The Minto Mura Matsuri is a pottery festival held twice a year, in spring and autumn, in Koishiwara, part of Toho Village in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Around 40 pottery workshops participate, offering visitors a chance to browse Koishiwara and Takatori ware, meet the makers, and discover favorite pieces at festival prices. The 2026 autumn festival ran from October 10 to 12.
Koishiwara ware is known for its simple, warm appearance and its beauty as pottery for everyday use. One of its signature techniques is tobikanna, or “chattering.” As a partly dried, slip-coated piece rotates on the potter’s wheel, a metal blade skips rhythmically across its surface, cutting through the slip to create repeating rows of small marks. These patterns give many Koishiwara bowls and plates their distinctive appearance.
Other traditional techniques include hakeme, which creates expressive brush marks in the clay slip; kushime, which uses a comb-like tool to draw lines and patterns; and yubigaki, in which the potter draws through the slip with a finger. Clay slip is a liquid mixture of clay and water used to decorate the surface before firing. Together, these techniques produce patterns that feel both orderly and handmade, with subtle differences that reveal the maker’s touch.
This dashcam video records the conditions along National Route 211 at around 8:20 a.m. on October 10, the opening day of the festival.
Route 211 can become heavily congested during the festival, so choosing when to arrive makes a real difference. The official brochure lists opening hours as 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., although hours vary between workshops. Some shops reportedly open as early as 7:30 a.m.
Part of the charm of handmade pottery lies in the subtle differences from one piece to another—in shape, color, glaze, and pattern. Even two pieces of the same design can have different personalities. Finding one that suits your taste takes time, and arriving early may give you a better chance to browse at your leisure and discover a hidden gem.
Enjoy this early-morning drive through the pottery village as the festival day begins.
Please note: This video is played at twice the original speed (2×).
FS Publishing Travel | On the Road
