Last Updated: Nov 4, 2023

Aichi’s Town of Tokoname

One of Japan’s Top Kilns

In today’s article, I am going to take you to the artisanal town of Tokoname. Located on the western side of Aichi Prefecture’s Chita Peninsula, Tokoname has long been famous as one of Japan’s six ancient kilns. From as long back as the Heian period (794–1185), Tokoname has been churning out amazingly high quality ceramics thanks to its rich and earthy red clay. Today, the town is nothing short of a celebration of all things related to craftsmen. If you’re a big fan of wares like Japanese teapots and other such china, you need to add Tokoname to your list.

While the primary points of appeal in Tokoname are certainly related to its famous pottery, there is a lot more to this ceramic wonderland than just what its kilns make. For example, the village is something of an anime pilgrimage for fans of the 2020 animated film A Whisker Away which was set in Tokoname. As you’ll see if you ever visit there yourself, many of the locations in the movie have real world counterparts that make for some truly great photo opportunities.

All things considered, generations of potters hailing from these ancient kiln sites in Tokoname have been producing amazing wares for over a millennium. If you want to experience this history for yourself, take this article as…