Specialty pottery tool shops in Kyoto/Osaka (or Tokyo)

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Oct 26, 2016, 3:48 am

fimo

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Join Date: Dec 2001

Location: BRU, SIN, PEK

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Specialty pottery tool shops in Kyoto/Osaka (or Tokyo)

I started taking pottery classes this year, and will be going on holiday to Japan next month, mainly to Kyoto/Osaka. Does anyone know how easily I can find specialty tool shops in these 2 cities (or even Tokyo?). I don't have a chance to visit the famous pottery/ceramics towns like Bizen or Seto, but was hoping to have some luck in Osaka and Kyoto. Tokyu Hands does not what I'm looking for - if they do carry pottery tools it tends to be basic and of extremely limited range.

Happy to get recommendations on famous shops carrying specialty pottery wares as well.

Oct 26, 2016, 4:17 am

jib71

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Store near Icky Bukuro
http://www.nishiikebldg.com/site0002...ss/access.html

Online store
http://www.tougeishop.com/?gclid=CLb...Fesp0wodJtQN6A

Oct 26, 2016, 4:21 am

rosensfole

Join Date: Aug 2016

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If you have a day to spare you can do a train ride to Shigaraki from Kyoto where I believe you'll find all sorts of specialist tools to purchase and maybe even get to chat with local experts. There's a pottery centre there too. It's a place I wanted to visit last time I was in the area but my (then) wife convinced me to spend the spare day in Hikone instead

Oct 26, 2016, 9:42 am

fimo

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Location: BRU, SIN, PEK

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jib71

Store near Icky Bukuro
http://www.nishiikebldg.com/site0002...ss/access.html

Online store
http://www.tougeishop.com/?gclid=CLb...Fesp0wodJtQN6A

Thanks!! I won't be heading to Tokyo until January, love that this is very conveniently located.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosensfole

Thanks for the tip!! I'll read up more and see if I can squeeze this in my November itinerary. It's pretty tight for now so I'll have to see what I can trade out for this.

Oct 28, 2016, 1:09 pm

VidaNaPraia

Join Date: Apr 2012

Posts: 1,667

Quote:

Originally Posted by fimo

.... specialty tool shops .......pottery tools it tends to be basic and of extremely limited range.

I think you are going to find the same type of tools you can buy in the US.
When I studied pottery in Japan, potters made their own "specialty" tools. For example, a "tombo" to measure the diameter and depth of a vessel so that a batch of cups, for example, would all be the same. Or any shape of contour tool for the inside of vessels. There is always bamboo available. Maybe you can take some home to make your own tools too.