The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo is a museum dedicated to Japanese ceramics, located in Tamba-Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture. Established to preserve and promote the prefecture’s long-standing pottery traditions, which date back to the Heian period (794–1185), the museum stands at the foot of Mount Kokuzo, next to Tachikui Sue no Sato, a center for the region’s traditional pottery culture.
Situated in the Tamba-Tachikui area, where rich natural surroundings blend with centuries of craftsmanship, the museum serves as an important center for learning about and appreciating Hyogo’s ceramic heritage. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural activities, it introduces visitors to the beauty and diversity of Japanese pottery, from historic works to contemporary creations.
The museum is located in Tamba-Tachikui, one of Japan’s most important pottery-producing areas and the principal center of Tamba ware, one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan. Its collection features ceramics from across Hyogo Prefecture, including Tamba ware, Minpei ware from Awaji Island, Higashiyama ware from Himeji, Izushi ware from Toyooka, Sanda ware from Sanda, and Oji-yama ware from Sasayama.
Visitors can explore a wide range of pottery, from ancient and traditional ceramics to modern works that demonstrate how Japanese ceramic art has evolved over the centuries.
Much of the museum’s collection originated from the former Hyogo Ceramic Art Museum. Its core holdings include ceramics from the private collection of Hiroshi Tanaka (1904–1981), the founder of that institution and president of Tajin Bus.
The museum was also a founding member of the Ceramic Art Network, established in 2008 to connect public museums in Japan specializing in ceramics. Through exhibitions and research, it contributes to the study and appreciation of ceramic art in Japan and abroad.
The exhibition building contains five galleries: two on the first floor, two on the second floor, and one in the basement. These spaces host permanent displays and special exhibitions showcasing the diversity of Japanese ceramic art.
The entrance building houses an information area and ceramic workshops on the first floor. The workshops are equipped with clay kneading machines, electric pottery wheels, and electric and gas kilns, supporting hands-on activities and ceramic education.
On the second floor, visitors can enjoy a viewing deck and the dining café Kokuzo. It is a relaxing place to appreciate the surrounding natural scenery while taking a break during a museum visit.
The training building includes a seminar room with seating for 120 people and a discussion room accommodating up to 26 participants. Lectures, workshops, and seminars related to ceramics are held here, providing opportunities to deepen visitors’ understanding of pottery and its techniques.
The museum also has a reference room and art library, a community gallery, and administrative facilities. Another highlight is Gen-an Tea House, which features an eight-tatami-mat tea room and a modern-style tea seating area for 18 guests. Visitors can enjoy Japanese tea in a traditional setting, adding another dimension to the cultural experience.
The various buildings are connected by covered corridors, creating a peaceful environment in which visitors can explore the museum and appreciate its surroundings.
The museum holds a distinguished collection of ceramics representing different periods, styles, and artistic approaches. Highlights include the following works:
Tamba Ware: A jar titled “Shojo” from the early Kamakura period (late 12th to early 13th century), a red-clay jar with an ash glaze and three handles from the early Edo period (17th century), and a sake bottle decorated with a cherry-blossom river design from the late Edo period (19th century).
Minpei Ware: A late Edo-period tea bowl decorated with autumn grasses in overglaze enamels.
Izushi Ware: A white porcelain jar decorated with an openwork basket design and applied chrysanthemum motifs, dating from the Meiji period (1868–1912).
Kenichi Tomimoto: A large plate bearing the inscription “White Clouds Drifting Freely,” created in 1953 using iron painting and copper-colored decoration, and a lidded decorative jar with four-petaled floral patterns in overglaze enamels with gold and silver accents, created in 1956.
Lucie Rie: A flower vase created in 1978, representing the work of the influential British-born ceramic artist who spent much of her career in Vienna and London.
The collection also includes modern and contemporary ceramic works by artists such as Yasunari Matsui, Yuichi Shimizu, Mutsuo Yanagihara, and Kinpei Nakamura. Another notable piece is Kyuubee Shimizu’s monument “Coexistence,” created in 2005.
The museum was completed in 2005, with architectural design by Hyogo Prefecture and Kuroda Architectural Design Office. The construction was carried out by Sumiyoshi Construction Company.
The exhibition building is a reinforced-concrete structure with two floors above ground and one basement level, while the training building uses a steel-frame structure. The site covers approximately 49,000 square meters, with a total floor area of about 6,542 square meters.
The spacious grounds and natural surroundings complement the museum’s cultural mission, making it an inviting destination for visitors interested in traditional Japanese arts and crafts.
Tamba ware is one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan, alongside Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Bizen, and Echizen ware. Its origins date to the late Heian period or early Kamakura period, when pottery production began to develop in the Tamba region.
Early potters used traditional cave kilns, known in Japanese as anagama. Around 1611, during the early Edo period, climbing kilns modeled on Korean designs were introduced. These kilns extended up a slope and allowed potters to fire multiple chambers efficiently.
Another distinctive tradition of the Tachikui area is the left-turning kick wheel, which potters rotate with their feet. This traditional technique continues to be passed down through generations of craftspeople.
Tamba ware is known for its natural, understated beauty. Medieval pieces often feature reddish clay surfaces and naturally formed ash glazes created during firing. These processes produce distinctive patterns and textures known as hai-kaburi, or ash deposits, giving each piece an individual character.
From the Edo period onward, potters developed a wider range of glazing techniques. Many contemporary works retain the rustic appearance and muted colors associated with traditional Japanese folk crafts, while serving practical purposes in everyday life.
For centuries, Tamba ware has been produced for everyday use, including storage jars, large earthenware vessels, and grinding bowls. During the Edo period, durable Tamba grinding bowls became widely used across eastern and northern Japan, competing in popularity with products from Seto.
Tea culture also influenced production. From the mid-Edo period, potters increasingly made tea bowls, tea caddies, and water containers for the tea ceremony. Some works reflected the refined aesthetic associated with Kobori Enshu, a celebrated tea master and designer.
Today, workshops and pottery experiences in the Tachikui area allow visitors to learn about traditional techniques and try making their own ceramics. At Tachikui Sue no Sato, visitors can experience pottery-making and discover the skills involved in shaping and firing Tamba ware.
Contemporary Tamba ware continues to evolve while preserving traditional craftsmanship. Potters experiment with new forms, designs, and uses, expanding the possibilities of the region’s ceramic art. One example is Shiro-Tamba, or White Tamba, which uses a white clay slip and reflects influences from other Japanese ceramic traditions, including Kyoto and Mino ware.
On April 29, 2017, Tamba-Tachikui ware was recognized as part of Japan Heritage under the story of the Six Ancient Kilns. This designation highlights the cultural significance of Japan’s historic pottery centers and their enduring contribution to the country’s ceramic traditions.
The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo offers an opportunity to discover the history, craftsmanship, and artistic variety of Japanese ceramics in the very region where Tamba ware has been produced for centuries. Its exhibitions, workshops, tea house, and peaceful setting make it a rewarding destination for art enthusiasts, cultural travelers, and anyone interested in traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
From the understated beauty of medieval pottery to the creativity of contemporary ceramic artists, the museum provides an engaging introduction to the enduring relationship between Japanese culture, daily life, and clay.