Yunotsu Pottery Village is a cultural and craft destination in Yunotsu Town, Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, where visitors can discover the history and traditions of Yunotsu ware. The village is centered around a huge climbing kiln, said to be one of the largest of its kind in Japan, and offers opportunities to enjoy pottery-making, exhibitions, and visits to local kilns.
Yunotsu flourished as a shipping port for silver from the nearby Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. The area was blessed with high-quality clay, abundant forest resources, and clean water, providing ideal conditions for pottery production. Today, local potters continue to preserve the tradition of Yunotsu ware, known for its simple, warm, and practical character.
The most striking feature of Yunotsu Pottery Village is its enormous climbing kiln, which extends approximately 30 meters and 20 meters in length. Built in a stepped, ten-chamber structure, the kiln is considered one of the largest traditional climbing kilns in Japan.
A climbing kiln is constructed along a slope, with several connected chambers arranged like steps. Heat from the fire in the lower chambers rises naturally into the chambers above, allowing pottery to be fired efficiently.
At Yunotsu, these kilns were once used to produce large water jars called “handō”, as well as mortars, storage jars, flowerpots, and other practical ceramic goods used in everyday life.
At the height of pottery production, more than a dozen climbing kilns operated around Yunotsu. The smoke rising from the wood-fired kilns was once a characteristic part of the local landscape. Today, two climbing kilns have been preserved and restored, allowing visitors to appreciate the scale of this traditional industry.
The history of Yunotsu ware is believed to date back to the Hoei era (1704–1708) of the Edo period. Yunotsu Port was a natural harbor that prospered as a major shipping point for silver from the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. As trade and transportation developed, pottery produced in Yunotsu was distributed more widely.
Among the best-known Yunotsu products were large water jars called “handō.” These vessels are characterized by a distinctive amber-colored glaze with flowing black patterns. Their durability and practicality made them popular, and they were shipped to households in many parts of Japan.
However, demand for traditional ceramic water containers declined as modern water infrastructure became widespread and plastic products became increasingly common. Yunotsu pottery subsequently went through a period of decline.
In more recent times, local potters influenced by the Japanese Mingei folk-craft movement have helped preserve and revive the tradition, continuing to create ceramics that reflect the practical beauty of everyday life.
The Yunotsu Pottery Museum, located next to the main kiln area, introduces the history of Yunotsu ware through historical materials and ceramic exhibits. Visitors can also try their hand at pottery-making.
One of the most popular activities is the hand-building pottery course. Using a hand-operated pottery wheel, participants shape clay with their fingers and create their own original pieces.
You can make a variety of items, such as teacups, drinking cups, small plates, or decorative owl figures. Because staff members provide careful guidance, even first-time pottery makers can enjoy the experience with confidence.
After your creation has been fired, the finished piece can be sent to you, giving you a unique souvenir of your journey to Shimane.
Duration: Approximately 40–60 minutes
Fee: ¥2,800 for high school students and older; ¥2,000 for junior high school students and younger
Includes: Clay and firing fees; shipping is charged separately
Each participant can make up to two pieces using one portion of clay. Discounts are also available for groups of 20 or more. Reservations are recommended because the pottery experience requires advance booking.
The pottery museum also offers a ceramic painting experience, in which visitors can decorate unglazed kagura masks and daruma figures.
Participants can freely paint their chosen piece using acrylic colors, and the completed work can be taken home on the same day. Because the activity is easy to enjoy, it is particularly suitable for families traveling with children.
Yunotsu Pottery Village hosts pottery festivals in both spring and autumn. Before the festivals, the traditional climbing kiln is fired, giving visitors a rare opportunity to watch the pottery being baked in a wood-fired kiln as craftsmen continuously feed it with firewood.
The ceramics removed from the kiln are sold at the festival venue and by individual pottery studios, attracting pottery enthusiasts from around the region.
The sight of flames glowing inside the climbing kiln, combined with the aroma of wood smoke and freshly fired ceramics, creates a special atmosphere unique to Yunotsu.
Yunotsu is not only a center of traditional pottery but also a historic hot spring town that developed as a trading port for the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.
Traditional inns and hot spring facilities line the stone-paved streets, creating an atmosphere that recalls an earlier era of Japan. After visiting the pottery village, you can relax in Yunotsu Onsen, explore local pottery studios, and search for a ceramic piece to take home.
The combination of hot springs, traditional crafts, and the history of the silver trade gives Yunotsu a distinctive cultural character. Take your time exploring the town and experience the many layers of its heritage.
By car: Approximately 25 minutes from the Gotsu Interchange on the San’in Expressway.
By car: Approximately 30 minutes from the Oda-Chuo-Sanbe Interchange on the San’in Expressway.
By car: Approximately 6 minutes from the Yunotsu Interchange on the San’in Expressway.
By train: Approximately 12 minutes on foot or 4 minutes by car from Yunotsu Station on the JR San’in Main Line.