Imari (伊万里市) is a city in Saga Prefecture, Japan, best known for its traditional ceramicware.

Understand

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site. Its Pamphlet section contains an English version.

Get in

Imari is accessible by the Matsuura Railway and the Chikuhi Line of JR Kyushu. By car it can be reached from the Matsuura Bypass and Route 202 from Karatsu.

Do

Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival

Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival is held for 3 days every year near the end of October. Located in Imari City, the festival is one of the three great fighting festivals in Japan. In the festival a crashing battle took place between the two huge portable shrines, the Ara-mikoshi and the Danjiri. After a death during the battle in 2006, this part of the festival is performed by reducing the scale. The name "Ton-Ten-Ton" represents the sound of drums used in the festival.

Buy

• Imari Nabeshima-yaki Gallery (伊万里鍋島焼会館). Gallery and shop for Nabeshima ceramicware. Its restaurant serves everything on distinctive blue dishes. (updated Apr 2024)

Go next

• Arita
• Karatsu
• Matsuura
• Hirado
• Sasebo
• Takeo
• Ureshino
• Omura
• Saga