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If you are planning to visit Tokoname, this is the perfect guide to prepare for your trip. Tokoname is a beautiful and unique village situated to the south of Nagoya in Japan.
Tokoname is sometimes referred to as the Pottery Village due to the historical pottery industry in the area. Even to this day, you can visit pottery workshops, pottery studios, and enjoy pottery art around the winding footpaths and alleyways. So beautiful and atmospheric is this village that it is also the setting of a recent anime called “A Whisker Away.” If you have seen this film, you can spot many of the sites around the village.
We are very grateful to have lived in Tokoname, and we have spent a lot of time exploring this beautiful village, finding the best things to see and do. Get ready to have a lot of recommendations, including some very unique hidden gems.
WHY NOT STAY IN TOKONAME – Don’t miss GUESTHOUSE TANUKI – a lovely cozy and authentic traditional Japanese Guest House bursting with character. You can find Tanuki on Agoda you can also find Tanuki on booking.com
DON’T MISS THIS NEARBY – Flight of Dreams – FREE & FUN Family attraction at Chubu Airport
Map of the Best Things to Do in Tokoname
How do you get to Tokoname?
The best way to get to Tokoname is to use the subway and Meitetsu railway line from Nagoya. Start by taking the subway to Kanayama Station on the Meiji Loop Line. From here, you can change to the Meitetsu line (you will need to purchase a separate ticket for the Meitetsu). It should cost around 800 yen (£4 or $5) to take the Meitetsu from Nagoya to Tokoname.
Top tip – you can either purchase your tickets from the ticket window or from the vending machine (just use the price map to work out how much you need to pay – and then select the right price on the machine from the options – after this you can pay. The machines have English and they are pretty user friendly)
Tokoname – Things to Know Before you Go
Here are a few things to help you get to grips with Tokoname. First and foremost, it is free both to enter and explore the Tokoname Pottery Village. If you’re interested in seeing all of the best bits, we have actually pulled together this free and self-guided walking tour (which has a very helpful map to guide you through the route and make sure that you see all of the best attractions and hidden gems).
1 Walk Along the Pottery Pathway (Must do activity)
One of the most iconic and famous things to do in the Pottery Village is to walk along the Pottery Pathway. This is a short section of pathway (around 20 m in length). On the side of the pathway are steep walls which have large brown pots embedded. This is a great spot to take a photo. There is also a small public garden situated at the bottom of the Pottery Pathway (during blossom season, this is a nice blossom spot).
2 Visit the INAX Museum (Great with kids)
If you walk around 20 minutes south of the Pottery Village, you can visit the INAX Museum. This is a fantastic place to learn about the industrial history of the area and also tiling and terracotta artwork. We recommend that you start at the Kiln Plaza. Here, you can purchase your ticket (700 yen, 500 yen for high school and college students, 250 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Children below elementary age are free of charge).
You can learn about the machinery and history of pottery production in the Kiln Plaza. After this, we recommend that you explore the Terracotta Museum and Tile Museum (your entry ticket covers entrance to all of these areas).
The Tile Museum is particularly impressive, with exhibits and artwork from around the world. If you’re getting hungry, don’t miss the pizzeria. Finally, they also have a tile workshop. This is a great one if you are visiting with kids. Try a tile art project (900 – 1,900 yen depending on the set).
3 Visit the Step Kiln (worth seeing if you’re nearby)
Another famous and iconic attraction in Tokoname is the Step Kiln, situated in the heart of the Pottery Village, surrounded by artistic pottery studios and cafes.
It is not possible to enter the Step Kiln itself; however, you can look inside the building. If you walk around the back of the Step Kiln, you can also see the iconic chimney stacks. This is a surprisingly nice spot for a photo.
4 Explore an Edo Period House (connect with culture)
A short walk from the Pottery Pathway, you can explore an Edo Period house. This large and beautiful house is open to the public (300 yen for adults). It is a great place to experience a traditional wooden Japanese home from the Ninja period. You can see original fittings and fixtures with Japanese furniture such as lower tables, sliding wooden doors, and traditional tatami flooring. The grounds are also very beautiful and fantastic for some artistic photography.
5 See the Iconic Tokonyan Cat Statue (Must do activity)
Tokoname is famous for the iconic Japanese waving cat. The original waving cat statue is situated on the north side of Tokoname Pottery Village. It is free to visit the statue, and it is a very nice viewpoint overlooking the town.
6 Explore a Pottery Studio (lots of studios around)
There are plenty of pottery studios dotted around Tokoname. We recommend that you spend a little time exploring some studios. They generally sell pottery starting at around 300 yen for small and simple products. Larger and more unique ornaments typically cost around 2,000 – 4,000 yen.
There is a very creative range of options. You can find everything from small animal ornaments to Japanese tea sets and large artistic sculptures. You’re not expected to buy something if you explore a studio. You can just take a look and appreciate the artwork.
7 Relax with a Coffee
There are a few unique boutique coffee shops in Tokoname Village. Make sure that you plan some time to stop and enjoy your coffee or a slice of cake. We particularly enjoyed the coffee at Barbara Roasters Coffee (situated near the Step Kiln). Although it is not the cheapest coffee around, this cafe has a very unique ambience.
8 Take a Pottery Class (not cheap but worth it!)
Taking a pottery class in Tokoname is one of those classic things to do. You do not need to pre-book a class; you can just turn up at a pottery studio and take a class for around 3,000 yen per person (£15 or $18). Classes normally take around an hour and include experience using a pottery wheel. You can even take your pottery home at the end. It is important to be aware that many of the locals have little to no English, so you may need to use a translator in order to communicate. We recommend using the Google Translate app and downloading the Japanese language onto your phone so that you can ask about the process in the village. Gisui Toen (near Kiriyama Coffee) has pins for the location of this pottery studio on the map.
9 Visit the Beach (if you have time)
So far, we have shared a lot of awesome things to do in and around the Pottery Village. However, Tokoname also has a very beautiful beach with stunning views across Ise Bay. The beach itself is very clean, and on a clear day, you can see the mountains to the north. The water is also clear but pretty cold. There is also a sauna situated at the beach. You can pay by the hour and enjoy it, running between the cold ocean and the hot sauna.
10 Visit the Sweet Potato Ice Cream Cafe (Top Pick – Hidden Gem)
If you’re exploring the Pottery Village, don’t miss the unique Sweet Potato and Ice Cream Cafe. This may sound like a strange combination, but sweet potato and ice cream is surprisingly good. This beautiful little cafe has an outdoor seating area, and you can also use the foot bath whilst you enjoy your sweet potato ice cream and coffee.
They even have a pig pen where you can eat your food with pigs. (Japanese people really love their animal cafes.) You can purchase food and drinks a la carte, or you can buy packages that include food and drinks with the foot spa or pig cafe. We have marked this hidden gem on the map to help you find the right spot.
11 Try the Best Ramen Ever (definitely not to be missed!)
Don’t miss the best-ever ramen cafe. This may sound like a bold claim, but this is genuinely the best ramen we have ever tried. The ramen restaurant is situated close to the Tokoname train station. (Unfortunately, it is an adult-only cafe.) Visiting this cafe is a unique experience. You need to start by purchasing your food ticket from a vending machine in the other door.
You then give your receipt to a waitress and wait to be seated at a cubicle. The ramen really is very impressive, with chewy thick fresh homemade noodles and generous chunks of tender meat. They may also give you a raw egg. (The idea is to crack the egg open and use the metal to separate the yolk. You then put the yolk in your soup.) Most ramen dishes cost 1,200 yen. We have marked the location of this ramen restaurant on the map.
12 Go Shopping at Aeon Mall (if you have time)
Although Tokoname is best known for the Pottery Village, you can also visit a large shopping mall where you can find an extensive food court, a large supermarket, and a wide range of shops (including some well-known brand-name clothes shops like H&M). There are also a few kids’ play spaces in this shopping mall. It takes around 20 minutes to walk to Aeon Mall from the Pottery Village or there is a free shuttle bus service outside the train station. Top tip: you can actually take the Meitetsu train from Aeon Mall (which means you do not need to walk back to the station in the village). A visit to Aeon Mall could be a great way to complete your Tokoname trip.
13 Wonder Sky (great with kids)
Just outside the mall, you can visit a high ropes adventure course called Wonder Sky. This is situated to the north side of the mall. It is a great spot for families with a range of things to see and do. The Wonder Sky course has a series of aerial obstacles to build your confidence and challenge you.
The prices are as follows: Kids course 600 yen for 20 minutes, intermediate course 1,900 yen, advanced course 2,600 yen.
14 Visit Shinmeisha Temple (Connect with culture)
And last but not least, if you are exploring the Pottery Village, make sure that you include a walk up to the Shinmeisha Temple. This temple is situated on top of a hill. It has a lovely peaceful feel, and this is a nice spot to connect with Japanese culture
