Overview
Gojozaka Pottery Festival is one of the popular summer traditions in Kyoto. More than 400 vendors set up booths around Gojozaka, the birthplace of Kiyomizu-yaki porcelain.
The festival dates back to 1920, originated as a ceramics market held during Rokudo-Mairi, an annual tradition of visiting Rokudouchinnou-ji Temple to welcome ancestors' spirits. At the market, dead stock luxury products were sold for bargain prices to temple visitors. The Gojozaka Pottery Festival, along with Rokudo-Mairi, has become an icon of Kyoto's Bon season which ends with Okuribi or Daimonji, massive bonfires to send off ancestors' spirits.
The festival venue is surrounded by Kyoto's many landmarks. Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto National Museum, Gion, and Rokudouchinnou-ji are within walking distance.
It is one of the largest ceramics festivals in Japan, attracting about 400,000 pottery lovers from all over the country. The festival gives you a great opportunity to experience Kyoto's history, as well as to find one-of-a-kind pottery items.
Gojozaka is nationally known as the birthplace of Kiyomizu-yaki porcelain. Today, this area is full of Kyoyaki-Kiyomizu-yaki ceramic artists, pottery studios, wholesalers, and retailers.
The Gojozaka Pottery Festival now enjoys the largest scale and attendance as Japan's ceramics festival. It has become an important Kyoto's summer tradition that about 400 vendors gather at Gojozaka and visitors from all over the country wander around, hunting for great deals. The festival has also broadened its appeal with young pottery artists setting up booths on the Southern sidewalk of Gojozaka.
The festival will take place August 7-10, 2017, from 9:00 to around 22:00 daily.
Events
The festival will offer the following events:
Pottery Mikoshi Parade
The sacred palanquin Mikoshi, decorated with ceramics, will parade from Wakamiya-Hachimangu and through the festival venue.
Wakamiya-Hachimangu
5-480 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Pottery Wedding Ceremony
In Japan's pottery industry, 20 years of marriage is called Toukonshiki, a pottery wedding anniversary. Wakamiya-Hachimangu will offer a free Oharai, a purification ritual, to couples celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.
Free of charge. A document certifying 20 years of marriage will be required.
Wakamiya-Hachimangu
5-480 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Map of the Venue
Must-see Spots of the Venue
Main venue of the event
Birthplace of Kiyomizu-yaki "Gojozaka"
Around Gojo Dori, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
Main venue of the event
Wakamiya Hachimangu
5-480 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
TEL: 075-561-1261
Rokudouchinnou-ji
595 Komatsu-cho, Shijo-sagaru 4cho-me, Yamato Oji Dori, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
TEL: 075-561-4129
Kawai Kanjiro's House
569 Kanei-cho, Gojozaka, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
TEL: 075-561-3585
Matsubara Dori
Kyoto City
Miyagawa-cho
Kyoto City
Okamoto Kimono for Tourists Kimono Dressing Shop
Run 4 shops in Kiyomizu and Higashiyama area:
Main Shop, Kiyomizuzaka Shop, Gion Shop and Yasakanotou-mae Shop. Every shop is built and designed in large Kyo-machiya style, full of Kyoto-like atmospheric presence.
They have a large assortment of kimono for both men and women, and also for kids.
6-546-8 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City (Main Shop)
TEL: 075-532-1320
Recommended Restaurants and Cafes
Cafe CAMEL
Open 9:00 – 19:00
Closed on Sunday and National Holiday
(Opens every day during the festival period from 9:00 – 21:00)
4-438-1 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-561-5008
Kyoto Higashiyama Saryo
Open 10:00 – 17:00
Closed on Wednesday
(Opens every day during the festival period from 10:00 – 20:00)
4-448 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-532-0873
Gojozaka Cafe
Open 12:00 – 22:00
Closed on Tuesday
3-396-2 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-525-2299
Kyo-izakaya Sherry
Open 17:00 – 24:00
Closed on Wednesday
30 Higashihashizume-cho, Gojo Ohashi Higashi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-561-3978
UDON SANSHIKI
Open Mon. 11:00 – 15:00
Wed. – Sun. 11:00 – 21:00
Closed on Tuesday
(Opens every day during the festival period from 11:00 – 21:00)
2-9-4 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-531-7775
Sabou Goken
Open 9:00 – 18:00
Closed on Sunday and National Holiday
(During the festival period: 9:00 – 21:00)
2-18-1 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-561-6101
Hotel Shuhokaku
No fixed holiday.
During the Festival period
they offer beverages, shaved ice etc.
2-1 Gojohashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-531-2233
Café Violon (Coffee & Wine)
Open 9:00 – 21:00 (Last Call 20:30)
Closed on Thursday
80-3 Rokuro-cho, Yamato Oji Higashi-iru 2cho-me, Matsubara Dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
TEL: 075-532-4060
Surrounding Sight-seeing Spots
Sanjusangen-do
TEL: 075- 561-0467
657 Sanjusangendo Mawari, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
Toyokuni Jinja (Hokoku Jinja)
TEL: 075- 561-3802
530 Chaya-cho, Yamato Oji Dori Shomen, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
Kodai-ji
526 Shimokawara-cho, Shimokawara-cho Yasaka Toriimae-sagaru, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto City
TEL: 075- 561-9966
Access
From JR Kyoto Station
By train: Take Keihan Railway Line to Kiyomizu-gojo Station. Exit No. 4.
By bus: Take Route 207 or 206 to Gojozaka Stop / Route 205 or 17 to Kawaramachi-gojo Stop
Q&A
- Q1. How can I get the best deal?
- Most of the shops participating in the festival sell their items cheaper than its usual price. But if you wish to get a lower price, try negotiating with the shop owner during the last 2 days of the festival. Through the fun bargaining communications with them, you may have an interesting encounter with an eye-opener item! However, valuable items are usually snapped up quickly.
- Q2. What's the best route to browse around the venue?
- It depends on what you want to see and purchase. Handworks of young talented would-be pottery artists are displayed through the East and West ends of the Southern sidewalk. Local specialty Kiyomizu-yaki are mainly displayed in the Eastern area of Northern sidewalk (Gojozaka) and some in the Southern sidewalk too. Potteries from around the country are sold in both South and North sides. Browse around and take this as an opportunity to deepen your knowledge about potteries.
- Q3. Where's the lavatory?
- During the 4-day festival, there are temporary lavatories in Higashi Oji Dori south-west crossing and in the west of Higashiyama Post Office. There are also lavatories inside Higashiyama Post Office and Higashi Oji Dori Gojo Northwest Higashiyama Fureaikan , but note that they are open to public only during its opening hours.
- Q4. What should I do with lost and found property or a stray child?
- Please contact Higashiyama Police Station (075-525-0110) immediately.
- Q5. What happens if it rains?
- Gojozaka Pottery Festival is a rain-or-shine event so it will still be held in spite of bad weather.
- Q6. Are there any parking area for visitors?
- We have no prepared parking. Using the public transportation is preferred.
- Q7. How do I reach the venue by train and by bus?
-
By train:
Get off at Kiyomizu-gojo Station on Keihan Railway Line.
Get off at Kawaramachi Station on Hankyu Railway Line. Then take Kyoto City Bus Route 207 from Kousaten Seihoku Stop to Gojozaka Stop.
By bus:
It takes approx.15-20 minutes by city bus from JR Kyoto Station.
Take Route 206 to Gojozaka Stop / Route 205 or 17 to Kawaramachi-gojo Stop.