MASHIKO
Highlights of Mashiko Town
Mashiko Town (益子町) is a small countryside town (village) known around the world for its Pottery and art culture. It has recently been featured in the 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.
What ever time of year you decide to visit, Mashiko offers many things for visitors.
Access
From Tokyo
- 2h 15min from by train. (via Utsunomiya)
- 2h 45min from by train. (via Shimodate)
- 2h 30min by Highway bus. (from Akihabara)
- 1h 45min drive by car
From Airports
- 2h from Narita Itn. Airport (Car)
- 3h from Haneda Int. Airport (Train)
- 1.5h from Ibaraki Airport (Car)
From Main Stations
- Mashiko Sta. (Moka Railway)
- Utsunomiya Sta. (JR Railway) - 50 min away
Things to DO
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.
Visit a Sake Brewery
Mashiko has a sake brewery open to visitors. You can walk around, learn about sake making and taste the different varieties.
Visit a Pottery Museum
There are several Pottery museums in Mashiko including Mashiko Sankokan and Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art.
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.
Visit a traditional Indigo Dyeing Studio
Mashiko has one of the oldest Indigo dyeing studios in Japan.
Rent a bicycle and ride through the rice fields
Hire a bicycle from the station and enjoy a day around the countrysides. (half day tours are also available)
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 Straberry 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 Mashiki.
Click the image or the button below to discover more!
How to experience Mashiko
Travel Ideas by Locals
Top events around Mashiko Town
Places to EAT
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).
Places to STAY
Ryokan (Japanese style)
Mashiko has one Japanese Ryokan with an Onsen. (See below for information about Mashikokan Satoyama Hotel)
Want prices?
Find the full list of hotels in Mashiko available at Booking.com here.
Hotel
Mashiko has a newly refurbished hotel (Yuwakan) that opened in 2020. Before it was moved to Mashiko, foreign diplomats used it 100 years ago as well as being used for the crown prince to escape WW2.
Guesthouse
Mashiko has several guesthouses which are very affordable. Many artists use them and stay in Mashiko for months to make pottery.
Want prices?
Find the full list of hotels in Mashiko available at Booking.com here.
Holiday rental (Airbnb)
Several places are available in Mashiko.
Want prices?
Find the full list of airbnb’s available at aribnb here.
Day trips from Mashiko Town
Each of these places are within a day trip away. Click on the image to find out more.
Useful links for Mashiko Town
Mashiko Photo Gallery
We’ve created a Mashiko Photo gallery to help overseas visitors and travel companies see what Mashiko has to offer. Click the image to discover more!
Mashiko in the Media
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