Tokoname: Ceramics, Cat Figures and the Beach

The attractions range from ceramics and cat figures to the artificial sandy beach at Rinku Beach. Along the way, you’ll find historic exhibits, hands-on creativity and a bay with white sand. For planning your trip, there’s a practical choice to make: would you like to spend the day on a longer walk along the Pottery Footpath, explore ceramic-related attractions, or set aside time for the beach?

Ceramics in the Open Air

In the outdoor area of the Tokoname Ceramic Forest Museum, you’ll find terracotta pieces from the early Shōwa period, a large storage vessel of the 呂号 type and the ceramic bench “月のイス”. The bench was used at Expo 1970 in Osaka. Here, you’ll encounter objects with different historical connections: the terracotta pieces come from a specific period, while the bench is linked to a particular world’s fair.

Tokoname Maneki-neko Street also showcases ceramics in public spaces. On a street wall, you can see a giant maneki-neko figure, 39 ceramic maneki-neko with auspicious motifs, and 11 lifelike cat figures. The single large figure and the two groups of smaller depictions offer a striking contrast between symbols of good fortune and realistically rendered cats.

Pottery Footpath: Route and Consideration

Route B of the Pottery Footpath is 4 kilometres long, with an estimated walking time of about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The INAX Live Museum is along this route. Its length and approximate duration make it easier to plan as a longer activity, rather than treating it as a quick stop. Check current route conditions before setting out.

The Pottery Footpath is also a residential and working area. Please do not look inside private homes or enter private property. Keep this in mind when planning your walk: you can explore the area while respecting people’s private lives and workplaces.

Try Your Hand at Ceramics

The INAX Live Museum is an interactive museum dedicated to earth and ceramics. Activities include tile art and making glowing dorodango balls; specific activities may vary. Visitors can paint ceramics at the Noborigama Plaza Exhibition and Workshop Hall. Check before visiting whether this activity is currently available.

The ceramic attractions differ in more than just their exhibits: in the museum’s outdoor area, the focus is on viewing objects and their historical connections, while the activities mentioned here invite you to create something yourself. The INAX Live Museum shop stocks original items; the selection may change.

A Different Travel Experience at Rinku Beach

Rinku Beach is an artificial beach with white sand, set in a quiet bay surrounded by breakwaters. It offers a different experience from the ceramic exhibitions and workshops. If you’re looking for a holiday rental for your trip, you can start by considering which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay: a walk with a set estimated duration, ceramics to view and create, or the beach as an activity in its own right. These details give you practical points to consider, without limiting you to just one theme.

Starting Point and Parking

Ceramic Hall is the starting point for Routes A and B of the Pottery Footpath. It’s about a five-minute walk from Meitetsu Tokoname Station. If you’re travelling by car, the Pottery Footpath parking lot is at 7-7 Sakaemachi, Tokoname City, and has space for approximately 45 cars. The station and parking lot are two different landmarks for accessing the routes.

Discover more destinations: Tōkai, Inazawa, Handa, Nagoya, Taketoyo, Toyota, Kariya, Toyohashi.

Go to the main travel overview: Aichi Prefecture.