Harman Patil (Editor)

Arita, Saga

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Country
  
Japan

Prefecture
  
Saga Prefecture

Population
  
21,066 (1 Feb 2009)

Region
  
Kyushu

District
  
Nishimatsuura

Local time
  
Wednesday 6:34 PM

Arita, Saga wwwjapantimescojpwpcontentuploads201508p1

Time zone
  
Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

City hall address
  
2202 Tachibe, Arita-chō, Saga-ken 849–4153

Weather
  
8°C, Wind S at 11 km/h, 74% Humidity

Points of interest
  
Arita Porcelain Park, Tōzan Shrine, China on the Park, Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Hoonji

Arita (有田町, Arita-chō) is a town located in Nishimatsuura District, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is known for producing Arita porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan. It also holds the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, the Arita Ceramic Fair. This event is held from April 29 to May 5 (Golden Week) every year and has thousands of stores and stalls lining the six-kilometre long main street.

Contents

Map of Arita, Nishimatsuura District, Saga Prefecture, Japan

On March 1, 2006 the town of Nishiarita, from Nishimatsuura District, was merged into Arita.

Geography

Arita is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture, bordering Nagasaki Prefecture from its southwest to western sides. About 70% of the town is forest and mountains.

Adjoining municipalities

  • Saga Prefecture: Imari, Takeo
  • Nagasaki Prefecture: Hasami, Sasebo

    • History

    Arita was one of the first sites in Japan to produce porcelain, Arita ware. The discovery of porcelain stone is attributed to a Korean potter named Kanagae Sambe, although most historians consider this a legend.

  • April 1, 1889 – The modern municipal system is established. In accordance with this system the village of Sarayama is renamed and reclassified as the town of Arita. Also at this time the villages of Shin, Magarikawa and Ōyama are formed.
  • November 13, 1896 – The village of Shin is renamed Arita.
  • January 1, 1947 – The village of Arita becomes a town and is renamed Higashi-Arita.
  • April 1, 1954 – Higashi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.
  • April 1, 1955 – Magarikawa and Ōyama merge to form the village of Nishi-Arita.
  • January 1, 1956 – Several areas of Nishi-Arita are incorporated into Arita.
  • April 1, 1965 – Nishi-Arita becomes a town.
  • March 1, 2006 – Nishi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.

    • Twin towns — Sister cities

    Arita is twinned with:

  • Alameda, California, United States
  • Meissen, Germany
  • Jingdezhen, China

    • Prefectural high schools

  • Arita Technical High School

    • Municipal junior high schools

  • Arita Junior High School
  • Nishi-Arita Junior High School

    • Municipal elementary schools

  • Arita Elementary School
  • Arita Chūbu Elementary School
  • Magarikawa Elementary School
  • Ōyama Elementary School

    • Other schools

  • Arita College of Ceramics

    • Air

    There are no airports in Arita. The closest airports are Saga Airport and Nagasaki Airport.

    Rail

  • Main station: Arita Station
  • JR Kyushu, Sasebo Line: (To Takeo) – Kami-Arita – Arita – (To Sasebo)
  • Matsuura Railway, Nishi-Kyūshū Line: Arita – Midaibashi – Kurogō – Zōshuku – Nishi-Arita – Ōgi – Yamadani – Meotoishi – (To Imari)

    • Road

  • National highways
  • National route 35
  • National route 202
  • National route 498

    • Sightseeing

  • The Kyushu Ceramic Museum houses large exhibits of old and modern style ceramics.
  • The Porcelain Park is a ceramic centered theme park, and is modeled on the Zwinger Palace in Germany. Ceramic ware from the heyday of Arita are on display in the gallery.
  • Arita Kan (有田館) has an exhibition of modern art porcelain, 400 different cups for coffee or tea and a theatre with computerized puppets made of porcelain.
  • "China On The Park" dates back to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops and a restaurant.
  • Tozan Shrine has a porcelain archway and other items of porcelain which, at other shrines, are usually made of stone. This shrine was and still is particularly revered by Arita’s ceramists.
  • Rokuroza (ろくろ座), located near Kami-Arita Station, is a place where one can learn how to make pottery.

    • Pottery

  • Kakiemon
  • Imari porcelain

    • Potters From Arita

  • Kakiemon Sakaeda, The 1st Kakiemon
  • Sakaida Kakiemon XIV, who is a Living National Treasure in Japan
  • Imaizumi Imaemon XIII, who is a Living National Treasure in Japan
  • Tsuji Hitachi
  • Ryuzan Aoki
  • Manji Inoue, who is a Living National Treasure in Japan

    • References

    Arita, Saga Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA