Arita is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture, bordering Nagasaki Prefecture from its southwest to western sides. About 70% of the town is forest and mountains.

Neighbouring municipalities edit

• Saga Prefecture
  • Imari
  • Takeo

Arita was one of the first sites in Japan to produce porcelain, Arita ware. The discovery of porcelain stone is attributed to a Korean potter named Kanagae Sambe(Yi Sam-pyeong) who discovered a source of kaolin underneath the Izumiyama mountain in Arita, and began firing the nation’s first porcelain.^[1]

• April 1, 1889 – The modern municipal system is established. In accordance with this system the village of Sarayama is renamed and reclassified as the town of Arita. Also at this time the villages of Shin, Magarikawa and Ōyama are formed.
• November 13, 1896 – The village of Shin is renamed Arita.
• January 1, 1947 – The village of Arita becomes a town and is renamed Higashi-Arita.
• April 1, 1954 – Higashi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.
• April 1, 1955 – Magarikawa and Ōyama merge to form the village of Nishi-Arita.
• January 1, 1956 – Several areas of Nishi-Arita are incorporated into Arita.
• April 1, 1965 – Nishi-Arita becomes a town.
• March 1, 2006 – Nishi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.

According to Japanese census data,^[1] this is the population of Arita in recent years.

Arita is twinned with:^[2]

•   Meissen, Germany

Friendship city edit

•   Jingdezhen, China

Prefectural high schools edit

• Arita Technical High School

Municipal junior high schools edit

• Arita Junior High School
• Nishi-Arita Junior High School

Municipal elementary schools edit

• Arita Elementary School
• Arita Chūbu Elementary School
• Magarikawa Elementary School
• Ōyama Elementary School

Other schools edit

• Arita College of Ceramics

Air edit

There is no airport in Arita. The closest airports are Saga Airport and Nagasaki Airport.

Rail edit

• Main station: Arita Station
  • JR Kyushu, Sasebo Line: (To Takeo) – Kami-Arita – Arita – (To Sasebo)
  • Matsuura Railway, Nishi-Kyūshū Line: Arita – Midaibashi – Kurogō – Zōshuku – Nishi-Arita – Ōgi – Yamadani – Meotoishi – (To Imari)

Road edit

• National highways
  • National route 35
  • National route 202
  • National route 498

• The Kyushu Ceramic Museum houses large exhibits of old and modern style ceramics.
• The Porcelain Park is a ceramic centered theme park, and is modeled on the Zwinger Palace in Germany. Ceramic ware from the heyday of Arita are on display in the gallery.
• Arita Kan (有田館) has an exhibition of modern art porcelain, 400 different cups for coffee or tea and a theatre with computerized puppets made of porcelain.
• "China On The Park" dates back to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops and a restaurant.
• Tozan Shrine has a porcelain archway and other items of porcelain which, at other shrines, are usually made of stone. This shrine was and still is particularly revered by Arita's ceramists.
• Rokuroza (ろくろ座), located near Kami-Arita Station, is a place where one can learn how to make pottery.

• Kakiemon
• Imari porcelain
• Nabeshima ware, from Okawachi, near Arita
• Yuki Hayama gallery and cafe in Takeo near Arita

• Kakiemon Sakaeda, The 1st Kakiemon
• Sakaida Kakiemon XIV, who is a Living National Treasure in Japan
• Imaizumi Imaemon XIII, who is a Living National Treasure in Japan
• Tsuji Hitachi
• Ryuzan Aoki
• Manji Inoue, who is a Living National Treasure in Japan

• Japanese pottery
• Yi Sam Pyong (Yi Sam-p'young; 1579–1655)
• Hakuji
• Karatsu ware – Produced in Saga. The most produced pottery in western Japan. Believed to have started in the 16th century. Greatly influenced by Korean potters.
• Okawachiyama (see Nabeshima on Wikipedia France)

•   Media related to Arita, Saga at Wikimedia Commons
• Arita official website (in Japanese)