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Private pottery and ceramics car tour in Seto

made by 14 year old customer

Private pottery and ceramics car tour in Seto

Art, Culture, & Historical

Car Tour (driving guide)

Joined 2024

Serge R.

5.00 / 5

(12 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Aichi

Dutch (Native), English (Native), Japanese

7 hours

Private tour (only you and Serge R.)

Up to 6 people

Discover Seto, a haven for pottery enthusiasts! Visit a pottery museum, watch a master potter, explore shops, and even join a workshop. Stroll along Kamagaki no Komichi, a 400-meter path lined with old kiln tools showcasing Seto's ceramic heritage. Stop by the Maneki Neko Museum, home to the largest collection of "Goodluck" cats. Enjoy lunch at a scenic soba restaurant before heading to Tajimi to explore the Mino Ceramics Park, with exhibits by local and global artists, a tea ceremony, and more.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

hotel, hostel, airbnb, station, etc

- Any place within a reasonable reach in and around Nagoya

10:00 AM

Seto-Gura museum

The best place to learn about the History of Japan’s Pottery, this museum offers an immersive journey through the history of pottery, featuring a recreated pottery workshop, coal kiln, and chimney, all centered around the 20th century in Seto. Visitors can explore over 1,000 years of Seto ware history and discover the close connection between ceramics production and the Setoden railway. A genuine Setoden train car is also on display, adding to the unique experience.

11:10 AM

kamagaki no michi

a 400-meter-long winding footpath in the eastern foothills of the town. This narrow street is lined with old pottery tools and kiln parts, offering a glimpse into Seto's rich ceramic heritage. The house of a potter built in Meiji Era is restored and used as a museum. Tools for ceramic manufacturing and the products manufactured in the Meiji Era are exhibited. If you are up for it we can visit a local shrine, the Suehiko Shrine which enshrines the spirit of Toshiro Kato, the master potter who established Seto as a ceramic center.

observe and chat with a pottery master, or attend a workshop

The title says it all

12:00 PM

Lunch time!

The original plan is to have lunch at a lovely place situated in a small forrest. The main menu is soba or buckwheat noodles. Delicious and affordable. However if you are a meat, sushi, Mc Donalds fan, no problems!

01:20 PM

Visit Mino Ceramic Park

A beautiful building located in the forrest and mountains, they have different exhibitions each month, please ask me about this beforehand. I don't think there is another place like this, anywhere, a huge building completely focussed on ceramics and pottery.

03:00 AM

go for a walk in Tajimi, Honmachi Oribe Street

Honmachi Oribe Street is a shopping district dedicated entirely to ceramics, offering everything from affordable souvenirs to stunning, high-end works of art—catering to every taste and budget. Tajimi, renowned for over a thousand years as a hub of Minoyaki ceramics, is especially famous for its distinctive deep-green copper glaze. Along the street, you'll find a small information center, antique shops, and charming eateries

03:10 PM

Recharge your soul

Once you've had your fill of ceramics, and prefer to skip Honmachi Horibe Stree, we can also make a trip to Kokeizan Eihoji Temple for some quiet contemplation. Founded in 1313, Eihoji sits on the bank of the Toki River and is reached via a steep, twisting path through an ancient forest.

The temple features a huge pond filled with giant carp and small Buddhist Jizo statues hidden in the treeline. A meditation hut is placed high on a rock from which a waterfall cascades down to the pond. Monks are still trained at Eihoji, which adds to the spiritual atmosphere.

Ending Point

Bnb/hotel/cardboard box under a bridge

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Transport by minivan/Delica D5

in car Wifi

refreshments

Seto Gura museum entrance

gasoline/parking

some really bad singing (optional)

guidance

What‘s not included

(own)lunch

entrance fees

Tour Important Information

This tour involves a lot of pottery, so make sure you love pottery and ceramics.

The whole itinerary is flexible, we can cut things, add things, whatever you please. We can even call it a "pottery tour", but instead visit all local sake breweries, your spouse never has to know.

No mondays as museums are closed

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2024

Serge R.

5.00 / 5

(12 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Serge R.

Hi lovely travelers,

I'm Serge, originally from the Netherlands, and Japan has been my home for over three decades now. What brought me here initially was love, and that love has kept me rooted in this beautiful country ever since. Along the way, I discovered another love: Japan itself. Following my stint as a radio jockey and TV presenter, where I co-hosted a dedicated program for the Nagoya Grampus soccer team, I transitioned to a behind-the-scenes role as a media fixer for international media outlets.

Though my job as media fixer, I've been traveling and working throughout all of Japan, exploring unique places and meeting lots of very interesting people.

I would love to share and make you, my dear traveler, experience these places as well. Visiting and getting a tour at Japan's oldest traditional vinegar maker, or experience and taste at a traditional "katsuo bushi" bonito flake maker, or do you prefer to visit some old local shrines or temples. with no-one around you, except for the crickets and trees. Maybe you just want a friend to bring you to your desired locations and interpret and be at your beck and call 24 hours (like I do for the media). If you're looking for flexibility (time, places. transport), you won't find a better match than me.

My work as a fixer taught me a valuable lesson: the key to traveling together successfully, lies in a blend of humor, professionalism, and adaptability.

Reviews

Pey wei Y.

5 / 5

Oct 5, 2026

Hatcho miso meets cat and dog lovers tour

Oct 5, 2026

Aichi

6 hours

Customized

“Yummy miso museum tour and pet lovers' temple/shrine visit”

We booked a second day with Serge and had our absolute pleasure of meeting his wife, Tomoko-san on Day 2. My mum wanted to visit the miso museum and happily bought lots of hatcho miso for future meals. I also wanted to visit the inu (dog) shrine and Ryusenji temple as I've read online that they look after quite a few cats in the area and we were fortunate enough to meet some of them. Both the shrine and the temple were very quiet, only visited by locals and we really enjoyed the experience. After learning about my Pokemon obsession, Tomoko very kindly led me to special Pokemon/Magikarp manhole cover located in Nagoya castle so that I can take a photo of it. Both Serge and Tomoko have an incredible dynamic together and we absolutely loved their company. They are very warm and welcoming people and very eager to share their culture and experiences with us. I am already counting down my days of when I'll be returning to Nagoya and I'll be sure to book another tour with Serge and Tomoko when I do! Again, 10 out of 5 stars!

Serge R.

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and heartfelt review! It truly means a lot to both Tomoko and me. We were so happy that you decided to spend a second day with us, and it was a real pleasure for us to share that day with you and your mum. I’m especially glad that your mum enjoyed the Hatcho Miso experience — and it sounds like she made sure to take a good supply home for future meals! I also loved that we could take you to the Inu Shrine and Ryusenji Temple. These are quiet, lesser-known places where you can experience a very different side of Nagoya, away from the usual tourist spots. And of course, meeting the local cats made the visit even more special! Tomoko was especially happy to hear that she could help with your Pokémon love (pokelove?) and find the Magikarp manhole cover for you. It’s always wonderful when we can add those little personal touches that make a day memorable. We really enjoyed your company as well, and we’re so happy you felt the warmth and welcome that we try to share with our guests. For us, guiding is not just about showing places — it’s about sharing Japan, exchanging stories, laughing together, and hopefully making you feel like you’ve spent the day with friends. We’ll be keeping an eye on that countdown to your return to Nagoya! When you come back, Tomoko and I will be very happy to show you some more hidden gems — and who knows, perhaps another Pokémon discovery along the way! Thank you again for the wonderful 10 out of 5 stars (love it). We truly appreciate it, and we look forward to seeing you again in Nagoya! Warmest regards, Serge & Tomoko

Pey wei Y.

5 / 5

Oct 5, 2026

Nagoya: car tour to the beauty of Korankei valley

Oct 5, 2026

Nagoya

7 hours

“Lovely day at Korankei Valley”

I booked a tour with Serge for myself and my parents as we were staying in Nagoya for several days. Serge was an absolute delight, he was so friendly and so fun to be around with, and he was also very knowledgeable when he brought us around some places of interest for the day. Although we were about a month too early for the firey red autumn leaves, we were still able to admire the natural beauty of the valley. I highly recommend Serge's services and would say he is hands down the best guide we've had so far! He was very patient and accommodating to my parents' needs and he also kept them entertained (which isn't an easy job, especially for my dad!). I would without a doubt reach out to Serge again if/when we are back in Nagoya in the future. Would give 10 out of 5 stars if possible!

Serge R.

Thank you so much for your lovely review! It was a real pleasure spending the day with you and your parents. I'm glad you enjoyed Korankei despite being a little early for the autumn colours! I hope to welcome you all back to Nagoya for another adventure someday. Until then, wishing you and your family all the very best! Ps your dad is awesome, I didn't entertain him, it was more of a reversed situation. Your mom and you are absolute darlings!

Alice C.

5 / 5

Jan 25, 2026

Discover Nagoya's Best Hotspots: A Car Journey with a Fun Guide

Jan 25, 2026

Nagoya

7 hours

“Great Guide”

Serge’s friendly smile and easy-going personality immediately put us at ease as soon as we stepped into the airport arrival hall…. His larger-than-life personality is fascinating, as is his life story. We appreciate his enthusiasm and sense of humour throughout the tour. Thank you very much! Alice, Jack, Zenn ️

Serge R.

Dear Alice, thank you so much for this kind review. I had a great time with you three, your husband especially made me giggle a lot with his tanuki hat. Again thank you so much for putting your day in my tiny hands. I hope we meet again in the future!