Long‑Stay Pottery Retreat in Tajimi, Japan
at Hanzougama Kiln, Mino ware country
Why Hanzougama Pottery Retreat?
Stay in a roomy, old‑style Japanese house just a short walk from the kiln, and live the rhythm of countryside pottery life.
Study with an English‑speaking potter who regularly teaches overseas.
Immerse yourself in Mino ware traditions and real kiln firings.
Optional Zen, tea ceremony, and kiln‑building experiences.
Plenty of local excursions, food, and cultural activities in Tajimi, a pottery town with 1,400 years of tradition.
Learn from Shibata‑sensei, your retreat mentor
Ikuhiko Shibata is a Tajimi potter who stands with one foot planted firmly in the venerable world of classic Mino ware, and the other cheerfully tap-dancing through the kitchens and dining rooms of contemporary life. Adventurous by nature, he still keeps a watchful eye on the age-old sensibilities that have shaped Mino pottery for more than a millennium. Shibata delights in crossing borders of every kind, geographical and cultural alike, and makes regular pilgrimages to the United States to usher newcomers into the beguiling world of Japanese ceramics.
Testimonials
“Ever since I finished this course I have been thinking about moving to Tajimi. I am still tempted.”
— Julie G.
“Spending time at Hanzougama Kiln completely reshaped how I think about clay, craft, and daily life in Japan – the combination of focused studio time, gentle guidance, and local culture was truly unforgettable.”
— Gabriel H.
“I arrived with a few years of pottery behind me and left feeling like a different kind of maker; working so closely with Shibata-sensei and firing in Tajimi gave my work a depth I’d been searching for.”
— Griffin H.
Talk About Your Retreat or Project
Interested in a long‑stay pottery retreat, non‑standard workshops, or commissioned pottery and art?