Anyone who loves Japanese ceramics has surely heard of “Arita ware.” As a devoted fan, I made a special trip to Arita, Saga Prefecture, despite the somewhat long journey, to see it for myself. The annual Arita Ceramics Fair, held during Golden Week (4/29-5/5), is the town’s biggest event. Hundreds of kilns and stalls line a 3-kilometer-long street, creating the lively atmosphere of a traditional local market. There’s everything from affordable, beautifully made everyday tableware to works by master artisans, plus great discounts for treasure hunting. It’s definitely a treasure hunter’s paradise that every tableware enthusiast should visit at least once!
Arita Ceramics Fair | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Glicopia East
To promote children’s health, Glico, a prominent food maker in Japan, produces and sells nutritious snacks. Pretz and Pocky are popular and most Japanese know them. 55,000 boxes of Pretz and 70,000 boxes of Pocky are made each day at Glicopia East factory.
江崎格力高（Glico）生產的 Pocky、Pretz可以說是日本最具代表性的國民零食！這款經典餅乾誕生於 1966 年，當初研發時為了避免顧客拿取時弄髒手指，特別留下一小段不沾巧克力的餅乾棒，這項貼心設計也成為它橫掃全球的標誌特色，連名稱都取自咬下時「咔嚓（Pokkin）」的擬聲詞。
造訪Glico觀光工廠，除了能親眼一探自動化產線製造與運送的秘密，還能挑戰手作專屬巨大 Pocky 的 DIY 體驗。館內不僅展示歷年經典包裝與限定廣告，商品區更集結了地區限定風味，絕對是兼具美味與樂趣的必訪景點！
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Takashimaya Times Square
Takashimaya Times Square, a large commercial facility that opened in 1996, consists of a main building with a basement level and 14 above-ground floors. The main building centers around Shinjuku Takashimaya and houses Japan's largest Tokyu Hands, Uniqlo, and the electronics retailer Nojima.
If you want to try refined Japanese rice crackers, I highly recommend the upscale Akasaka shop Akasaka Kakiyama. Its rice crackers are delicate and bite-sized, with a crisp texture and elegant, subtle flavors that fully reflect the craftsmanship of top-quality Japanese confectionery. Each item comes in its own high-quality packaging, making it perfect for enjoying yourself or giving as a gift. There is a counter in the basement food hall of Shinjuku Takashimaya. Recommended for anyone who enjoys refined Japanese rice crackers!
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Tanya Zenjiro Sendai Ekimae-Honten
It is about a 2-minute walk from JR Sendai Station. The main restaurant of "Tanya Zenjiro," a long-established restaurant which, after years of trial and error, has come to the conclusion that the most delicious beef tongue is grilled with salt, offers the traditional Sendai beef tongue grilled by hand.
How could you visit Sendai and miss out on the ultimate beef tongue experience! If you're passing through JR Sendai Station, I highly recommend visiting the extremely popular Tanya Zenjiro. Its signature thick-cut beef tongue is charcoal-grilled until crisp on the outside and tender and juicy inside, with a savory, salty flavor. Every traditional Sendai beef tongue set comes with fragrant barley rice, refreshing oxtail soup with chopped green onions, and special pickled takana greens and miso chili peppers. The layers of flavor perfectly complement the meat, making this an absolutely exceptional feast!
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