Arita Porcelain — Where Japanese Ceramics Were Born

Arita is the birthplace of Japanese porcelain — in 1616, the Korean potter Yi Sam-pyeong discovered white clay suitable for true porcelain production at Izumiyama hill, establishing the Arita kilns that would supply the imperial courts of Europe through the Dutch East India Company for 200 years. The town still has 100+ active kilns producing Arita-yaki, and the Arita Porcelain Park recreates a German Meissen-style baroque building (the Europeans' model from Arita export) in unexpected juxtaposition with rice paddies.