Free
Self-Guided
Travel Plan
Two-Days in Mashiko Enjoy the countryside!
Overview
This is a two-day itinerary (Self-Guided Travel Plan) to help you plan a trip to Mashiko Town from Tokyo.
This itinerary will take you on a journey to explore the Mashiko countryside on foot and by bicycle, visit museums, enjoy delicious meals at local restaurants, experience pottery making, and participate in other enjoyable cultural activities.
The plan also includes the best train and bus connections from Tokyo to help you have a smooth journey. (Train and bus times can change unexpectedly, so please check here for up-to-date times)
Culture
Pottery
Museum
Art
Shopping
Cycling
Fruit Picking
Brewery Tour
Temple
Best Days to Depart: | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday *Sundays have less busses to and from Mashiko. *If Monday is a National Holliday, visit on Monday instead of a Tuesday. |
|---|---|
Included in Itinerary: | 2 x Pottery Museums, 2 x Climbing Kilns, Pottery tool store, 2 x Restaurant (Lunch), Pottery Experience, Sake Brewery Visit, Indigo Dyeing Studio visit, Strawberry Picking, Pottery shopping |
Transportation: | Public (Train, Bus, Rent-a cycle) |
Start and End: | Tokyo Station |
Guided Level: | Fully Self Guided *The information on this page should be used as a guide only. We cannot accept responsibility for any errors or misinformation on this page or any incidents or injuries that occur during your trip. |
Duration: | 31hour 32 min (Dept Tue to Fri), 30 hour 52 min (Dept Sat), 31 hour 12 min (Dept Sun) |
Reviews
- 🌟 The bicycle ride was enjoyable, not too demanding. Many of the places spoke very good English.
- 🌟 Really enjoyed the sake brewery and strawberry picking!
- 🌟 The laughing Enma temple (Saimyoji Temple) was interesting!
Travel Highlights
(Times last updated on the 24th Jan 2024)
Day 1
Day 2
Self-Guided Travel Plan
(Times last updated on the 24th Jan 2024)
Day 1
9:40 am
(Mon-Fri)
9:40 am
(Sat)
10:00 am
(Sunday)
Depart Tokyo Station
Take the Tohoku Shinkansen (or Yamagata or Akita Shinkansen) from Tokyo station (or Ueno Station). Your journey from Tokyo to Utsunomiya station should only take around 50 mins.
*Sunday has different train time table.
48min by Shinkansen
(Bullet train)
10:28 am
(Mon-Fri)
10:28 am
(Sat)
10:48 am
(Sunday)
Arrive at JR Utsunomiya Station
After arriving at JR Utsunomiya Station exit the barriers and make your way to the West exit to find the buses to Mashiko. You may have some time to take a group photo or grab a coffee at starbucks, but make sure not to miss the bus as they are not that frequent!
*Sunday has different train time table.
3min Walk
West Exit Bus terminal (Bus stop No. 14)
10:43 am
(Mon-Fri)
10:43 am
(Sat)
11:13 am
(Sunday)
Take the Kanto Bus to Mashiko
From No 14 Bus stop on the West side of JR Utsunomiya station take the bus towards Mashiko (益子). It will take Suica cards (and other IC cards), but it does not take credit cards. If paying cash, make sure to take the ticket when boarding as this will prove where you boarded the bus.
*Saturdays and Sundays have a different timetable.
60min Bus ride
11:41 am
(Mon-Fri)
11:33 am
(Sat)
12:03 am
(Sunday)
Arrive at 'Togei Messe Iriguchi' Bus Stop
After 60-70 min get off the bus at ‘Togei Messe Iriguchi (陶芸メッセ入口）
*Arrival times may vary depending on traffic.
5min Walk
11:50 am
(Mon-Fri)
11:40 am
(Sat)
12:10 am
(Sunday)
Kyohan Center (Rent a bicycle)
Cross the road and walk up the road to Kyohan Center (turn left and walk through the parking lot when you see the large statue of raccoon). The bicycle rental is inside Kyohan Center which is the building at the end of the parking lot.
Adult 1,000 yen / day
*Ask to borrow the bikes for two days.
*If you are a group of people, call them in advance to book bicycles.
*You will need to show ID when renting the bikes.
Bicycle 2-5 min
12:05pm
(Mon-Sat)
11:55 am
(Sat)
12:25pm
(Sunday)
LUNCH
Yamani (Curry & Soba)
Popular Japanese Curry and Soba restaurant open for lunch .
*Closed Friday
Touchi-an (Japanese lunch dishes)
A lovely family-run restaurant beside their pottery studio. Only open on Sat, Sun & National Holidays. Best to book in advance.
Closed Mon to Fri
Bicycle 5-6 min
1
1:30 pm
(Mon-Fri)
1:20 pm
(Sat)
1:45 pm
(Sunday)
Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art
The museum exhibits works by Shoji Hamada, Tatsuzo Shimaoka, and other artists. The “Shoji Hamada Residence” was relocated here and visitors can see a restored climbing kiln that Hamada used during his lifetime.
Closed Mondays (If Monday is a holiday it will be closed on the Tuesday instead of the Monday) and some irregular dates (please see their website).
Entry: Adult 600 yen / Child 300 yen
Bicycle 5 min
2
2:45 pm
(Mon-Fri)
2:35 pm
(Sat)
2:55 pm
(Sunday)
Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum
Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum is dedicated to Shoji Hamada’s collection and work. Visitors can walk through old buildings, Hamada’s pottery studio, and see their climbing kiln.
Closed Mondays (If Monday is a holiday it will be closed on the Tuesday instead of the Monday) and some irregular dates (please see their website).
Entry: Adult 1,000 yen / Child 500 yen
Bicycle 5 min
3
3:45 pm
(Mon-Sat)
3:35 pm
(Sat)
3:50 pm
(Sunday)
Mashikoyaki Kyodoukumiai Shop (Pottery tools shop)
A small shop that sells professional tools for potters and ceramic artists. Some tools are unique to Japan and only sold here. (The store closes at 4pm so make sure to arrive as soon as you can to avoid disappointment)
Bicycle 3-4 min
4
4:00 pm
(Mon-Sat)
3:55 pm
(Sat)
4:05 pm
(Sunday)
Taiseigama Pottery Shop and Studio
Taiseigama Pottery Shop and Studio has a nice shop and are able to offer an English tour of their studio for 500 yen if booked in advance. (On Tuesdays, when it is closed, we recommend visiting Iwashita Pottery Shop here instead)
*Closed Tuesdays
Bicycle 1-3 min
5
4:30 pm
(Mon-Fri)
4:30 pm
(Sat)
4:35 pm
(Sunday)
Pottery shopping (Jyonaizaka Street)
Jyonaizaka Street, where Taiseigama is located, has many exciting pottery shops. This is a great place to find souvenirs from your trip to Japan.
*Most shops close at 5pm
Bicycle 20-30 min
5:30 pm
(Mon-Sun)
Accommodation
Furuki (Guesthouse self-catering)
Self-catering guesthouse for budget-conscious travelers.
Day 2
8:20 am
(Mon-Fri)
8:20 am
(Sat)
8:20 pm
(Sunday)
Check out from your hotel
Have an early breakfast and checkout for an adventure of Mashiko.
Bicycle 20-30 min
6
9:00 am
(Mon-Fri)
9:00 am
(Sat)
9:00 am
(Sunday)
Yoshimura Strawberry Park
Open from Dec to 5th of May only
A popular strawberry-picking farm near Kitayama Station which offers a wide variety of Japanese strawberries to pick from. They also have a drink stand serving strawberry smoothies and strawberry-flavored drinks.
Open only between December to 5th May (Closed on 1st Jan)
Bicycle 10 min
7
10:00 am
(Mon-Fri)
10:00 am
(Sat)
10:00 am
(Sunday)
Tonoike Sake Brewery
A traditional sake brewery with a small museum, a cafe, a shop, and a tasting room. It produces quality sake and is the 8th highest-ranking sake brewery in the world.
* For brewwery tours, book in advance.
Bicycle 10 min
8
11:30 am
(Mon-Fri)
11:30 am
(Sat)
11:30 am
(Sunday)
Kokaigawa Cycling Road
Turn left out of Tonoike Sake Brewery and head down to the river. Once you cross the river, continue south. Enjoy the Japanese countryside scenery. In the summer, there is a Sunflower festival, and in the fall, there are many cosmos flowers.
Bicycle 10 min
9
12:10 pm
(Mon-Fri)
12:10 pm
(Sat)
12:10 pm
(Sunday)
Michi no Eki Mashiko
This building has a farmers market, a restaurant, and a shop selling local produce and art. Stop here for delicious lunch.
* Closed on the second Tuesday of every month.
Bicycle 10 min
10
1:50 pm
(Mon-Fri)
1:50 pm
(Sat)
X
(Sunday)
Saimyoji Temple
Cycle up the mountain, and you will find Saimyoji Temple surrounded by beautiful nature. This is a unique temple with square bamboo (found near the parking lot) and a laughing Enma statue in the main area after climbing the stairs (You have to peek through the walls to see it).
*There is a steep hill to climb to get to Saimyoji Temple so you may want to skip this if you are running behind on time.
*We recommend skipping this activity on a Sunday if you want to take part in a pottery activity at the Fuwari Pottery Studio.
Bicycle 10 min
11
2:20 pm
(Mon-Fri)
2:20 pm
(Sat)
1:50 pm
(Sunday)
Fuwari Pottery Studio
(Pottery Experience)
Fuwari is a cozy pottery studio surrounded by the woods. The owners are very friendly, and the pottery classes (90min) are popular with English speakers.
* Book in advance for 90min pottery classes.
* There are limited bus serviceson Sunday so make sure to leave early on a Sunday.
Bicycle 15 min
12
4:05 pm
(Mon-Fri)
4:05 pm
(Sat)
3:35 pm
(Sunday)
Higeta Indigo dyeing Studio
Founded 200 years ago. As well as indigo dyeing, they are also involved in cotton cultivation, yarn making, yarn dyeing, and hand weaving to help preserve the tradition of cotton, which is a major part of the indigo dyeing culture.
*Closed Mondays
Bicycle 15 min
4:40 pm
(Mon-Fri)
4:40 pm
(Sat)
4:10 pm
(Sunday)
Return your Bicycle at Kyohan Center
Cycle up the hill and return your bicycle at Kyohan Center where you borrowed it.
Walk 10 min
5:12 pm
(Mon-Fri)
5:12 pm
(Sat)
4:32 pm
(Sunday)
Take the Bus from 'Togei Messe Iriguchi' Bus Stop (to JR Utsunomiya Sta.)
Across from the bust stop you got off at is the bus stop back to JR Utsunomiya Station (JR 宇都宮駅).
*Arrival times may vary depending on traffic.
*Sundays have a separate timetable.
60-70 min by Bus
6:22 pm
(Mon-Fri)
6:13 pm
(Sat)
5:33 pm
(Sunday)
Arrive back at JR Utsunomiya Station
Once you arrive back in Utsunomiya, you can choose to head back to Tokyo or explore Utsunomiya city to see what the city offers.
*Arrival times may vary depending on traffic.
Walk 3 min
6:58 pm
(Mon-Fri)
6:37 pm
(Sat)
5:59 pm
(Sunday)
Take the Shinkansen to Tokyo
Hop on the Shinkansen and Tokyo station is just 50 min away!
*Saturdays and Sundays have a different timetable.
48min by Shinkansen
(Bullet train)
7:48 pm
(Mon-Fri)
7:28 pm
(Sat)
6:48 pm
(Sunday)
Arrive back at in Tokyo
Back in Tokyo. We hope you enjoyed your trip to Mashiko!
*Saturdays and Sundays have a different timetable.
