Onta Ware Folk Pottery Festival 2026 | Visiting the only 10 kilns in the production area first thing in the morning

The Onta-ware Folk Pottery Festival will be held on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th, 2026, in Sarayama, Gen-ei-machi, Hita City, Oita Prefecture. This will be the 59th festival. Hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM.

This pottery fair takes place in one of Japan's smallest production areas. There are only nine kilns in Sarayama. These nine kilns are the sole inheritors of techniques designated as important intangible cultural properties by the government.

Upon arriving at the venue, the first sound you'll hear is the sound of the karausu (water-powered mortar). This device, which uses river water to lift a pestle and pound clay, is still in operation. This sound has been selected as one of the "100 Soundscapes of Japan."

2026 Schedule

It's only for two days. And since there are only nine kilns, you can visit all of them in half a day. Conversely, if you miss these two days, your next chance to buy at kiln prices won't come until next spring.

The Meaning of Having Only Nine Kilns

Onta ware began in the mid-Edo period when potters were invited from Koishiwara in Chikuzen. Since then, the techniques have been passed down from parent to child, and the number of kilns has not increased.

This is not by chance but a rule for the production area. Clay is collected jointly, pounded with a karausu, and shared climbing kilns are used. The principle is to produce ware under the name "Onta ware" rather than individual names. Therefore, individual marks are not inscribed on the pieces.

This structure defines the nature of the Folk Pottery Festival. Since each of the nine kilns sells its products at its own workshop, the venue is "in front of the kilns' homes." It is not a plaza lined with tents.

Access

Sarayama is located in the mountains. You drive there from Hita city, but the roads are narrow, and some sections become difficult for two cars to pass halfway through. It is not suitable for large vehicles.

Going by public transport alone is not practical. Bus services from Hita Station are limited. Plan your trip assuming you will use a rental car, taxi, or a companion's car.

Parking and Traffic Regulations

This is the most challenging aspect of this pottery fair.

Sarayama is a village where nine kilns are lined up along a narrow valley, and it was not originally designed to accommodate a large number of cars. During the two days of the Folk Pottery Festival, people come from all over the country, causing traffic congestion on the surrounding roads.

• Arriving first thing in the morning is the most reliable option. If you arrive at 9 AM, when it opens, parking and moving around will be easier.
• Avoid midday. It gets most crowded between 11 AM and 2 PM.
• The operation of temporary parking and shuttle services varies each year. Please check the Hita City Tourism Association's guidance just before your visit. We cannot confirm details here.

About Onta as a Production Area

Onta ware gained fame through the Mingei (folk craft) movement. Soetsu Yanagi visited the area, and Bernard Leach stayed and worked there. It is considered a production area that perfectly embodies the Mingei philosophy of "the beauty of everyday utensils made by anonymous artisans."

A distinctive feature of its techniques is the patterns carved into the surface of the pottery.

• Tobikanna (chattering): Continuous dots created by holding a metal plane against a piece on the turning wheel, causing it to skip and carve. This is synonymous with Onta.
• Hakeme (brush-marks): White slip is applied in a single stroke with a brush. The brush marks themselves become part of the design.
• Kushigaki/Uchihakeme (comb-drawing/struck brush-marks): Drawing lines with a comb or striking with a brush.

All of these are decided within the few seconds the potter's wheel is spinning. Since they cannot be redone, no two patterns are exactly alike.

The concept of Mingei itself is summarized in What is Mingei, and the white slip technique in White Slip.

How to Tour

• ① Arrive just as it opens at 9 AM. This is most effective for both parking and navigating.
• ② See the karausu (water-powered mortar). Seeing how the clay is made before buying pottery will change how you choose your pieces.
• ③ Tour all nine kilns. You can do it in half a day. Even though it's all Onta ware, each kiln has its own distinctive style.
• ④ Return to your favorite kilns. The makers are right there in front of you. This is the only place you can ask about the names of the patterns and how they are made.

What to Bring

• Cash This is a small production area in the mountains. Assume cash only and prepare accordingly.
• Newspaper or towel Packaging is simple. Pottery can chip if they knock against each other.
• Comfortable shoes You'll be walking up and down a village in a valley.
• A light jacket or cardigan Mid-October in the mountains. Mornings and evenings are noticeably colder than in the city.
• Drinks There aren't many shops nearby.

Related Articles

Learn About Onta

• What is Mingei? | The Beauty of Everyday Objects Made by Anonymous Artisans
• What is Hakeme? | Brushstrokes as Scenery

More on Techniques

• What is Shirogeshou? | Dressing Clay in White
• What is Kohiki? | The Soft White Created by White Slip
• What is a Noborigama Kiln? | Connecting Chambers Ascending a Slope

Before Going to a Pottery Fair

• Pottery Fair Calendar
• How to Visit a Japanese Pottery Fair: 9 Regions Compared
• Pottery Experience Areas | Reservations, Fees, and How to Take Your Work Home
• Kodai (Foot Ring): The Part Collectors Check First