Oiso Utsuwa no Hi 2026 | A Seaside Town Pottery Walk
Oiso Utsuwa no Hi (Oiso Pottery Days) runs from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, 2026, in the town of Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture.
This event has no single venue. Cafés, galleries, private homes and shops around Oiso each become a venue. You walk the town with a map and find the pottery as you go.
It is neither a pottery fair in a production town nor a craft fair gathered in a park. The closest thing to it is a town-wide exhibition.
The list of venues, the participating artisans and the map are published on the official website. The dates in this article follow the organizer's announcement. Please check the venue map on the official website before you set out.
2026 dates
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, 2026 / 3 days |
| Venues | Shops, private homes and galleries around Oiso |
| Hours | Vary by venue |
It runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Because Friday is included, the first day is the quietest and easiest to get around for anyone free on a weekday.
Also, opening hours differ from venue to venue. When a café is a venue, it keeps the café's own hours. Arrive late in the afternoon and some venues will already be closed.
The appeal of a pottery event you walk through town
Because Oiso Utsuwa no Hi is not gathered in one place, you get around it differently from a pottery fair where everything is on one site.
| Item | Oiso Utsuwa no Hi | A typical craft fair |
|---|---|---|
| Venues | Scattered around town | Gathered in a park or square |
| Getting around | Walk the town | Walk around one site |
| Weather | Many venues are indoors, so rain matters less | A big factor if it is outdoors |
| What you need | The venue map | Nothing in particular |
That is why it matters to go around with the venue map in hand. It is published on the official website, so be sure to have it with you before you go.
The format also has a charm of its own. The pottery sits in the places where it is used. Pieces set out on a café table look different from pieces stacked in a tent.
Getting to Oiso Utsuwa no Hi
| By | Route |
|---|---|
| Train | Oiso Station on the JR Tokaido Line |
| From Tokyo | About 1 hour from Tokyo Station on the Tokaido Line |
| Car | Seisho Bypass, Oiso-nishi IC or Oiso-higashi IC |
An hour from Tokyo, and once you step off the train you can walk the whole thing. Pottery events like this are rare in the Kanto region.
We do not recommend driving. The venues are scattered around town, so you would be looking for parking at every stop. Coming by train and walking is the ideal way to do it.
Parking and road closures
There is no official notice of road closures. Shops around town open individually, so this is not an event that shuts streets. Whether parking is available differs from venue to venue. There is no single large shared car park, so if you drive, start from a town car park or a coin-operated lot and walk from there.
About the town of Oiso
Oiso is not a pottery-producing town. Pottery was never fired here, yet a pottery event has taken root.
From the Meiji era (1868–1912) onward, it was a seaside resort where leading figures in politics and business built villas. Old residences and pine groves still remain, and the whole town is a pleasant size to explore on foot. Being a walkable town is what makes an event spread across many venues work.
The exhibitors are artisans from all over Japan. So this is a place to choose by the character of each artisan, not by the style of a particular region. Kohiki, yakishime, sometsuke and glass all sit side by side.
How to get around Oiso Utsuwa no Hi
- ① Use the official map to narrow it down to 5 or 6 venues This matters most. Try to visit every venue and you will spend the day just moving between them. Venues are spread across many places, so look at the map on the official website before you go.
- ② Start from the station and work outward The venues cluster within walking distance of Oiso Station. Come by train and plan your route from the station and it is easy to get around.
- ③ If a café is a venue, rest there Being able to take a break while looking at pottery is one of the pleasures of Oiso Utsuwa no Hi.
- ④ Wrap up early in the afternoon Each venue closes at a different time. Go to the venues you most want to see first.
What to bring to Oiso Utsuwa no Hi
- The venue map On paper or on your phone. With venues scattered around town, the map is the most important thing you carry.
- Comfortable shoes This is an event you walk. Every move between venues is on foot, so wear shoes you can walk in.
- A large tote bag You will buy at several venues, so a bag that holds everything together makes it easier.
- Cash Small venues may take cash only. Be sure to bring some.
- A layer to put on It is late October by the sea, and it gets cold toward evening. Do not forget something warm.
Related articles
Choosing pottery
- Japanese Plates: Which Size and Shape for Which Dish
- Japanese Tableware Complete Guide
- Japanese Plate Sizes: Sun to cm Conversion Chart
Understanding artisan-made pottery
- Mingei: The Folk Craft Movement That Changed Pottery
- Keshiki: How to Read the 'Landscape' on a Pot
- Kodai (Foot Ring): The Part Collectors Check First
Pottery fairs nearby
- Japan Pottery Fair Calendar 2026-2027: 90 Dates and Venues
- How to Visit a Japanese Pottery Fair: Crowds, Cash, Haggling
- Mashiko Pottery Fair: Getting There from Tokyo, Parking and Crowds
- Pottery Classes in Japan: Where to Try the Wheel
When you can't make the dates
The event lasts only three days a year. Even if you can't go, we ship Japanese pottery made by hand, one piece at a time, by artisans across Japan, directly from where it is made. Every piece carries the name of the person who made it, so you can trace exactly who it came from.
Shop artisan potteryFAQ
When is Oiso Utsuwa no Hi held?
Where is the venue for Oiso Utsuwa no Hi?
Is it better to go to Oiso Utsuwa no Hi by car or by train?
Shop the related pieces
New Arrivals
477 pieces See all
Japanese Plates
188 pieces See all
New to Japanese pottery? Start here — its history, how pottery differs from porcelain, the clays and glazes behind each style, and how to care for a piece. → Japanese Pottery: The Complete Guide
