Tomoshibito no Tsudoi 2026 | Two Days of Juried Artisans
Tomoshibito no Tsudoi (the Lamplighters' Gathering) takes place on Saturday November 14 and Sunday November 15, 2026, at Daisen Park in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. This is the 16th edition. Hours are 10am to 4pm.
This fair is juried. Only artisans who apply and pass the selection meeting exhibit. In 2026, applications closed in June and the selection meeting was held in early August. Two concentrated days, with only the work of the artisans who made it through.
The list of exhibitors is published on the official website. Please always check the official website before you set out.
Dates for 2026
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | Sat November 14 and Sun November 15, 2026 |
| Hours | 10am to 4pm. Held rain or shine, cancelled in stormy weather |
| Edition | 16th |
| Venue | Daisen Park (Sakai) |
Six hours a day, for two days only. With a fair this short, plan on arriving for the 10am opening.
It is held rain or shine and cancelled in stormy weather. It is an outdoor event, so check the official website for the weather on the day.
What it means to be juried
Each year, Tomoshibito no Tsudoi appoints a selection committee to choose its exhibitors. The 2026 committee is named publicly: six people, among them a writer, a branding director, a glass studio, and the heads of a furniture maker, a craft brand and a craft shop.
| Item | Tomoshibito no Tsudoi | Pottery fairs in pottery towns |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibitors | Artisans who passed selection | The kilns and artisans of that town |
| Crafts | Pottery, wood, metal, textiles, glass and more | Mostly pottery |
| Prices | Artisan prices | Kiln prices, with some bargain sales |
| Suits you if | You want to choose by artisan | You want pottery from that region |
Tomoshibito no Tsudoi is not a place to buy Japanese pottery cheaply. Instead, you can go with a clear aim: to see this particular artisan. The exhibitor list is published in advance, and looking through it before you go changes your day completely.
Getting to Tomoshibito no Tsudoi
| How | Route |
|---|---|
| Train | Walk from Mozu station on the JR Hanwa Line |
| Train (Nankai) | Bus from Sakaihigashi station on the Nankai Koya Line |
| From central Osaka | About 20 minutes from Tennoji on the Hanwa Line |
It is 30 minutes from central Osaka. Where a pottery fair in a pottery town can take half a day to reach, this is an easy day trip from anywhere in the Kansai region.
The venue, Daisen Park, is right next to the Mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku. It sits at the center of the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, so after the pottery you can walk among the ancient burial mounds.
Parking and traffic restrictions at Tomoshibito no Tsudoi
No traffic restrictions have been announced officially. The fair stays inside the park and does not close any roads. Daisen Park has parking, but on weekends the park also has its regular visitors. The train is the surer option, and you can walk from Mozu station.
Prepare for a chilly November day outdoors
- In mid-November the sun sets early in Kansai That is one reason the fair closes at 4pm.
- It is a park, so there is plenty of shade Under the trees it is colder than you expect. A layer to put on is a must.
- You see the pottery in daylight This is a real advantage. There are things about the sheen of a glaze and the grain of the clay that only outdoor light shows, so take your time and look from different angles.
When you find a piece you like, look at it in both sun and shade. The difference is clearest with techniques whose look changes with the light, such as kohiki and shinogi.
How to work Tomoshibito no Tsudoi
- 1. Look at the exhibitor list beforehand It is juried, so names and styles are published.
- 2. Be there for the 10am opening There are only six hours. Come in the afternoon and you will not see it all.
- 3. Go round once before you decide It is not huge, so you can compare before you buy.
- 4. Walk the burial mounds Daisen Park is next to the Mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku. Spend the time after your shopping here.
What to bring to the pottery fair
- Cash Individual artisans sometimes take cash only, so do not forget it.
- A large tote Crafts other than pottery are on show too. A large shopping bag is handy.
- Newspaper or a towel The wrapping is sometimes basic. If you are worried, bring newspaper or something else to pack your pieces in.
- A layer to put on It is a park in mid-November. The shade under the trees feels quite cold, so a layer is a must.
- Shoes you can walk in You will be walking on the park's grass and soil. Come in comfortable shoes.
Related reading
Getting to know artisan pottery
- Keshiki: How to Read the 'Landscape' on a Pot
- Shinogi: The Carved Ridges on Japanese Pottery
- Kohiki Pottery: The White Slip Technique, Explained
Choosing pottery
- Japanese Plates: Which Size and Shape for Which Dish
- Japanese Tableware Complete Guide
- Kodai (Foot Ring): The Part Collectors Check First
Pottery of Kansai
- Kyo Ware and Kiyomizu Ware: Kyoto's Refined Ceramics
- Shigaraki Ware: Why Its Clay Sparkles After 1,200 Years
- Japan Pottery Fair Calendar 2026-2027: 90 Dates and Venues
- How to Visit a Japanese Pottery Fair: Crowds, Cash, Haggling
For the days you cannot go
The fair is only two days a year. Even if you cannot go on those days, we deliver pottery made one piece at a time by hand by artisans across Japan, directly from where it is made. Every piece carries its artisan's name, so you can trace who made it.
See pieces by our artisansFAQ
When is Tomoshibito no Tsudoi held?
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