Hasamicho is located in the only area of Nagasaki that does not reach the ocean. It’s claim to fame is its ceramics.

There are over 150 ceramics towns in Japan, with the most popular being: Mashiko-yaki (Tochigi), Kiyomizu-yaki (Kyoto), Shigaraki-yaki (Shiga), Hagi-yaki (Yamaguchi), and so on. Ceramics are a huge cultural tradition in Japan and recently ceramic towns have been ramping up the effort to keep people interested and involved in them.

Hasamicho has recently been making a name for itself and its ceramics.

Most of the kilns in town are in the Nakao area of Hasamicho. The Nakao area of town has small alleyways, older construction with wood and rock, giving it a traditional feel.

The Nakao Area, filled with kilns

Hasami-yaki ceramics

Ceramics even line the streets in Hasamicho

This town is famous for producing 3 different brands of ceramics. You can check out their some of their wares online:

HAKUSAN PORCELAIN CO. LTD

Their products have a kind of understated elegance and simplicity.

http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~hakusan/

HASAMI

Their products are super colorful and have a playful feel to them.

http://www.hasamiyaki.jp/

essence

Has a bit of a pop feel, and overall very fresh.

http://www.essenceoflife.jp/essence/about-us.htm

You can pick up some local works Nakao-san Koryukan:

NAKAO-SAN KORYUKAN

http://www.hasami-kankou.jp/archives/286

Nearby there are also some beautiful hillside rice paddies. They are one of the best terraced rice paddy spots in Japan.

ONIKI TERRACED RICE PADDY

http://www.hasami-kankou.jp/archives/1161

There are also a lot of cute cafes, odds and ends stores and galleries in the area you might want to check out:

CAFE- monne legul mooks

http://mooks.jp/index.html

GALLERY- monne porte

http://monne-porte.com/welcome.html

SUNDRIES- HANA Wasukui

http://www.saikaitoki.co.jp/shop.html

COFFEE- Shady

http://tabelog.com/nagasaki/A4204/A420402/42005960/

STORE- Minami Soko （sells local ceramics)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Minamisoko- %E5%8D%97%E5%89%B5%E5%BA%AB/111003078991688

General Hasamicho Tourist Information HP (Japanese only)

http://www.hasami-kankou.jp/

HOW TO GET THERE

Car

5 minutes from the Hasami-Arita IC exit

10 minutes from the Ureshino IC exit

Train

10 minutes by taxi from JR Arita Station

15 minutes by bus from JR Mikawachi (the bus to Ureshino)

20 minutes by bus from JR Kawatana (the bus to Hasami Naikai/Kaminakao)

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