Mashiko Town

Index

Highlights of Mashiko Town

Mashiko Town (益子町) is a small countryside town in Tochigi Prefecture 2.5hours from Tokyo. It’s known worldwide for its pottery and art culture and has been featured on BBC and CNN travel.

Since Bernard Leach (1887-1979) and Shoji Hamada (1894-1978) put Mashiko on the map, its popularity with Japanese pottery seekers has grown, and many overseas travelers visit its Spring and Autumn Pottery Fairs.

Mashiko also offers many activities for visitors. There are pottery classes in English as well as Sake Brewery Tours, Strawberry Picking, Cycling Tours as well as a few pottery museums.

There are a few ways to visit Mashiko from Tokyo. The most popular is to travel via Utsunomiya. Another is via Oyama and the third is by high-way bus from Akihabara.

Whatever time of year you decide to visit, Mashiko offers many things to visitors. If you enjoy Japanese pottery, a nearby town called Kasama is also worth visiting.

Creating Mashiko pottery on a wheal at Furuki (Mashiko Pottery Travel Guide)

Stream train passing through fields towards Mashiko

Tourists having fun making Mashiko pottery in Furuki

Handful of Strawberries at Yoshimura Strawberry Park, Mashiko

Spring themed Mashiko pottery sake cups to enjoy Japanese sake

Visiting Hamada's pottery studio in Mashiko

Delicious tempura soba with local spring ingredients at Yamani restaurant in Mashiko

Many tents out at the Selecting an item at the bi-annual pottery fair

Man holding handheld fireworks at a festival in Mashiko nearby Tokyo

Thousands of sunflowers at The Sunflower Festival in Mashiko nearby Tokyo

Experiencing Japanese history and culture in Mashiko - Mashiko Sankokan

Access

From Tokyo

From Airports

Haneda Intl. Airport

Narita Intl. Airport

Ibaraki Airport

Main Stations

Videos of Mashiko Town

Mashiko Pottery Fair (twice a year)

How to Make Mashiko Pottery

Visiting Yoshimura Strawberry Park

Visiting Tonoike Sake Brewery

Visiting Hamada Sankokan Museum

Eating at Irorichaya restaurant

Things to DO in Mashiko Town

Make your own Pottery

Mashiko offers has over 300 pottery artist studios and many offer classes. Some have english speaking instructors and can ship overseas.

Visiting Tonoike Sake Brewery in Mashiko, Japan

Visit a Sake Brewery

Mashiko has an award-winning sake brewery open to visitors. You can walk around, learn about sake making and taste the different varieties.

A group of international visitors at Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art

Visit a Pottery Museum

There are several Pottery museums in Mashiko including Mashiko Sankokan and Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art.

A man picking red and white strawberries at Yoshimura Strawberry Park

Pick the best strawberries in Japan

The region around Mashiko is know for its Strawberries and even export them to Singapore and Thailand. Strawberry picking is available at several farms from December to early May.

A group of international visitors at Higeta Indigo Dying Studio

Visit a traditional Indigo Dyeing Studio

At the bottom of Jyonaizaka street you can find one of the oldest Indigo dyeing studios in Japan. It has a little shop and usually open during the day.

Cycling in Mashiko. Visiting Tonoike Sake Brewery

Rent a bicycle and ride through the rice fields

One of the best way to visit places in Mashiko is by bike. Hire a bicycle from the station or Mashiko Kyohan Center to enjoy a day around the countrysides.

Tonoike Sake Brewery

Established more than 80 years ago, Tonoike Sake Brewery is a traditional Sake brewery popular with overseas visitors. Visitors can drop by or book a tasting tour. (Open 365 days)

Yoshimura Strawberry Park

One of the most popular strawberry picking locations in Japan. Popular with overseas visitors and suitable for children. Online booking available. (Season is from Dec to early May)

Special Mashiko Travel Guide

We’ve created a special online guide about Mashiko Town to help overseas visitors explore Mashiko.

Click the image or the button below to discover more!

How to Enjoy Mashiko Pottery Experience

We’ve created a special page to help visitors who want to experience pottery making in Mashiko.

Click the image or the button below to discover more!

How to Explore Mashiko by Bicycle

Cycling is one of the best way to enjoy Mashiko’s countryside.
We created a complete guide on where to rent bikes and how to do so. Click to find out more.

Self guided trips – Mashiko pottery culture in a Day (via Utsunomiya station)

Find out more here »

Friends enjoy cycling in the Mashiko Countryside in Japan

Self guided trips – Mashiko pottery culture in a 2 Days (via Utsunomiya station)

Find out more here »

Delicious strawberries at Yoshimura Strawberry Park in Mashiko

EATING in Mashiko Town

Japanese Food

Mashiko offers a wide range of Japanese food, starting with Soba (local soba wheat), and Tonkatsu (pork cutlet), as well as artisan Japanese restaurants.

Western Food

Mashiko has popular curry restaurants using local vegetables as well as nice coffee shops. Mashiko also has a local dish called Burma jiru ( a soup dish inspired by Burmese cooking).

Cafe Culture

As well as many restaurants, Mashiko Town has many independent coffee shops to enjoy. Each with a different atmosphere.

Places to STAY in Mashiko Town

Ryokan (Japanese style)

Mashiko Town has a large Japanese Ryokan with an Onsen.

Hotel

Mashiko has a newly refurbished hotel (Yuwakan) that opened in 2020. It was one of the first hotels in Nikko and was used by foreign diplomats and the crown prince. It was moved to Mashiko to preserve its importance and is available to stay in.