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Seto & Tokoname Pottery Trail – Private Van Tour with Hands-On Experience

Seto & Tokoname Pottery Trail – Private Van Tour with Hands-On Experience

Car Tour (driving guide)

Joined 2025

Masayuki K.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Nagoya

English (Native), Japanese (Native)

9 hours

Private tour (only you and Masayuki K.)

Up to 4 people

A relaxing day trip to Japan’s two famous ceramic towns. Enjoy hands-on pottery experience in Seto, then stroll Tokoname’s charming “Maneki Neko Street” with your private van and English-speaking guide.

Itinerary

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

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

Nagoya station

- Pick-up at Nagoya Station (private van)

10:00 AM

Tokoname Pottery Experience

Tokoname, located on the Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns (日本六古窯) and has been a major center of ceramic production for over 900 years. A Tokoname pottery experience lets you get hands-on with this rich tradition by creating your own ceramic piece in one of Japan’s most historically significant pottery towns.

Highlights:

• Create Your Own Tokoname Ware: Visitors can shape clay using a potter’s wheel or hand-building techniques. Common items include teacups, plates, bowls, or small figurines.

• Traditional Clay and Techniques: Tokoname ware is known for its reddish-brown clay (due to high iron content) and smooth texture, especially seen in its famous unglazed teapots (kyūsu).

• Friendly Guidance: Local artisans or instructors guide you step-by-step, making it suitable for beginners and children.

Cultural Significance:

• Tokoname-yaki is especially famous for its Japanese teapots, which are prized for their functionality and earthy beauty.

• The town’s long tunnel kilns and clay pipelines remain visible reminders of its industrial and artistic legacy.

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Why It’s Special:

A Tokoname pottery experience isn’t just an art workshop—it’s a deep connection with one of Japan’s oldest ceramic traditions. You get to feel the clay, learn the history, and create a truly personal souvenir that reflects Japanese craftsmanship.

12:00 PM

Lunch at a pottery café

Japanese lunch served on handmade ceramics of Tokoname yaki

02:00 PM

Tokoname Maneki Neko Street

Located in the historic pottery town of Tokoname, Maneki Neko Street is a charming and whimsical walking path dedicated to Japan’s famous beckoning cat figurines, known as maneki-neko. These lucky cats are believed to bring good fortune, wealth, and happiness, and Tokoname is one of the largest producers of them in Japan.

Main Attractions:

• Giant Maneki Neko Face (“Tokonyan”)

A massive cat face embedded into a wall at the entrance of the street—over 3 meters wide. It’s a popular photo spot and symbol of the area.

• 365 Maneki Neko Statues

A row of 365 unique cat statues, each representing one day of the year, with various expressions, colors, and designs. Visitors often search for the cat of their birthday.

• Pottery-Themed Surroundings

The street is decorated with ceramic tiles, miniature cats, and pottery artworks—creating a lively and artistic atmosphere.

• Shops & Cafés

Nearby, you’ll find ceramic shops selling handmade maneki-neko figures, as well as cozy cafés where you can enjoy drinks and desserts surrounded by cat-themed décor.

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Cultural Significance:

• Maneki-neko are a deep part of Japanese folk culture, and are commonly seen in restaurants, shops, and homes to attract customers and good luck.

• Tokoname has been making these figurines for over a century using traditional ceramic techniques. Many are still hand-shaped and painted today.

04:00 PM

Drive back to Nagoya with short rest stop

Ending Point

Nagoya station

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

・Guide fee

・Tip for the guide

・gasoline fee

・Toll fee

・Private transportation fee

・Type of a car used: Toyota Hiace van)

・Nagoya pick-up

・Drop off at Nagoya station

・Driving fee

・Car insurance fee

・Arrangement fee

・parking fee

What‘s not included

・Price for the tickets and entrance fee around 1000yen per person

・fee to experience the pottery about 4000yen per person

・Price for the foods and drinks for you and the guide

Around 5000yen per person

・Your souvenirs and personal expenses during the tour

As much as you are going to buy:)

Tour Important Information

・This tour might involve a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

・Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

・Since we are traveling on a private van, we can carry some bigger luggages.

・Some places does not accept credit cards, so you might need cash.

I’ve spent two years traveling all around Japan, exploring every prefecture with my own eyes. With this firsthand experience and access to a wide range of local knowledge, I can help you plan an unforgettable journey—one that goes beyond the typical tourist spots.

From local gourmet treasures and hidden gems to the most popular sights and places only locals know, I’ll make sure you experience the very best of Japan. Whether you’re looking for traditional flavors, trendy food spots, or scenic routes off the beaten path, I’ll tailor the trip to your interests.

If you are interested in specific places or things, please send me a message. I can search about it and offer you the best tour!

Feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to guide you with care and make your time in Japan truly special!

Important message from the supplier

if you could make a permanent reservation 1 month before the travel, I can support you well and you'll be able to enjoy Japan to the most.

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 2025

Masayuki K.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Masayuki K.

Hello!

my name is Masa

“Private Car Tour Guide”, anywhere in Japan.

Just send me a message of where and what you wanna do!

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I was born in Japan and grew up in the United States.

After returning to Japan, I've worked all across the country. I spent a year traveling around Japan in a car that I DIY-converted into a camper. I hope to share the experiences and the knowledges of how to enjoy our culture to the most with people from all over the world.

I would like to introduce Japan's beautiful tourist spots that you can enjoy in every season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—along with local delicacies beloved by the people in each area, and how to enjoy the unique cultures rooted in each region, such as: sushi, wagyu beef, cherry blossoms, rich milk bread, fluffy pancakes, convenient store's meals and snacks, maid cafe, izakaya(restaurant specialized to drink an alcohol), sake factory and so on.

I can create an original itinerary based on your interests! I’ll guide you with my private van anywhere in Japan from Hokkaido(top part of Japan) to Okinawa(bottom part of Japan). Without being restricted by public transportation schedules, allowing for more freedom in your travel. This is something only someone who has traveled the entire country, like me, can do! I’ll support you to the most, so please enjoy your time in Japan to the fullest!

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We also offer airport/port transfer service and sightseeing car tours throughout Japan. Please send me a message for more details. We can also provide vehicles according to the number of passengers, from one person to a group.

In Tokyo, we can also arrange for you to experience making character bento lunches during your car tour.

Please feel free to contact us.

For over few years, we have arranged lot of high quality tours per year with no accidents. Our service will surely make your trip to Japan more comfortable and memorable.

We look forward to seeing you in Japan!