 Most viewed - Shigaraki 信楽 |
One of Japan's renown and historical centers for pottery, Shigaraki's heart is the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park.554 views
|
|
Giant tanuki at Shigaraki Station. Wish they removed that pay phone.433 views
|
|
Art work on a vending machine.346 views
|
|
Similar to the beckoning cat, the Shigaraki tanuki is a common good luck charm placed at the entrance of homes and shops. Tanuki of all sizes for sale year round.341 views
|
|
The memorial is a short walk from Shigarakigushi Station.275 views
|
|
Memorial for Safety265 views
|
|
Along the way, you will see pottery shops with tanuki dolls to catch your attention.255 views
|
|
On the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line, get off at Shigaraki Station at the end of the line. 信楽駅236 views
|
|
Shigaraki Station 信楽駅236 views
|
|
Shigaraki Kogen Railways Shigaraki Station. You can take a bus to reach Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in 5 min., or walk for 20 min. 信楽駅222 views
|
|
"Anagama" kiln diagram and explanation in Japanese and English.214 views
|
|
204 views
|
|
Noborigama sloping kiln 登り窯202 views
|
|
"Anagama" kiln.200 views
|
|
The tanuki have different faces and doing different things, even karaoke. Didn't see any looking like a photographer though.196 views
|
|
Miho Museum has several exhibition rooms featuring art from various parts of the world. It also has a restaurant and coffee shop.195 views
|
|
"Noborigama" sloping kiln 登り窯194 views
|
|
Shigaraki tanuki is said to bear Eight Lucky Omens (八相縁起).187 viewsShigaraki tanuki is said to bear Eight Lucky Omens (八相縁起). 1. The hat is protection from unexpected disasters. 2. The smiling face is for affability, 3. The large eyes is for seeing the situation and making correct and considerate decisions, 4. The large belly is for being calm as well as bold, 5. A sake flask in the left hand for innate virtue, 6. An unpaid bill in the left hand symbolizes trust, 7. Large gonads between the legs which is the money bag for prosperity, and 8. A thick tail for reliability and stability no matter what.
|
|
182 views
|
|
If you like the tanuki raccoon dog, this is the place to be.181 views
|
|
Resembling a pair of praying hands, the train accident memorial is right next to the railway track.181 views
|
|
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park is in a large park-like area with various pottery facilities such as this Exhibition Hall of Industrial Ceramics. 産業展示館178 views
|
|
Bowls175 views
|
|
Shigaraki Tanuki mascot walked around the site.174 views
|
|
172 views
|
|
Shigaraki Toki (Pottery) Matsuri banner172 views
|
|
Numerous Shigaraki pottery vendors display and sell their wares. MAP171 views
|
|
Tanuki faces. This one is probably the most typical in the modern age.171 views
|
|
A great time to visit Shigaraki is during the Shigaraki Pottery Festival (信楽陶器まつり) and Ceramic Art Market in mid-Oct. Bridge to the Shigaraki Pottery Fair in mid-Oct.169 views
|
|
Prices are quite reasonable. They sell pottery for any type of budget.167 views
|
|
The Ceramic Art Market in Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park has ceramics artists having their own booth to sell their wares.166 views
|
|
Pottery vendor164 views
|
|
Inside the kiln. This one was open and empty, but some were closed and you could feel the warmth on the door.164 views
|
|
Vases163 views
|
|
Side entrances of noborigama kiln. 登り窯162 views
|
|
Inside Tanuki-kan store.162 views
|
|
JR trains no longer run to Shigaraki directly.161 views
|
|
A short bus ride takes you to Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, opened in June 1990. Open from 9 am to 5 pm, closed on Mon. (open if a national holiday and closed on Tue.). This is Shigaraki's main attraction and home of Shigaraki-yaki pottery.161 views
|
|
Inside a large pottery shop.160 views
|
|
"Noborigama" kiln159 views
|
|
158 views
|
|
Bargains to be found.158 views
|
|
158 views
|
|
"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese and English. 登り窯157 views
|
|
When I visited in mid-Oct., the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park was holding the Ceramic Art Market. Notice the tents for the ceramic artists selling their works.157 views
|
|
Vending machine trash bin with tanuki design at Shigarakigushi Station.157 views
|
|
The bridge obviously has ceramic materials.156 views
|
|
Welcome to Shigaraki. On special days such as pottery fairs, just follow the crowd from the train station.155 views
|
|
Sotoen's noborigama kiln is 15 meters wide, 30 meters long, and 3.5 meters high. It has eleven chambers going up a slope. 登り窯155 views
|
|
Shigaraki-no-miya Palace ruins. National Historic Site MAP152 views
|
|
If you go to Shigaraki by car, you will see large pottery shops along the road catching your eye with giant tanuki and small tanuki armies.152 views
|
|
Ceramic seats152 views
|
|
Pottery kilns require large amounts of wood.151 views
|
|
150 views
|
|
150 views
|
|
This is one of two pottery fair sites during the Shigaraki Pottery Festival.149 views
|
|
149 views
|
|
146 views
|
|
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park also has pottery kilns. Here's one "Anagama" cave kiln. 146 views
|
|
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park is called Togei no Mori in Japanese. It is operated by Shiga Prefecture. Free admission. 陶芸の森 MAP145 views
|
|
Stone plaque with the names of the 42 fatalities, including five employees of Shiga Kogen (Highland) Railways (SKR).145 views
|
|
Giant tanuki dressed as a Yokozuna grand champion sumo wrestler.144 views
|
|
Shigarakigushi Station on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line. This is where you get off to see the Shigaraki-no-miya Palace Ruins or the train accident memorial. 紫香楽宮跡駅144 views
|
|
At the parking lot is this Tanuki-kan store full of tanuki.144 views
|
|
More outdoor ceramic art. This is outside the Institute of Ceramic Studies where invited artists in residence create and do research and workshops and lectures are held.144 views
|
|
Also in Shigaraki is Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei, in the middle of the mountains. From Shigaraki Station, it's a 25-min. bus ride. (Or 50 min. by Teisan Bus from JR Ishiyama Station in Otsu.) This nice tunnel leads to the museum.143 views
|
|
Kyoto-based Emperor Shomu first built a Detached Palace in Shigaraki in 742. This became the the Shigaraki-no-miya Palace.142 views
|
|
Owls too139 views
|
|
Inside a side entrance of a noborigama kiln. 登り窯139 views
|
|
At the top of the hill is the Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art called Togeikan. 陶芸館139 views
|
|
Sports tanuki138 views
|
|
138 views
|
|
136 views
|
|
Lemme outta here...136 views
|
|
Confection135 views
|
|
Koka City Hall, Shigaraki Branch134 views
|
|
133 views
|
|
A warehouse converted into a pottery fair.133 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
Free shuttle bus to move between the ceramic park, pottery fair, and train station.132 views
|
|
Inside the Exhibition Hall of Industrial Ceramics. 産業展示館131 views
|
|
Steps going up the hill at Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park. Good exercise.130 views
|
|
This pottery shop also offers pottery classes.130 views
|
|
129 views
|
|
129 views
|
|
129 views
|
|
129 views
|
|
Greenery at the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park.128 views
|
|
Another place to visit in Shigaraki. 128 views
|
|
Azaleas would be beautiful in early May.127 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
125 views
|
|
A small shrine stands as a memorial.125 views
|
|
Racks and racks of Shigaraki tanuki or racoon dogs.125 views
|
|
Mail box124 views
|
|
Frog is "Kaeru" which means to "return." A popular ornament at house entrances (exits) and gardens.124 views
|
|
124 views
|
|
124 views
|
|
This frog will supposedly have your money "returned."123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
Another theory says that this is the ruins of Kokaji temple. 甲賀寺123 views
|
|
Entrance to Miho Museum which has an excellent collection of art from most parts of the world. Photography is not allowed inside the museum. MAP123 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
119 views
|
|
Sotoen has a very large number of Shigaraki pottery pieces outside in park-like tract. All for sale. Shigaraki ware is known for its weather-resistance, so they are suited for gardens and outdoor use.119 views
|
|
On the morning of May 14, 1991, a Shigaraki Kogen Railway train bound for Kibukawa collided head on with a special JR West train traveling from Kyoto to Shigaraki.118 viewsThe accident occurred May 14, 1991, when an SKR train collided head-on with a JR West train in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, leaving 42 people, including five SKR employees, dead and 614 injured.
|
|
The accident was due to a train signal mixup and human error.118 views
|
|
There are stone markers indicating where various buildings were.118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
117 views
|
|
Steps along the side of the noborigama kiln.117 views
|
|
117 views
|
|
Pig116 views
|
|
Forty-two people died, and over 600 were injured. The JR West train was packed with people heading to Shigaraki for the World Ceramic Festival. The front cars of the two trains formed an upside-down V.116 views
|
|
Shigaraki has a good number of pottery centers and Sotoen (宗陶苑) is major one. I visited for the first time in Aug. 2012. It covers a large ceramic park-like area.116 views
|
|
116 views
|
|
Ruins of a gate. Only the stone foundations are left. No original buildings stand.115 views
|
|
Stone foundation for a pillar.115 views
|
|
115 views
|
|
They also have owls. This one has a camera.115 views
|
|
Here's our block of Shigaraki clay.115 views
|
|
The Shigaraki Kogen Railway between Kibukawa and Shigaraki Stations is a single railway.114 views
|
|
A talk about Shigaraki ware at Sotoen.114 views
|
|
113 views
|
|
Bento lunch at Sotoen.113 views
|
|
Another person got more creative. We were going to see the result in Sept.112 views
|
|
111 views
|
|
Sotoen's main attraction is this noborigama or sloping kiln. Japan's oldest noborigama. The bottom chamber is the furnace where they burn wood. 登り窯111 views
|
|
A talk about Shigaraki ware at Sotoen.111 views
|
|
The instructor showed how to smooth the top edge with a wet cloth.111 views
|
|
Photo op at Sotoen. They got almost everything you can imagine. The giant tanuki is priced as much as 700,000 yen.110 views
|
|
109 views
|
|
Smaller tanuki cost a few thousand yen.109 views
|
|
"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese109 views
|
|
Another highlight of Sotoen was a pottery lesson for beginners. They have a huge pottery classroom.109 views
|
|
Pottery everywhere at Sotoen.109 views
|
|
Large tanuki.109 views
|
|
Tanuki for sale at Sotoen, Shigaraki.108 views
|
|
First, an instructor demonstrated the basics of pottery making with a block of clay. Easy enough for anyone to make a simple bowl or cup.108 views
|
|
107 views
|
|
A noborigama chamber. The chambers get larger toward the top of the noborigama kiln. 登り窯106 views
|
|
"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese. It takes 40-50 days to fill the kiln, and 7-10 days to fire. 登り窯106 views
|
|
The top of the noborigama kiln.106 views
|
|
Overview of the heart of Sotoen.104 views
|
|
Crayon no Shinchan.104 views
|
|
Sotoen gift shop.104 views
|
|
The heat from the furnace at the bottom chamber rises and seeps into all the chambers. 登り窯103 views
|
|
After maybe 20-30 min., my little bowl.103 views
|
|
They even can make Shigaraki figurines based your likeness if you give them photos of your face.102 views
|
|
Frogs are another auspicious pottery piece. Sotoen Web site: shigarakiyaki.co.jp102 views
|
|
By now, you will notice that the tanuki (racoon dog) is the symbol of Shigaraki. This giant tanuki greets you at Shigaraki Station. Wish they removed that pay phone.52 views
|
|
On the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line, get off here at Shigaraki Station at the end of the line. 信楽駅 MAP50 views
|
|
Shigaraki Station on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line. One-car train, diesel powered.50 viewsTo reach Shigaraki by train, first get on the JR Kusatsu Line, get off at Kibukawa Station where you transfer to the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line.
|
|
Shigaraki Station platform decorated with tanuki raccoon dogs.50 views
|
|
Shigaraki Station platform decorated with tanuki raccoon dogs.44 views
|
|
Inside Shigaraki Station.33 views
|
|
Shigaraki Kogen Railway train.30 views
|
|
Inside Shigaraki Station waiting area. There's a display case in the corner.30 views
|
|
More tanuki greet you at Shigaraki Station.29 views
|
|
Display case in the corner shows a few pieces from the wrecked train in the 1991 accident.29 viewsOn the morning of May 14, 1991, a Shigaraki Kogen Railway train bound for Kibukawa collided head on with a special JR West train traveling from Kyoto to Shigaraki. It left 42 people, including five SKR employees, dead and 614 injured. Also see photos below of the monument near the accident site.
|
|
Rental bicycles at Shigaraki Station.29 views
|
|
Tanuki greet you at Shigaraki Station.28 views
|
|
Gift shop inside Shigaraki Station. In case you forgot buy someting for someone before you leave Shigaraki.28 views
|
|
Local sights.23 views
|
|
Shigaraki Kogen Railways Shigaraki Station. You can take a bus to reach Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in 5 min., or walk for 20 min. 信楽駅23 views
|
|
|
|
|
