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Most viewed - Shigaraki 信楽
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One of Japan's renown and historical centers for pottery, Shigaraki's heart is the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park.561 views
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Giant tanuki at Shigaraki Station. Wish they removed that pay phone.441 views
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Art work on a vending machine.352 views
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Similar to the beckoning cat, the Shigaraki tanuki is a common good luck charm placed at the entrance of homes and shops. Tanuki of all sizes for sale year round.348 views
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The memorial is a short walk from Shigarakigushi Station.280 views
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Memorial for Safety272 views
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Along the way, you will see pottery shops with tanuki dolls to catch your attention.261 views
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Shigaraki Station 信楽駅243 views
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On the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line, get off at Shigaraki Station at the end of the line. 信楽駅241 views
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Shigaraki Kogen Railways Shigaraki Station. You can take a bus to reach Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in 5 min., or walk for 20 min. 信楽駅229 views
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"Anagama" kiln diagram and explanation in Japanese and English.220 views
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"Anagama" kiln.209 views
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Noborigama sloping kiln 登り窯208 views
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The tanuki have different faces and doing different things, even karaoke. Didn't see any looking like a photographer though.204 views
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Miho Museum has several exhibition rooms featuring art from various parts of the world. It also has a restaurant and coffee shop.204 views
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If you go to Shigaraki by car, you will see large pottery shops along the road catching your eye with giant tanuki and small tanuki armies.201 views
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"Noborigama" sloping kiln 登り窯198 views
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Shigaraki tanuki is said to bear Eight Lucky Omens (八相縁起).193 viewsShigaraki tanuki is said to bear Eight Lucky Omens (八相縁起). 1. The hat is protection from unexpected disasters. 2. The smiling face is for affability, 3. The large eyes is for seeing the situation and making correct and considerate decisions, 4. The large belly is for being calm as well as bold, 5. A sake flask in the left hand for innate virtue, 6. An unpaid bill in the left hand symbolizes trust, 7. Large gonads between the legs which is the money bag for prosperity, and 8. A thick tail for reliability and stability no matter what.
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If you like the tanuki raccoon dog, this is the place to be.188 views
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Resembling a pair of praying hands, the train accident memorial is right next to the railway track.185 views
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Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park is in a large park-like area with various pottery facilities such as this Exhibition Hall of Industrial Ceramics. 産業展示館181 views
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Bowls180 views
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Shigaraki Toki (Pottery) Matsuri banner178 views
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Shigaraki Tanuki mascot walked around the site.178 views
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Numerous Shigaraki pottery vendors display and sell their wares. MAP177 views
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Tanuki faces. This one is probably the most typical in the modern age.176 views
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A great time to visit Shigaraki is during the Shigaraki Pottery Festival (信楽陶器まつり) and Ceramic Art Market in mid-Oct. Bridge to the Shigaraki Pottery Fair in mid-Oct.174 views
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The Ceramic Art Market in Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park has ceramics artists having their own booth to sell their wares.174 views
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Prices are quite reasonable. They sell pottery for any type of budget.171 views
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Side entrances of noborigama kiln. 登り窯171 views
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Inside the kiln. This one was open and empty, but some were closed and you could feel the warmth on the door.169 views
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Pottery vendor168 views
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Vases168 views
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Inside a large pottery shop.167 views
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Inside Tanuki-kan store.166 views
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JR trains no longer run to Shigaraki directly.165 views
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Bargains to be found.164 views
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"Noborigama" kiln164 views
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A short bus ride takes you to Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, opened in June 1990. Open from 9 am to 5 pm, closed on Mon. (open if a national holiday and closed on Tue.). This is Shigaraki's main attraction and home of Shigaraki-yaki pottery.164 views
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"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese and English. 登り窯163 views
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When I visited in mid-Oct., the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park was holding the Ceramic Art Market. Notice the tents for the ceramic artists selling their works.163 views
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The bridge obviously has ceramic materials.162 views
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Vending machine trash bin with tanuki design at Shigarakigushi Station.162 views
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Sotoen's noborigama kiln is 15 meters wide, 30 meters long, and 3.5 meters high. It has eleven chambers going up a slope. 登り窯162 views
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Shigaraki-no-miya Palace ruins. National Historic Site MAP161 views
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Welcome to Shigaraki. On special days such as pottery fairs, just follow the crowd from the train station.160 views
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Ceramic seats158 views
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This is one of two pottery fair sites during the Shigaraki Pottery Festival.154 views
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Pottery kilns require large amounts of wood.154 views
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Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park also has pottery kilns. Here's one "Anagama" cave kiln. 152 views
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Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park is called Togei no Mori in Japanese. It is operated by Shiga Prefecture. Free admission. 陶芸の森 MAP152 views
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Giant tanuki dressed as a Yokozuna grand champion sumo wrestler.152 views
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Shigarakigushi Station on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line. This is where you get off to see the Shigaraki-no-miya Palace Ruins or the train accident memorial. 紫香楽宮跡駅151 views
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At the parking lot is this Tanuki-kan store full of tanuki.150 views
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More outdoor ceramic art. This is outside the Institute of Ceramic Studies where invited artists in residence create and do research and workshops and lectures are held.150 views
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Also in Shigaraki is Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei, in the middle of the mountains. From Shigaraki Station, it's a 25-min. bus ride. (Or 50 min. by Teisan Bus from JR Ishiyama Station in Otsu.) This nice tunnel leads to the museum.149 views
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Stone plaque with the names of the 42 fatalities, including five employees of Shiga Kogen (Highland) Railways (SKR).148 views
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Kyoto-based Emperor Shomu first built a Detached Palace in Shigaraki in 742. This became the the Shigaraki-no-miya Palace.147 views
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At the top of the hill is the Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art called Togeikan. 陶芸館146 views
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Inside a side entrance of a noborigama kiln. 登り窯145 views
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Owls too144 views
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Confection142 views
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Sports tanuki141 views
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Lemme outta here...141 views
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Koka City Hall, Shigaraki Branch139 views
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A warehouse converted into a pottery fair.137 views
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Free shuttle bus to move between the ceramic park, pottery fair, and train station.137 views
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Steps going up the hill at Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park. Good exercise.135 views
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Inside the Exhibition Hall of Industrial Ceramics. 産業展示館135 views
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This pottery shop also offers pottery classes.134 views
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Another place to visit in Shigaraki. 133 views
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Mail box132 views
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Azaleas would be beautiful in early May.132 views
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Greenery at the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park.132 views
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Another theory says that this is the ruins of Kokaji temple. 甲賀寺130 views
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Racks and racks of Shigaraki tanuki or racoon dogs.130 views
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Frog is "Kaeru" which means to "return." A popular ornament at house entrances (exits) and gardens.129 views
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A small shrine stands as a memorial.129 views
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This frog will supposedly have your money "returned."128 views
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Entrance to Miho Museum which has an excellent collection of art from most parts of the world. Photography is not allowed inside the museum. MAP128 views
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On the morning of May 14, 1991, a Shigaraki Kogen Railway train bound for Kibukawa collided head on with a special JR West train traveling from Kyoto to Shigaraki.124 viewsThe accident occurred May 14, 1991, when an SKR train collided head-on with a JR West train in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, leaving 42 people, including five SKR employees, dead and 614 injured.
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The accident was due to a train signal mixup and human error.123 views
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There are stone markers indicating where various buildings were.123 views
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Sotoen has a very large number of Shigaraki pottery pieces outside in park-like tract. All for sale. Shigaraki ware is known for its weather-resistance, so they are suited for gardens and outdoor use.123 views
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Forty-two people died, and over 600 were injured. The JR West train was packed with people heading to Shigaraki for the World Ceramic Festival. The front cars of the two trains formed an upside-down V.122 views
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They also have owls. This one has a camera.121 views
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Pig120 views
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The Shigaraki Kogen Railway between Kibukawa and Shigaraki Stations is a single railway.120 views
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Shigaraki has a good number of pottery centers and Sotoen (宗陶苑) is major one. I visited for the first time in Aug. 2012. It covers a large ceramic park-like area.120 views
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Ruins of a gate. Only the stone foundations are left. No original buildings stand.119 views
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Stone foundation for a pillar.119 views
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Steps along the side of the noborigama kiln.119 views
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Here's our block of Shigaraki clay.119 views
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A talk about Shigaraki ware at Sotoen.118 views
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Bento lunch at Sotoen.117 views
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Sotoen's main attraction is this noborigama or sloping kiln. Japan's oldest noborigama. The bottom chamber is the furnace where they burn wood. 登り窯115 views
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"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese115 views
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The instructor showed how to smooth the top edge with a wet cloth.115 views
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Another person got more creative. We were going to see the result in Sept.115 views
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Smaller tanuki cost a few thousand yen.114 views
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A talk about Shigaraki ware at Sotoen.114 views
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Photo op at Sotoen. They got almost everything you can imagine. The giant tanuki is priced as much as 700,000 yen.113 views
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Pottery everywhere at Sotoen.113 views
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Tanuki for sale at Sotoen, Shigaraki.112 views
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Another highlight of Sotoen was a pottery lesson for beginners. They have a huge pottery classroom.112 views
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First, an instructor demonstrated the basics of pottery making with a block of clay. Easy enough for anyone to make a simple bowl or cup.112 views
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Large tanuki.112 views
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"Noborigama" kiln explanation in Japanese. It takes 40-50 days to fill the kiln, and 7-10 days to fire. 登り窯110 views
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The top of the noborigama kiln.110 views
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Sotoen gift shop.110 views
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A noborigama chamber. The chambers get larger toward the top of the noborigama kiln. 登り窯109 views
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Overview of the heart of Sotoen.107 views
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Crayon no Shinchan.107 views
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After maybe 20-30 min., my little bowl.107 views
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The heat from the furnace at the bottom chamber rises and seeps into all the chambers. 登り窯106 views
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They even can make Shigaraki figurines based your likeness if you give them photos of your face.106 views
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Frogs are another auspicious pottery piece. Sotoen Web site: shigarakiyaki.co.jp105 views
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By now, you will notice that the tanuki (racoon dog) is the symbol of Shigaraki. This giant tanuki greets you at Shigaraki Station. Wish they removed that pay phone.63 views
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Shigaraki Station platform decorated with tanuki raccoon dogs.59 views
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On the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line, get off here at Shigaraki Station at the end of the line. 信楽駅 MAP58 views
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Shigaraki Station on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line. One-car train, diesel powered.57 viewsTo reach Shigaraki by train, first get on the JR Kusatsu Line, get off at Kibukawa Station where you transfer to the Shigaraki Kogen Railway Line.
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Shigaraki Station platform decorated with tanuki raccoon dogs.49 views
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Inside Shigaraki Station.42 views
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Tanuki greet you at Shigaraki Station.40 views
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Inside Shigaraki Station waiting area. There's a display case in the corner.40 views
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Shigaraki Kogen Railway train.39 views
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More tanuki greet you at Shigaraki Station.39 views
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Gift shop inside Shigaraki Station. In case you forgot buy someting for someone before you leave Shigaraki.38 views
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Display case in the corner shows a few pieces from the wrecked train in the 1991 accident.37 viewsOn the morning of May 14, 1991, a Shigaraki Kogen Railway train bound for Kibukawa collided head on with a special JR West train traveling from Kyoto to Shigaraki. It left 42 people, including five SKR employees, dead and 614 injured. Also see photos below of the monument near the accident site.
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Rental bicycles at Shigaraki Station.35 views
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Local sights.33 views
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Shigaraki Kogen Railways Shigaraki Station. You can take a bus to reach Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in 5 min., or walk for 20 min. 信楽駅30 views
 
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