Tokoname Pottery Footpath: Itinerary & Timings (Aichi)

Located on the Chita Peninsula, Tokoname is a ceramic town with a thousand year history. This half day course walks the pottery footpath lined with brick chimneys and black plank fence alleys, enjoying rows of beckoning cats and workshop visits. The footpath itself is free to walk, and with many slopes and narrow lanes, it suits those who like to walk slowly and photo lovers. Allow about three to four hours.

Course Route

10:00 Start at Maneki Neko street Along the road from Tokoname Station toward the ceramics hall, the giant beckoning cat Tokonyan and rows of ceramic beckoning cats welcome you. About thirty nine lucky beckoning cats line the wall, each with a different expression and wish.

10:30 Onto the pottery footpath Pick up a stroll map at the ceramics hall and take the A course. It is about 1.6 kilometers and roughly one hour for the loop, walking past scenery unique to a ceramic town such as brick chimneys and the clay pipe slope.

11:30 Workshops and galleries Peek into the unique workshops and galleries dotted along the lanes and search for a favorite vessel or beckoning cat.

12:30 Lunch at a town cafe Take a relaxed lunch at a stylish cafe converted from an old factory or house. Dishes served on Tokoname ware are also a charm.

14:00 Painting experience and souvenirs If time allows, try painting a beckoning cat. Make a one of a kind memory and choose a vessel to close the day.

Highlights

• Maneki Neko street watched over by the giant beckoning cat Tokonyan
• The pottery footpath lined with brick chimneys and the clay pipe slope
• Unique workshops and galleries dotted along the lanes
• A beckoning cat painting experience to make your own piece

Access and Tips

• It is about a five minute walk from Meitetsu Tokoname Station to the ceramics hall where the footpath begins
• There are many slopes and stairs, so wear comfortable shoes
• Vessels break easily, so cushioning material and a tote bag bring peace of mind
• It is near Chubu Centrair International Airport, so you can drop by before or after a trip

Practical Travel Notes

• Recommended timing: Workshops, galleries, and cafes mostly operate during the day, so visiting from morning to midday makes it easy to drop in. On sunny days the continuous slopes are easier to walk in the cool morning hours.
• Avoiding crowds: Weekends and holidays bring more visitors, but the narrow lanes spread people out, so it stays fairly walkable. Popular cafes crowd at lunchtime, so an early lunch is safer.
• Time guide: The A course walk is about one hour, and including workshop visits, a cafe, and a painting experience, allow about three to four hours for a relaxed pace.
• Nearby stops: Centrair (Chubu Centrair International Airport) is close, so you can build an itinerary around a flight. There is also a large shopping complex near Tokoname Station for combining with some shopping.
• Budget sense: Walking the pottery footpath is free. Vessels and beckoning cats range widely from small items of a few hundred yen, and painting experiences vary in price by shop. Combined with a cafe or lunch, it stays affordable.

A Quick Tip

The charm of the pottery footpath is its maze like narrow lanes, so the way to enjoy it is to walk freely with a map in hand. With many slopes and stairs, visit in comfortable shoes, and prepare cushioning material and a tote bag so purchased vessels do not break. Meeting a favorite vessel makes a fine memento of the trip.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Tokoname Tourist Information Center (inside the Tokoname Ceramics Hall): The tourist information and shopping corner is open 9:00-16:30, and the TOKONAME Gallery and free rest space 9:00-16:00. Open year-round (except over the New Year holidays)
• Parking at the same building: 500 yen per day for ordinary cars, motorcycles and mopeds, and 2,000 yen per day for buses (buses must reserve in advance)
• Tokoname Tounomori Museum: Open 9:00-17:00, admission free of charge. Closed every Monday (the following day when Monday is a public holiday) and over the New Year holidays
• Facilities: The tourist information center has paid luggage storage, free Wi-Fi and a diaper-changing space
• Inquiries: 0569-34-8888 (Tokoname Tourist Information Center), 0569-34-5290 (Tokoname Tounomori Museum)
• Official information: Tokoname Kanko Navi (Tokoname City Tourism Association), Tokoname City official website

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Times and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.