Discover Mashiko - Enjoy an authentic countryside nearby Tokyo (2024)

authentic countryside nearby Tokyo

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What to do in Mashiko

Create your own mashiko pottery

As a famous pottery town, Mashiko has more than 200 pottery studios. As well as finding a nice souvenir, visitors can also give the wheel a spin and make their trip to Japan more special.

Find Pottery Studios

Experience the local drink (Sake)

Mashiko boasts their very own Sake brewery. Founded nearly 100 years ago, Tonoike Sake Brewery is a multi-award-winning sake brewery which is visitor-friendly and a fun place to stop by.

Learn about the brewery

Explore the Mashiko countryside

Why not hire a bicycle from the several bike spots around town? Spring and autumn are wonderful times to bike through the hills and fields on one of our town’s power-assisted bicycles.

Getting around Mashiko

Why not learn the history and art of pottery? Several museums showcase Mashiko’s unique pottery culture and the 100-year-history with the UK.

Mashiko grows the best strawberries in the world! Two popular strawberry farms offer strawberry picking where visitors can come and pick the luxurious Tochiotome & Sky-berry strawberries.

Find Strawberry Farms

Where to stay in Mashiko

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Hotel

Offering western style bedrooms and traditional tatami style rooms with a ensuite onsen.

Mashikokan Satoyama Resort Hotel

Hotel website

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Guesthouse

No frills budget guesthouse in a traditional Japanese house. Popular with potters and backpackers.

Furuki

Book Here

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Holiday Home

Are you looking for an airbnb or a holiday home to rent with your friends and family?

Morino Garden

Book Here

Travel Assistance

Hagiwara Kanko

Established in 1978, Hagiwara Kanko is a highly reputable local travel company offering original bus tours in the Tochigi area as well as tailor-made tours from Tokyo and international airports. (Wheelchair access busses are available)

Mashiko Tourism Office

Located next to Mashiko Station, visitors can pop by the office to pick up English brochures and talk to the local staff for advice.

Local volunteer guides

For 10-40 people

Choose from 3 selected courses lasting 2.5 to 3 hours each, or ask to arrange tailor-made walking tours. Please see theMashiko Tourist Associationwebsitefor more information and click on the button on right to download theapplication form.

Getting around Mashiko

It’s easy to get around !

Walking

The pottery area is within a 20 min walk from Mashiko Station.

Bicycle

The best way to experience Mashiko is on a bike! Bike hire is very affordable and is available throughout the town.

Read Bike Guide

Taxi

If it’s raining or you have luggage taxis are also useful.

Car Hire

Car hire is available near the station and at Satoyama Resort Hotel.

Local Train

12 trains a day connect the pottery area and strawberry picking farm (4 min ride). A steam engine runs on weekends.

Local Bus

You can find local buses at the station and Kyohan center in the pottery area.

Pottery Experiences

Selection of popular pottery experiences in Mashiko

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Furuki

A popular destination for overseas potters. Furuki offers 3 hour classes as well as full-day classes and space hire.

Speak English

Yes

Overseas shipping

Yes

Times

9:00-12:00 (3h) or 13:00-16:00 (3h) or 9:00-16:00 (6h)

Price

From 3,700 yen (3 h) or 5,800 yen (6h) +postage

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Komine Gama

A friendly pottery studio with a pottery shop. Staff are helpful and welcoming.

Speak English

No

Overseas shipping

No

Times

3 x a day from 10:00 -12:00, 13:00-15:00 or 15:00-17:00

Price

From 2,700 yen + postage

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Yamani Otsuka

Located beside the ‘Kyohan Center’ Yamani Otsuka is a convenient pottery studio offering 45 min pottery workshops.

Speak English

No

Overseas shipping

No

Times

Open from 9:30-16:00

Price

From 2,300 yen +postage

Interested in taking a pottery class?

Check out our new pottery experience (pottery workshop) web page to watch videos and find out about the pottery experiences.

Pottery Experiences in Mashiko

Museums & Galleries

Selection of museums and galleries

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Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art

Visitors can view collections from legendary potters such as Shoji Hamada and Tatsuzo Shimaoka as well as British potter Bernard Leach and artists from the early stages of Leach Pottery.

Speak English

Yes

Times

9:30-16:00

Closed on Mondays and inbetween exhibitions

Price

Adult 600 yen

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Mashiko Sankokan Museum

Visitors can walk around Shoji Hamada’s studio and peek inside hisfamous Noborigama kilnwhich is still in use as well as admire his collections from around the world.

Speak English

Yes

Times

9:00-16:30

Closed on Mondays and inbetween exhibitions

Price

Adult 800 yen

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Higeta Aizome Kobo

Spreading Japan’s traditional art of indigo dyeing and other vegetable dyeing over the last two centuries Higeta is a popular destination for people visiting Mashiko.

Speak English

Yes

Times

8:30-17:00

Closed on Mondays

Price

Free to look around

Sake Brewery

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Tonoike Sake Brewery

Mashiko’s only sake brewery. Come and learn how their award-winning sake is made.

Speak English

Yes

Times

Open 365 days. (9:00-17:00)

Price

Free (Tasting 500 – 800 yen)

Strawberry Picking

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Yoshimura Strawberry Farm

Come and pick/eat some delicious Japanese strawberries!

Speak English

Yes

Times

December – Early May (Open 7 days a week. Mornings are best to visit)

Price

1,000 – 1,600 yen

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Mashiko Kano Ichigo Danchi

Come and pick/eat some delicious Japanese strawberries!

Speak English

No

Times

December – Early May (Open 7 days a week. Except New Years Day)

Price

1,000 – 1,600 yen

Events in Mashiko

  • All
  • 04 | APR
  • 05 | MAY
  • 08 | AUG
  • 11 | NOV
  • Artisan Cafes
  • CREATIVE
  • EVENT
  • FESTIVE
  • HISTORY & CULTURE
  • Handmade Crafts
  • Mashiko
  • NATURE
  • SEASONAL-BEAUTY
  • TRADITIONAL
  • UNIQUE-EXPERENCE
  • Utsunomiya Area
Mashiko SPRING Pottery Fair(Mashiko Haruno Toki Ichi)- 2.5 hours from Tokyo
Mashiko Sunflower Festival (Mashiko Himawari Matsuri) / 益子ひまわり祭り – 2.5 hours from Tokyo
Mashiko Autumn Pottery Fair / 益子秋の陶器市- 2.5H from Tokyo

How to get to Mashiko

By Train

From Tokyo via JR Utsunomiya Station (JR Line)

From Tokyo, take the Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) to JR Utsunomiya Station. Then take the bus to Mashiko Station.

Check out the‘Japan Transit Planner’for train times to Utsunomiya.
Approx. 2 -2.5 hours

From Tokyo via Shimodate Station (Moka Line)

From Tokyotake the Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) to JROyama Station. Then take the JR Mito line to Shimodate Station and the Moka Line to Mashiko. (Steam engines also run on weekends!)

Check out the‘Japan Transit Planner’for train times to Oyama, Shimodate & Mashiko StationsApprox. 3 hours

By Bus

From Akihabara in Tokyo (Yakimono Liner)

4 direct busses run from Akihabara in Tokyo to Mashiko and back everyday. This is the most convenient way of getting to Mashiko from Tokyo. Fairs are Approx. 3,800 yen for a return ticket. Seeherefor bus timetables.

Approx. 2.5 hours

From the Airport

From Narita Airport

Hire a car and take the Expressway to Moka Interchange.
(20 min drive from Moka IC)

Approx. 90 min

From Haneda Airport

Take the Train to JR Utsunomiya and take a bus or rent a car.

Approx. 180 min

From Ibaraki Airport

Hire a car and take the Expressway to Moka Interchange.
(20 min drive from Moka IC)

Approx. 80 min

Maps and Guides of Mashiko

English Guides

Mashiko Tourist Guide (Detailed)

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Discover Mashiko Brochure

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Pottery & Accommodation Map

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Soba & Udon Map

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Food & Restaurant Map

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Contact

Mashiko Tourist Office

Phone: +81 285-72-8846

Email: info@mashiko-kankou.org

Address:
1539-2 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi-ken, Japan 321-4217
〒321-4217 栃木県芳賀郡益子町益子1539-2

Open Times:

MON-FRI 08:30 – 17:15
SAT 08:30 – 17:00
SUN 08:30 – 17:15
*Please check for Bank Holidays

We look forward to seeing you!

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Discover Mashiko - Enjoy an authentic countryside nearby Tokyo (2024)

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