Hello everyone reading this blog.
My name is Yokoyama, the owner of Koto Potter.
This may be a sudden question, but do you know where the kilns for Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki are located ?
For example, the names of many pottery items are themselves the names of their place of origin, such as Shigaraki ware from Shigaraki Town in Shiga Prefecture and Arita ware from Arita Town in Saga Prefecture.
However, Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki kilns are scattered all over Kyoto Prefecture.
In Kyoto City, representative areas include the Kiyomizu-yaki complex in Yamashina, the Sennyuji area , and Sumiyama in Uji City, where the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple is located, but there are also potters with studios in residential areas and in the mountains.
So this time, I would like to summarize the areas that are the most representative production areas of Kiyomizu ware kilns.
I hope this will be helpful for your stroll around Kyoto.
1. Gojozaka
Gojozaka is a historic road leading to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Although the number of potteries has decreased since they moved to the Kiyomizu-yaki complex (described below), there are still many old potteries lined up here.
It's an easy place to stop by between sightseeing, and the area has many workshops with galleries attached.
It takes about 30 minutes on foot from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station on the Keihan Railway to Kiyomizu-dera Temple .
Potteries with galleries (examples)
- Akatsukiyama
- Tosen kiln
- Shimizu Rokubei
- Fujihira Pottery
- Kyoyaki Hirano
The Kyoto Ceramic Hall exhibits many pieces of Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, and also holds special exhibitions from time to time.
At the Gojo Wakamiya Pottery Festival, held every summer, potteries from all over Kyoto exhibit, providing a rare opportunity to purchase wares directly from the potters.
(*The format of the festival will be different from the Gojo Pottery Festival held before the COVID-19 pandemic.)
Potteries in the Gojozaka area handled by Koto Potter
Hanakoyama Kiln
2. Sennyuji Temple Area
There are about 50 pottery studios scattered around Sennyuji Temple in Higashiyama Ward. There is also the "Seigama-kai" which utilizes the old-fashioned alumni network to collaborate on pottery production.
During the autumn foliage season (around November every year), the Autumn Foliage Festival is held and the area bustles with sales events and food stalls.
Potteries from the Sennyuji area handled by Koto Potter
Shunzan kiln
Tosen kiln
Noritaka Ito
Taihei Kiln
3. Kiyomizu-yaki Complex
In the mid-Showa period, due to urbanization and disaster prevention reasons, the Kiyomizu-yaki complex was relocated from Gojozaka and developed in Yamashina. It is a large-scale hub where kilns, wholesalers, and material stores are all gathered under one roof.
At the center of the area is the Kiyomizu Pottery Complex Cooperative Association, which holds permanent exhibitions and sales events. There are also many workshops with galleries attached, making it a great place to stroll around.
The Kiyomizu-yaki no Sato Festival, held every year in mid-October, features a direct sales event by potters and a line of food stalls, making it a fun event to enjoy all day long.
The potteries of Shimizu-yaki Danchi handled by Koto Potter
pottery kiln
4. Uji, Sumiyama Pottery
In the 1960s, potters seeking large tracts of land gathered in the Sumiyama area of Uji City and established the Sumiyama Ceramics Association. They create pottery in a relaxed environment.
Every April, Sumiyama Ceramics also holds a direct sale at the Ujigawa Cherry Blossom Festival, which is held in Uji Park near the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple.
Sumiyama Pottery Pottery handled by Koto Potter
Kato Nagamine
Takako kiln
summary
We have introduced the representative Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki production areas. There are still many kilns scattered throughout Kyoto Prefecture, such as Nantan City and the Keihoku area.
While you're sightseeing, be sure to enjoy a tour of the Kyoto ware and Kiyomizu ware kilns!
