A Region Shaped by Handcraft and Prayer — Embody the Spirit of a Japanese Artisan

Kasama-yaki is a traditional style of pottery from Ibaraki Prefecture with a history of more than 250 years. While many Japanese ceramic traditions are known for strict forms and techniques, Kasama-yaki is admired for its openness and creative freedom. Each artisan is encouraged to express individuality, resulting in pieces that range from rustic and earthy to modern and refined.

The true charm of Kasama-yaki lies in its relationship with daily life. Plates, cups, and bowls are designed to be used—not simply admired. Over time, subtle changes in texture and color appear, allowing each piece to develop its own personality. The more it is used, the more it becomes part of the owner’s story.

Kasama-yaki reflects the Japanese philosophy that beauty can be found in imperfection and simplicity, reminding us that handmade objects hold warmth that mass-produced items cannot replicate.

To truly understand Kasama-yaki, I visited Kasama Craft Hills (Kasama Kōgei no Oka) and participated in a pottery-making experience.

Under the guidance of an experienced instructor, I sat at an electric wheel and placed my hands on a lump of soft clay. As the wheel slowly turned, I learned how to shape the clay with steady pressure and careful movements. At first, the clay wobbled and leaned, but with gentle corrections, it began to take form.

What impressed me most was the patience of the instructor, who explained that many of the artisans here have spent decades refining these movements until they become almost meditative. The process felt less like “making something” and more like having a quiet conversation with the material itself.

At the Kasayama Craft Hills Shop, visitors can browse a wide variety of Kasama-yaki pottery and handcrafted goods. From elegant teacups to everyday plates, each piece has its own story.

These items make meaningful souvenirs—not simply because they are beautiful, but because they represent the people and traditions behind them. Bringing one home feels like carrying a small piece of Kasama’s spirit with you.

They also make thoughtful gifts for friends and family, offering something far more personal than ordinary keepsakes.

On your journey to Kasama City, you can also visit the Kasama Inari Shrine, under a 10 minute drive from Kasama Craft Hills. This shrine is among the top three largest Inari Okami shrines in Japan, along with Yutoku Inari Shrine in Saga, and the famous Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto. This shrine built in 651 AD has over thirteen centuries of history, which you can feel as you walk under its massive torii gate entering the shrine grounds. Visitors can purchase a goshuin stamp to commemorate their visit, or an omamori amulet to offer protection for various purposes.

Surrounding the shrine is the monzen-machi or a traditional temple town built with the shrine at its center. The main street is lined with shops selling goods ranging from souvenirs and daruma to soba and sweet chestnut treats.

When I visited, I stopped by the soba shop Kashiwa and enjoyed the local take on the classic kitsune soba dish. The sweet abura-age tofu was stamped with an adorable image of a fox and the words “Kasama” (笠間), making it the perfect commemorative bite for a visit to Kasama.

I also stopped by a chic cafe called KULA to try the city’s famous chestnuts, specifically in sweets form. I enjoyed the “kuri zanmai” plate, which offered chestnut gelato, pudding, of course the popular mont blanc.

When you’re in the area, be sure to try some delicious foods in the monzen-machi!

From Kasama, the journey continued to Mito City, where I took part in a traditional lantern-making experience.

Suifu (or Mito) lanterns are an important cultural craft of Ibaraki Prefecture, handmade entirely from washi paper and bamboo frames. In the past, these lanterns guided travelers through dark streets and temple paths. Today, they are treasured as symbols of warmth, hospitality, and Japanese aesthetic harmony.

Founded in 1798, Kageyama Rihei Shoten has handcrafted traditional Suifu lanterns in Mito for more than 220 years. While adapting to the times, the workshop continues to preserve its signature hand-painted crests and calligraphy, giving each lantern a unique, one-of-a-kind character. The 9th-generation owner, Koichi Kageyama, the only certified Ibaraki Traditional Craftsman of Suifu lantern-making, personally completes every step of production—from shaping bamboo frames to applying paper and painting designs by hand. Alongside its commitment to tradition, the shop embraces innovation through lantern-making workshops for both domestic and international visitors, allowing guests to experience this heritage craft firsthand. These creative exchanges inspire new designs and materials, including the development of more durable, water-resistant lanterns for the future.

The workshop here began with learning how to craft the lantern, starting with creating the shape using a plastic or bamboo frame, then weaving wire or thread around the frame to create a base on which you can glue the washi paper. After the washi paper has dried, you decorate the “face” of the lantern. Using brushes and ink, I painted my own characters and designs. Under the careful instruction of artisans at Kageyama Rihei Shoten, every stroke required concentration and intention.

At one point, I accidentally drew outside the lines. I felt embarrassed, but Mr. Kageyama smiled and said that such moments were also part of the artwork. “This is what makes it yours,” he explained.

That simple comment revealed an important lesson: Japanese craftsmanship values sincerity over perfection. The lantern became not just a decorative object, but a reflection of my own personality and experience.

These encounters with pottery and lantern-making offered more than hands-on activities—they became moments of reflection.

From shaping clay to painting lanterns, each step required stillness and focus. The rhythm of the wheel, the softness of the paper, and the quiet atmosphere of the workshops created a space where time seemed to slow down.

Spending time with artisans who devote their lives to preserving these traditions allowed me to better understand how craftsmanship in Japan is intertwined with spirituality and respect for materials. Every piece carries not only skill, but intention, memory, and prayer.

It was a reminder that travel can be more than sightseeing—it can be a way to reconnect with creativity and patience.

What do you think? Can you imagine yourself shaping clay on a spinning wheel or painting your own lantern under the guidance of a master artisan?

In this model course, “A Region Shaped by Handcraft and Prayer — Embody the Spirit of a Japanese Artisan,” travelers can immerse themselves in authentic creative experiences. In addition to Kasama pottery and Mito lantern-making, other crafts such as akeboko painting in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, are also available—allowing visitors to explore regional artistry across the Diamond Route.

More details about these experiences can be found on our website—be sure to explore them and plan your own journey.

Thank you for traveling with us along the Diamond Route.

We look forward to bringing you along on the next adventure!