06 - walking in Tajimi
Around Oribe Street - Part one
If you want a sense of what Tajimi city looked like in the past, take a walk in the area around Oribe Street. The town here is called Honmachi, and many merchant houses and warehouses built between the early Meiji and early Showa periods still remain here. It is a 400-meter-long area that retains a strong sense of Tajimi's history nurtured by the culture of Mino ware, the famous pottery made here over the centuries. Mino, or Mino-no-kuni, is the ancient name of the province that once occupied this region.
Furuta Oribe (古田 織部, 1544 – 1615), who’s name the street bears, a daimyō (regional lord) and a celebrated master of the Japanese tea ceremony. He lived during the tumultuous times of civil war and into the early Edo era. Oribe’s sense of aesthetics is said to have inspired the birth of Oribe ware, a revolutionary break with the ceramics tradition of his day.
Furuta Oribe (古田 織部, 1544 – 1615), who’s name the street bears, a daimyō (regional lord) and a celebrated master of the Japanese tea ceremony. He lived during the tumultuous times of civil war and into the early Edo era. Oribe’s sense of aesthetics is said to have inspired the birth of Oribe ware, a revolutionary break with the ceramics tradition of his day.
Honmachi Oribe Street, which has been an important part of city life in Tajimi since the Edo era, was created to celebrate the innovative and free spirit of Furuta Oribe. It partially overlaps with the old highway Shita-Kaido, which we cover in another article.
There are many unique shops here, especially around the Touto Souzoukan building. They are traces of the ancient ceramics culture that has nurtured our city over the centuries. Many traders in ceramics lived and worked here, which explains the variety of pottery and antiques shops in the area. In spring many pottery shops display their wares here in a massive ceramics festival. It’s a chance for pottery lovers to find nice goods for reasonable prices.
There is history everywhere in this area. Across the street from the Touto Souzoukan is Artigiano, an old bank building where you can now enjoy a rich variety of bread - and Japanese bread is good! - as well as original coffee in Oribe ware cups. And if you listen you may hear the sound of hoofs from the horses that once pulled wagons full of ceramic goods through these streets.
One must also not forget Yaku nara Mug Cup mo, a popular animated TV series that has attracted attention around the world, and is set in Tajimi. You will find many places in this area that have been used as the setting for the films, including the home of the main character.
Another thing that adds to the area’s charm is the multitude of restaurants and cafes. It makes it fun to stroll around here. Many of these you will find on the map here below. Please use it to navigate around the area.
There are many unique shops here, especially around the Touto Souzoukan building. They are traces of the ancient ceramics culture that has nurtured our city over the centuries. Many traders in ceramics lived and worked here, which explains the variety of pottery and antiques shops in the area. In spring many pottery shops display their wares here in a massive ceramics festival. It’s a chance for pottery lovers to find nice goods for reasonable prices.
There is history everywhere in this area. Across the street from the Touto Souzoukan is Artigiano, an old bank building where you can now enjoy a rich variety of bread - and Japanese bread is good! - as well as original coffee in Oribe ware cups. And if you listen you may hear the sound of hoofs from the horses that once pulled wagons full of ceramic goods through these streets.
One must also not forget Yaku nara Mug Cup mo, a popular animated TV series that has attracted attention around the world, and is set in Tajimi. You will find many places in this area that have been used as the setting for the films, including the home of the main character.
Another thing that adds to the area’s charm is the multitude of restaurants and cafes. It makes it fun to stroll around here. Many of these you will find on the map here below. Please use it to navigate around the area.
Find you way using our landmarks
We have charted a route around the area following Oribe Street and the old Shita-Kaido. Now it’s your time to go and explore!
Click the icon in the upper left to view a list of all locations.
We have charted a route around the area following Oribe Street and the old Shita-Kaido. Now it’s your time to go and explore!
Click the icon in the upper left to view a list of all locations.
Some of the shops, galleries and cafes in the area
Sankakuya 三角屋
Antiques & Antiquities
090-8550-6567
A general store selling vintage pottery and glassware (mainly dead stock) in a former Taishō (大正 1912 - 1926) era cafe.
Yamamatsu (やままつ)
Ceramics shop
0572-22-9258
The firm has been a wholesaler of Mino ware for 120 years, starting in the Meiji era. Located on Oribe Street, the company also has a retail shop, open from 10am to 5pm, today operated by the fourth generation of the family. The company carries an extensive stock and variety of tableware.
Koya Koya
A renovated 134 year old hairdresser's building complex
0572-56-5858
Koya Koya is a commercial complex of shops, cafes and salons. Here you will find pottery, glassware, clothes, kitchenware, antiques and much more. Koya koya means "Come, come" in Tajimi's Tono dialect (we have a mini-course on Tono-ben on YouTube, come and learn some words and take everybody by surprise!). The staff invites you to “koya koya" to "Koya Koya" on the shop’s website.
Touto Souzoukan (陶都創造館) - Touto Creative Centre
0572-23-5444
A complex of facilities including Tajimi City PR Centre. Tajimi is located in the largest ceramics production area in Japan. Here you will find a unique collection of local pottery for sale. The building also houses a museum documenting the history of the great ceramic tradesmen tradition in the city. You can buy special tools for ceramics production here. It’s a good place to buy souvenirs.
Antiques & Antiquities
090-8550-6567
A general store selling vintage pottery and glassware (mainly dead stock) in a former Taishō (大正 1912 - 1926) era cafe.
Yamamatsu (やままつ)
Ceramics shop
0572-22-9258
The firm has been a wholesaler of Mino ware for 120 years, starting in the Meiji era. Located on Oribe Street, the company also has a retail shop, open from 10am to 5pm, today operated by the fourth generation of the family. The company carries an extensive stock and variety of tableware.
Koya Koya
A renovated 134 year old hairdresser's building complex
0572-56-5858
Koya Koya is a commercial complex of shops, cafes and salons. Here you will find pottery, glassware, clothes, kitchenware, antiques and much more. Koya koya means "Come, come" in Tajimi's Tono dialect (we have a mini-course on Tono-ben on YouTube, come and learn some words and take everybody by surprise!). The staff invites you to “koya koya" to "Koya Koya" on the shop’s website.
Touto Souzoukan (陶都創造館) - Touto Creative Centre
0572-23-5444
A complex of facilities including Tajimi City PR Centre. Tajimi is located in the largest ceramics production area in Japan. Here you will find a unique collection of local pottery for sale. The building also houses a museum documenting the history of the great ceramic tradesmen tradition in the city. You can buy special tools for ceramics production here. It’s a good place to buy souvenirs.
Next time we will guide you in the old shopping arcade in Tajimi - a mystery journey into the past, golden era of our city.