Yakimono Sanpo-michi
Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture has long been known as an area where the ceramics industry has flourished. Yakimono Sanpo-michi is a popular walking area where visitors can experience the history and culture of Tokoname ware, which has long been counted among Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns. Centered around a ceramics district that thrived most in the early Showa period, the area offers scenery distinctive to a pottery town, including brick chimneys, a climbing kiln, workshops with black walls, and retaining walls made with clay pipes and shochu bottles.
Tokoname’s pottery district is well worth a visit, with maze-like old streets, interesting ceramic works, and the remains of old kilns. You could easily spend a whole day strolling around and exploring.
About a five-minute walk from Tokoname Station, you’ll see Maneki-neko Street and a giant maneki-neko head. Since it was during the Asian Games, the cat’s head had been painted red.
Following Route A on the tourist map takes you past the ceramics museum, the old pottery district, and the kiln ruins. Unfortunately, because it was a weekday, some shops were closed, so I couldn’t fully enjoy the ceramics and food inside. I’ll definitely come back if I get the chance!
