Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Announcement The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (national holiday), hosted at six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City 😊 During the event, new works will be exhibited and sold, and items will be offered at discounted prices. Take this chance to visit, enjoy Amakusa Ceramics, and soak in the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅♪ The Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association account will introduce participating kilns one by one in the coming days. We will share photos 📸 of preparations for the kiln tour and ask about the new works 📝. Look forward to it! ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9 – Monday, October 13 (national holiday) 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Venues: Reihoku: Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshū Kiln Amakusa City: Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln (Goyama Kame Kiln) 🍁Two stamp rallies will run simultaneously! ※A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱 ※A stamp rally where you can win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Contact: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

"Overseas and domestic tour and hotel bookings with NEWT" has featured Ichibutsu Nijūgo Bosatsu. "Overseas and domestic tour and hotel bookings with NEWT" introduced Kokushōji's Ichibutsu Nijūgo Bosatsu ✨ 👉 For details, please see our website and the news section! It is listed among the 12 recommended spots for Kumamoto sightseeing and is presented alongside other regional attractions 👀 Please stop by when you visit Kumamoto♪

Third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk: Tourism Route Workshop to Be Held! We will hold the third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk tourism route creation workshop. On Thursday, September 25, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, we will host the third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk tourism route creation workshop. This session will focus more on “literature,” uncovering stories while weaving in the history of Reihoku to create a fun guide manual. It’s perfectly fine to join for the first time, so anyone interested in literature, history, tour guiding, or community development is encouraged to participate. Date and Time: Thursday, September 25, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM Venue: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, 2nd floor (4535-1 Kozufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) 👉Apply via the notice section on the official Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association website! Application Deadline: Monday, September 22 Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎0969-31-1136 This workshop is organized under the FY2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant program.

The 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Stroll” sightseeing route creation workshop was held🎊 Last week on August 21, the second workshop was held in Reihoku to develop a sightseeing walking route so visitors can enjoy the town’s literary spots and heritage as new tourism resources✨ Held with the aim of revitalizing tourism “together with local people,” the second session proved a rich time in which the more we dug, the more literary treasures of Reihoku we uncovered👏 In particular, participants were treated to a carefully delivered, realistic walking-tour-style guided explanation by Mr. Kanzaki, the president of the Guides Association, who projected images as he spoke. This gave everyone a renewed understanding of the local area and created a lively atmosphere♪ The next workshop, the third session, is scheduled for Thursday, September 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM‼ We plan an enjoyable workshop full of activities that delve more deeply into literature and the history of Reihoku, so please join us👀 *We will open recruitment for participants on our website in early September.* We are also collecting ideas and insider information from those who cannot attend the workshops to help shape the walking route. Please take part in our survey via the announcements section on our website! Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎ 0969-31-1136 *This workshop is being held as part of the Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Subsidy Project for fiscal year Reiwa 7.*

Hello everyone! How are you spending the three-day weekend? This July in Reihoku Town was blessed not only with the Jatto Festival and the dragon boat (Pearlong) races, but also with events like the Sunset Marche 🥬 and the Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche 🌿✨ (Photo shows the Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche) The next Sunset Marche is scheduled for September 14th❗️ The Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche will appear in Oyano on August 23rd and at A-Coop Reihoku on August 28th🎉 For details, check @cross_link2025👀 The hot days continue, so please take care of your health 🥹 We will keep bringing you Reihoku Town’s tourism and event information through the second half of this year 😤 #reihoku #amakusa #kumamoto #Reihoku #Amakusa #Kumamoto #tourism #marche #event #beauty #day trip spots #Yorimichi Marche #Reihoku Sunset Marche

We will hold the 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourism route creation workshop🎊 On Thursday, August 21, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, the Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association will host the 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourism route creation workshop♪ Based on feedback from the first session, we will consolidate and refine the tourism walking route into a single plan! It’s perfectly fine to join for the first time, so if you’re interested in tourism guiding or community development, please join us✨ Date and time: Thursday, August 21, 1:30 PM–3:30 PM Venue: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, 2nd floor (4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) 👉To register, go to the Notices section on the homepage in our profile👀 Registration deadline: Friday, August 15 Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, Ogata ☎ 0969-31-1136 *This workshop is held as part of the FY2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Subsidy project.*

Reihoku Sunflower Project 🌻 Introducing the sunflower project as one of Reihoku Town’s summer scenes! Local volunteer farmers have planted a total of 150,000 sunflowers at various spots around Reihoku Town (near Reihoku Town Hall and along Route 324), and they are now in full bloom 👀 The photos were taken with the sunset—one of Reihoku Town’s charms—in the background 🌇 The sunflowers along the major highway that runs through the heart of town are now at their peak, forming an important part of daily life for locals passing through town, and creating a memorable sight for first-time visitors ✨ You can take in the vast sunflower fields even just by driving by, so be sure to see them while they’re in bloom now!!

A workshop to create a sightseeing walking route for “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” was held🎊 and we are conducting a survey! Last week on July 23, a workshop was held to devise a sightseeing walking route that lets visitors enjoy “Reihoku’s Literary Treasures,” aiming to make the town’s literary spots and heritage into new tourism resources✨ Nine local and non-local participants who know the area well joined and engaged in lively discussions. Students, local residents, and travel industry professionals who attended offered ideas from their different perspectives, making it a very valuable time👏 The next workshop, the second session, is scheduled for Thursday, August 21 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, so please join us👀 *Recruitment for participants is planned to be announced on our website in early August* We are also collecting ideas and useful information for route planning from those who cannot attend the workshop. Please check the notice on our website from the profile of this account! Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎0969-31-1136 *This workshop is being held as part of the 2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant project.*

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Reihoku Town’s municipal status, the 37th Reihoku Jatto Festival took place 🎊 Last weekend, the Reihoku Jatto Festival and the Dragon Boat (Peiron) Races were held successfully, drawing many visitors to Reihoku Town ✨ Spectacular fireworks launched right overhead 🎆, fiercely competitive Peiron races and hands-on Peiron experiences 🌊 energized the crowd, and the two days flew by in no time‼️ (By the way, this post’s author joined the festival for the first time this year, participating as both festival staff and a Peiron paddler. I was truly amazed by the close-up drama of the fireworks and the exhilarating rush of paddling a Peiron boat 👀) If you couldn’t make it this year, please come to the Reihoku Jatto Festival next year 🔥

SUP Experience Event in Tomioka 2025 Held✨ On Saturday, May 31, a safety prayer ceremony for a safe summer at sea and the SUP Experience Event in Tomioka 2025 took place at Tomioka Beach 👏 Blessed with good weather, all participants enjoyed stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) on the day 🏖️ There’s nothing like the exhilaration of standing on a board and paddling across the sea! We plan to hold the event again next year, so be sure to join us 👍 Tomioka Beach, selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment’s Top 100 Clear Beaches, offers exceptionally transparent waters and makes a great sunset spot 🌅 Be sure to include it in your summer plans ❤️

Golden Week finally starts tomorrow🎌!! Here is a roundup of events taking place in Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture🙌 We present the Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour🌸 and the Minato Oasis Tomioka Fair⚓✨ Be sure to stretch your Golden Week plans to include a visit to Reihoku this year! ~~~~~ Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour🌸 During the event, you will find new works on display and for sale, special discount sales, and a variety of other attractions. Take this opportunity to visit and enjoy the beautiful Amakusa ceramics and the stunning scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies run at the same time! ※A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points📱 ※A stamp rally where you can win products from your chosen kilns (Entry forms are available at each kiln📃) Period Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Venues (Five kilns in Reihoku Town) Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Tenjiku Pottery Kiln, Unshū Kiln (Two kilns in Amakusa Town) Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln Inquiries: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332 ~~~~~ Minato Oasis Tomioka Fair⚓ On Sunday, May 4, 2025 (national holiday), the 7th Spring Outing Minato Oasis Tomioka Fair will take place across Tomioka Port in Reihoku Town🎵 The event lineup includes Tomioka Port dolphin-watching cruises🐬, tours of Tomioka Castle🏯 and walks around Tomioka Town, plus a Kizuna Marche🎪 selling practical training products from Takushin High School Marine Campus and local agricultural, marine, and processed goods—there’s plenty to enjoy! Advance registration for dolphin watching and town walks has ended, but dolphin-watching still has available slots, so please come to the reception desk when you arrive! Inquiries: Reihoku Town Hall General Affairs Division TEL 0969-35-1111 FAX 0969-35-2454 ✉️ REIHOKU@town.reihoku.lg.jp

[Amakusa West Coast 🌸 Spring Kiln Tour Opening] ⁠ Known as the source of one of the world’s finest porcelain raw materials, Amakusa Toseki, the Amakusa West Coast hosts seven scattered kilns. The 30th Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour runs for five days from today, Friday, May 2, through Tuesday, May 6. The final kiln introduced is Takahama Ware Juhogama. The Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour finally begins today. This Golden Week, please come out to the Amakusa West Coast and enjoy the season 😊 *You can view previous kiln introductions from this account’s profile!* 🌸Takahama Ware Juhogama Located in the Takahama district of the Amakusa West Coast, Takahama Ware Juhogama boasts a long history dating back to the mid-Edo Period when Amakusa Toseki was first quarried and pottery production began. Its signature products are pure white, translucent porcelain and a distinctive painted motif called mirumon, inspired by seaweed. You have likely seen pieces with this pattern around Kumamoto Prefecture. Just before the Spring Kiln Tour, the workshop buzzes with preparation to put items out for sale. During the event, you can find bargain-priced items and chances to unearth real treasures. The painted pieces are whimsical and charming, and this season many designs feature sake motifs, which makes them especially fun. Mariko Ueda, the managing director, recommends a large-capacity café au lait bowl. It’s perfect for long morning drinks or for enjoying cereal—an ideal morning vessel. On the premises stands the former Ueda family residence, once the local headman’s home. A stroll through the garden brings dazzling spring greenery into view. If you pause feeling watched, you might find a large tanuki statue sitting among the bushes. That tanuki is still awaiting a name, so why not become its namesake when you visit? 📍Takahama Ware Juhogama (Instagram 👉 @takahamaware_kilnjyuho) 598 Takahama Minami, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2804 TEL: 0969-42-1115 ____________________ 🖌️During the Spring Kiln Tour, Takahama Ware Juhogama offers painting experiences on an ongoing basis. 🎪From Friday, May 2 to Monday, May 5 (approximately 10:00–15:00), a market, guided history and architecture tours of the Ueda family and Shiraso, mochi pounding, and various other events will take place! Details: check Takahama Ware Juhogama’s Instagram (@takahamaware_kilnjyuho). 🚗When you visit the Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour, please be sure to stop by. ♩ ____________________ [Amakusa West Coast 🌸 Spring Kiln Tour] During the event, you’ll find new works on display and sale, special discounts, and a variety of activities. Take this opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Amakusa ceramics and the splendid scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies run concurrently! *A digital stamp rally qualifies for Kumamoto health points📱* *A paper-entry stamp rally at participating kilns gives you a chance to win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms are available at each kiln)📃* [Period] Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 through Tuesday, May 6, 2025 8:30 AM–5:00 PM [Venues] (Five kilns in Reihoku) Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Tenjiku Pottery Kiln, Unshū Kiln (Two kilns in Amakusa Town) Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln [Inquiries] Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 The Amakusa West Coast is famed as one of the world’s premier sources of porcelain stone, Amakusa touseki. Over five days, from Friday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 6, the 30th Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour invites you to visit seven scattered kilns along this coast. Amakusa Karatsu Jurou Kiln Located in the Shimoda-minami area of the Amakusa West Coast, Jurou Kiln sits right by the sea where you can feel the ocean breeze. The kiln owner, Goh Kameyama, shapes and fires his pieces with a powerfully refined technique that gives the work a quiet tension. Meanwhile, Sanae Kameyama’s painted brushwork is delicate and graceful yet carries a distinctively modern sensibility that lends the vessels a soft expression. From sturdy, no-nonsense wares to charming, smile-inducing painted scenes, the couple’s contrasting sensibilities resonate to produce pieces that gently speak to both viewers and users. Location: Amakusa Karatsu Jurou Kiln 426 Shimoda-minami, Amakusa-machi, Amakusa City, Kumamoto 863-2802 TEL: 0969-42-3143 _______________________________ On Sunday, May 4 at Takahama-yaki Juhou Kiln! Sanae will perform an impromptu whale painting and in-situ blue-and-white underglaze dyeing, “whale painting 🐳 impromptu dyeing.” Please feel free to drop by and watch 👀 For details, search Instagram: Takahama-yaki Juhou Kiln @takahamaware_kilnjyuho ⚠️ Please note this event will not take place at Amakusa Karatsu Jurou Kiln. _______________________________ This is the final introduction to the participating kilns tomorrow 😿 Please be sure to take a look 💁‍♀️💁‍♂️💁 Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 During the event, each kiln will offer new works for display and sale, plus special discount offers and other activities. Take this chance to visit, enjoy the beautiful Amakusa porcelain from each kiln, and savor the stunning scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies run at the same time! ※ A digital stamp rally qualifying for Kumamoto health points📱 ※ A stamp rally to win products from your chosen kiln (entry forms available at each kiln📃) Period Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Venues (Five kilns in Reihoku Town) Uchida Sarayama-yaki, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Tenjiku Kiln, Unshu Kiln (Two kilns in Amakusa Town) Takahama-yaki Juhou Kiln, Amakusa Karatsu Jurou Kiln Inquiries: Amakusa Porcelain Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 ⁠ The Amakusa West Coast is famed as one of the world’s premier sources of porcelain stone, Amakusa tōseki. Over five days, from Friday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 6, the 30th Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour will take place across seven kilns dotted along this scenic shore. This time we introduce one of the participating kilns, Mugen Kiln. Please take a look 💁‍♀️💁‍♂️💁 In upcoming posts we will also introduce the two kilns participating from Amakusa Town! 🌸 Mugen Kiln Mugen Kiln is the creative studio where potter Seiko Tanaka, who once aspired to be a poet, nurtures her distinctive artistic vision. Inspired by poetry and the arts, her pieces serve as everyday tableware while carrying the presence of true works of art. Tanaka’s unique motifs, born of her deep knowledge of earthenware and mingei folk crafts, give each piece a sense of story and message. Her work gently sparks the imagination of whoever holds it and leaves a lingering, mysterious afterglow. Mugen Kiln’s vessels speak in quiet tones, each quietly infused with Tanaka’s sensibility and poetic spirit. 📍 Mugen Kiln 588-1 Shirakio, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto 863-2506 TEL: 080-1703-6886 Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 During the event we will offer a variety of attractions, including exhibitions and sales of new works and special discount sales. Please take this opportunity to visit, enjoy the beautiful Amakusa ceramics from each kiln, and take in the wonderful scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies run at the same time! * Digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱 * Stamp rally to win products from your chosen kiln (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Period Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Venues (Five kilns in Reihoku) Uchida Sarayama-yaki, Koubou Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Tenjiku Kiln, Unshuu Kiln (Two kilns in Amakusa Town) Takahamayaki Jubou Kiln, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln Inquiries: Secretariat of the Amakusa Porcelain Stone Research and Development Promotion Council (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 ⁠ The Amakusa West Coast is famous as one of the world’s leading sources of porcelain raw material, Amakusa porcelain stone. Using seven scattered kilns along this coastline as venues, the 30th Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour will run for five days from Friday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 6. Introducing one of the participating kilns this time: Unshu Kiln! 🌸 Unshu Kiln Tomioka, Reihoku Town. Unshu Kiln sits by the sea that locals fondly call the West Sea. The kiln owner, Mr. Miyoshi, practices pottery here. Unshu Kiln’s unique technique presses wild flowers and grasses into clay to transfer their patterns, capturing the breath of nature directly on the vessels. The simple, gentle pieces blend quietly into daily life and add a calm joy to ordinary moments. Friendly conversations with Mr. Miyoshi are one of the pleasures of visiting. Among the old photos on display, you can even see Mr. Miyoshi’s father-in-law taking part in the shark fishery once active in Tomioka, known as fuka-gari. During the Spring Kiln Tour, vendors will sell local agricultural products, and stalls offering antiques and succulent plants will also appear. Enjoy a relaxed time with the gentle air of the West Sea. 📍 Unshu Kiln 2829 Tomioka, Reihoku Town, Amakusa District, Kumamoto 863-2507 TEL: 0969-35-0945 Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 During the event we will present new works for sale and special discount sales, among other attractions. Please take this opportunity to visit and enjoy the beautiful Amakusa porcelain from each kiln along with the splendid scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies run at the same time! * Digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points📱 * Stamp rally to win products from your chosen kiln (entry forms are available at each kiln📃) Period Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Venues (Five kilns in Reihoku Town) Uchida Sarayama-yaki, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Tenjiku Kiln, Unshu Kiln (Two kilns in Amakusa Town) Takahama-yaki Jubou Kiln, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln Inquiries: Amakusa Porcelain Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 The Amakusa West Coast is famed as one of the world’s premier sources of the porcelain raw material Amakusa porcelain stone. Against this backdrop, seven kilns across the area will open their doors for the 30th Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour, running for five days from Friday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 6. Here is an introduction to one participating kiln, Tenjiku Kiln! Please have a look 💁‍♀️💁‍♂️💁 🌸 Tenjiku Kiln Tucked away in the mountains of Kobaba in Tororo, Reihoku, Tenjiku Kiln sits quietly in a peaceful setting. The kiln owner, Mr. Sumida, brings a warm sense of humor, and the many cats that greet visitors create a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Drawing hints from Mr. Sumida’s everyday life, the kiln produces freely conceived vessels whose shapes and colors show distinctive personalities. They blend gently into daily life. The pottery classes held weekly attract many regulars, making Tenjiku Kiln a warm place rooted in the local community. The pottery, the people, and the cats alike all convey a friendly, comforting charm. 📍 Tenjiku Kiln 6121 Tororo, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto 863-2611 TEL: 0969-36-0860 Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 During the event you can enjoy new work exhibitions and sales, special discount offers, and other activities. Take this chance to visit and appreciate the beautiful Amakusa ceramics from each kiln against the stunning scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies run concurrently! * A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱 * A stamp rally with a chance to win items from your chosen kiln (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Period Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Venues (Five kilns in Reihoku) Uchida Sarayamayaki, Koubou Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Tenjiku Kiln, Unshu Kiln (Two kilns in Amakusa Town) Takahama-yaki Jubou Kiln, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln Inquiries Amakusa Porcelain Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

[Amakusa West Coast 🌸 Spring Kiln Tour Announcement] ⁠ The Amakusa West Coast, famed as one of the world’s premier sources of porcelain stone “Amakusa toseki,” will host the 30th Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour at seven scattered kilns from Friday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 6. Introducing one of the participating kilns this time: Kobo Kaze. Please take a look💁‍♀️💁‍♂️💁 🌸Kobo Kaze Kobo Kaze sits quietly amid the verdant nature of Reihoku Town. The workshop’s simple, warm aesthetic harmonizes with the natural beauty around it. The kiln owner, Mr. Hayashida, favors works produced by a carbonization firing technique that lines charcoal around the vessel during the main firing to create unique textures and tones. In recent years he has also focused on new Oribe pieces with rich green glazes, presenting tableware that is calm yet full of character. During the Spring Kiln Tour, you can also enjoy locally grown produce, woodworkers’ pieces, bamboo dragonfly crafts, sweets, and other items for sale, offering a chance to fully experience handiwork rooted in everyday life. Be sure to take in the fragrant scent of the trees and flowers that surround the workshop with all your senses. 📍Kobo Kaze 2915 Shiki, Reihoku Town, Amakusa District, Kumamoto 863-2503 TEL: 0969-35-2041 [Amakusa West Coast 🌸 Spring Kiln Tour] During the event we will feature new works for exhibition and sale, special discount offers, and various other activities. Please take this opportunity to visit and enjoy the beautiful Amakusa ceramics from each kiln and the stunning scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies run simultaneously! * A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points📱 * A stamp rally that gives you a chance to win items from your chosen kiln (entry forms are available at each kiln📃) [Period] Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM [Venues] (Five kilns in Reihoku Town) Uchida Sarayama-yaki, Kobo Kaze, Mugen-gama, Tenjiku-gama, Unshu-gama (Two kilns in Amakusa Town) Takahama-yaki Jubogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro-gama [Inquiries] Secretariat, Amakusa Porcelain Stone Research and Development Promotion Council (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 ⁠ The Amakusa West Coast is famed as one of the world’s premier sources of porcelain raw material, Amakusa Pottery Stone. Against this backdrop, seven kilns dotted across the area will open their doors for the 30th Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour, held for five days from Friday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 6. We will share introductions to the participating kilns, so please take a look 💁‍♀️ 🌸 Uchida Sarayama Ware In the Meiji era, Naohiko Kiyama began mining with advice from Yukichi Fukuzawa, laying the foundations for the pottery here. In 1970, the third generation, Katsuhiko Kiyama, discovered an Edo-period kiln site and reopened production. Subsequent excavations revealed a history of porcelain production that began around 1650 and continued for about a century. Carrying that history into the present is Uchida Sarayama Ware. Now in the hands of the fourth generation, Kentaro Kiyama, the kilns still quarry Amakusa Pottery Stone and Shiki clay themselves. From materials nurtured by Amakusa’s land, they craft each piece with care. The lineup pairs traditional techniques with a modern sensibility. For this Spring Kiln Tour, you can expect seasonal treasures such as pieces decorated with raised itchin patterns that convey three-dimensional texture, and charming May picture plates made for Children’s Day. Take this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of vessels shaped by Amakusa’s history and landscape. 📍 Uchida Sarayama Ware 554-1 Uchida, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2505 TEL: 0969-35-0222 Amakusa West Coast Spring Kiln Tour 🌸 During the event we will offer a variety of attractions, including exhibitions of new works and special discount sales. Please visit and enjoy the beautiful Amakusa porcelains from each kiln along with the splendid scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. Two stamp rallies will run simultaneously! * A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱 * A stamp rally where you can win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Period Five days from Friday, May 2, 2025 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Venues (Reihoku: 5 kilns) Uchida Sarayama Ware, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Tenjiku Kiln, Unshu Kiln (Amakusa: 2 kilns) Takahama Ware Juho Kiln, Amakusa Karatsu Jurogama Inquiries: amakusa_pottery_stone_research_and_development_promotion_council_office (inside reihoku_town_hall Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

[Amakusa Sea Sunset Cruising ⛴️🌆] Individual Sailings Now Available! Enjoy the Amakusa Sea sunset from onboard with the “Amakusa Sea Sunset Cruising,” running for individual customers on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month in April and May. Board Reihoku Kanko Kisen’s Kizuna III at Tomioka Port and head west along the Tomioka Peninsula for an approximately one-hour cruise to watch the sun sink into the sea and experience the magic hour. ⛴️Fare (per person) Adult (junior high school students and older) ¥3,000 Child ¥1,500 ⛴️Meeting point Tomioka Port Passenger Waiting Area (Kizuna Station) *Please arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.* ⛴️Operating dates (approximate departure times) [April] 12th, 26th (6:00 PM) [May] 10th, 24th (6:20 PM) Reservations This cruise requires advance reservation. Please call Reihoku Kanko Kisen Co., Ltd., the operator, to book directly. ⚠️Notes Please understand that sailings may be canceled or the sunset may not be visible due to bad weather, strong winds, or high waves. ⛴️Contact Reihoku Kanko Kisen Co., Ltd. Tel: 0960-35-0705 (Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM) For more details, please visit the Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association website. 👉 Check the link in this account’s profile!

Yachiyoza Story – Regular Yamaga Lantern Dance Performance “Yachiyoza Story – Regular Yamaga Lantern Dance Performance” is a special program combining a tour of Yachiyoza, a Meiji-era playhouse over 100 years old, with a performance of the Yamaga lantern dance. Watching the lantern dance in that nostalgic, otherworldly setting feels especially glamorous! Please enjoy this luxurious chance to experience the charms of Yamaga all at once. Location Yachiyoza Schedule Please check the following URL for event dates. https://www.y-kankoukyoukai.com/sp_page01.php... Date and Time One show daily, starting at 10:30 AM (about 60 minutes) ・Rokyoku performance “The Birth and Revival of Yachiyoza: Wasamon.” (Rokyoku performer Minatoya Koyuki) ・Yamaga lantern dance performance ・Yachiyoza tour and commemorative photos with the dancers Admission Fees Adults: 1,530 yen per person (Yachiyoza admission + 1,000 yen for lantern dance viewing) Elementary and junior high students: 770 yen per person (Yachiyoza admission + 500 yen for lantern dance viewing) ※Group discounts (15 or more) and combined tickets including Yachiyoza and the Lantern Folk Craft Museum are also available. ※Includes shopping vouchers usable at stores in Yamaga. Notes ・From 10:30 AM until around 11:30 AM, only guests holding tickets for Yachiyoza Story may enter. ・You may visit Yachiyoza for a tour even on days when Yachiyoza Story is not held. ・Event dates are subject to change. Thank you for your understanding. Contact Yamaga Onsen Tourism Association 0968-43-2952 Yachiyoza 0968-44-4004 ※If you are coming with a group of 15 or more, please make a reservation in advance. If your group has fewer than 14 people, you may come on the day without a reservation.

Hello! This is the Yamaga Onsen Tourism Association. Yamaga Onsen is a famous hot spring in northern Kumamoto Prefecture with a history of over 1,300 years. Its waters are characterized by alkaline simple hot spring quality, known for enhancing skin beauty. The water is clear and colorless, tasteless and odorless, with temperatures ranging from 39 to 45°C. This account will share recommendations and the latest information about Yamaga Onsen, so please follow us! ◆About Yamaga Onsen, Kumamoto Prefecture You can enjoy flowing-only (gensen-kakenagashi) hot spring water at many inns, and there are plenty of outdoor baths and family baths available for day use, making the area beloved by both visitors and locals. The town offers a historic atmosphere, and popular sights include Yachiyoza Theater and the Buzen Highway. ◆Access to Yamaga Onsen Yamaga Onsen is conveniently accessible from Fukuoka. By car: Take the Kyushu Expressway and exit at Kikusui IC or Ueki Interchange; it takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Fukuoka City. By bus: Take the Hinokuni Bus from Fukuoka Tenjin to Yamaga Bus Center, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. From the bus center, hot springs and attractions are within walking distance. ◆History of Yamaga Onsen Yamaga has long been a hot spring town. In the Edo Period it prospered as a post town along the Buzen Highway, where many travelers stopped for healing baths. In the Meiji Era the playhouse Yachiyoza was built, adding cultural appeal to the hot spring area. Today, the town continues to enchant many visitors as a hot spring town where history and tradition live on. ◆Popular attractions in Yamaga Onsen ・Buzen Highway The Buzen Highway runs through the heart of Yamaga Onsen and preserves the historic streetscape of an Edo Period post town. Along the cobblestone road you will find white-walled townhouses and old folk houses, perfect for a stroll through a retro atmosphere. Cafes and souvenir shops dot the area, making it an ideal spot to buy local specialties. ・Sakura-yu Hot Spring Sakura-yu, a symbol of Yamaga Onsen, is a public bathhouse with roots in the Edo Period. It was restored in 2012 as one of Kyushu’s largest wooden hot springs using traditional Japanese construction methods. The spacious main bath retains the charm of wooden architecture and offers flowing-only hot spring water. It’s an easy place to enjoy a soak between sightseeing. ・Yachiyoza Theater Built in 1910 (Meiji 43), Yachiyoza Theater was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1988 (Showa 63). It features lavish ceiling paintings and a revolving stage, and performances are still held today. You can tour the interior and experience the atmosphere of this historic theater. ・Yamaga Lantern Folk Art Museum This facility exhibits Yamaga City’s traditional craft, the Yamaga lantern. Inside, you can admire the beauty of gold lanterns made from delicate Japanese paper and learn about their production process. ・Kongojoji Temple / Stone Gate Kongojoji Temple, with a history of 1,300 years, features an imposing Stone Gate that evokes foreign lands. ◆Local specialties and souvenirs of Yamaga Onsen ・Lantern Monaka Lantern Monaka is a signature confection of Yamaga Onsen shaped like a gold lantern. Its crispy wafer shell is filled with delicately sweet red bean paste, making it a popular souvenir. ・Yamaga Yokan Made in the traditional way, Yamaga Yokan is known for its gentle sweetness and moist texture. It pairs well with green tea or coffee and is a welcome gift. ◆Events and festivals at Yamaga Onsen ・Yamaga Lantern Festival Held annually on August 15 and 16, the Yamaga Lantern Festival is one of Kyushu’s premier summer events, when the whole town glows with mystical light. The Thousand Lantern Dancers, where more than a thousand performers dance gracefully, is a breathtaking sight. ・Yamaga Lantern Romance: A Hundred Flowers, A Hundred Lights Held every winter, Yamaga Lantern Romance: A Hundred Flowers, A Hundred Lights welcomes visitors with enchanting lights created from Japanese umbrellas and bamboo installations along the historic streets. The Buzen Highway is illuminated at night, offering photogenic scenes unlike any other time of year. ◆Enjoy Yamaga Onsen in Kumamoto Prefecture Yamaga Onsen is a hot spring town known for waters that beautify the skin and for its historic attractions. In addition to overnight stays, there are many outdoor baths and family baths available for day visitors, and the area consistently ranks highly on hot spring lists. Beyond the baths, Yamaga Onsen offers diverse pleasures—local cuisine, traditional crafts, and festivals—so please come and visit.