet, and full of earthy clay.

The cutest part is definitely the round little tanuki ceramic figures!

Some are holding sake bottles, others are holding account books, and each one has a slightly different expression. The more you look, the more soothing they feel.

In Japan, tanuki are also seen as lucky charms that bring good fortune and business success, so it’s no wonder so many shops have one out front.

The shop was pretty dark and a bit dirty inside. A lot of the pottery was covered in dust. I'm not really into handicrafts, but the big tanuki statue at the entrance is definitely worth a photo.

If you're interested, you should definitely try the Shigaraki pottery making experience.