The Kyushu Ceramic Museum

Located in Arita, Saga Prefecture—the birthplace of Japanese porcelain—the Kyushu Ceramic Museum offers an immersive journey into the region’s ceramic culture, with a special emphasis on Hizen ware from the Edo period. Established in 1980, the museum’s core mission is to preserve and exhibit masterpieces of Kyushu ceramics.
The museum’s collections offer a direct connection to the Edo period, when the production of porcelain in Japan began and flourished. You can see up close the splendid porcelain pieces, including the Kakiemon style that captivated European royalty and nobility, who eagerly collected it, and the Nabeshima style, specially crafted at the Saga domain’s official kiln as tribute to the Tokugawa shogunate. Its outstanding permanent collections, especially the world-renowned “Mr. & Mrs. Shibata Collection” present a historically significant display of Hizen porcelain, including Arita ware (Ko Imari) produced during the 17th and 18th centuries of the Edo period. These ceramics became one of Japan’s most important international trade commodities during this era. The exhibits showcase the full history of Japanese porcelain, revealing the craftsmanship and innovation that defined the Edo period.
In addition to the “Mr. & Mrs. Shibata Collection”, visitors today can explore the “History of Arita Ware” gallery and view contemporary Kyushu ceramics. You’ll also discover unique ceramic installations on the grounds, such as a karakuri (mechanical) music box clock and Meissen bells.