For details of the individual events please contact the relevant information offices directly. Karatsu Pottery Festival Location Alpino Hall at Furusato Institute in Karatsu City Date Sep Contact Karatsuyaki Association (Karatsu Ware Association) TEL 0955-73-4888 This is an event of Karatsu ware attracting a turnout of 10 thousand where you can buy lower-priced exhibits and brand-new works. Special exhibits of Karatsu ware works made under a different theme each year are another point worth of attraction. The World's Largest Climbing Kiln Festival in TAKEO Location (Takekoba Kirunnomori Park) Date mid-Sep-early-Oct. Contact Commerce and Industry Tourism Section, Takeo City Hall TEL 0954-23-9237 In this event ceramic ware pieces collected from all over the country are fired in the world's largest climbing kiln "Hiryugama." After finishg, those wares are put on exhibit. Shiraishiyaki Pottery Fair Location Sarayama area, Kitashigeyasu-Cho Date late-Sep. Contact Industry Section, Kitashigeyasu-Cho hall TEL 9042-89-2111 This is an event where all the seven potteries open their kilns at the same time, making the usually calm village full of life. The pottery stores sell a large number of stoneware and porcelain wares and are crowded with ceramics lovers both inside and outside Saga Prefecture. (Ureshino-Nohohon Yoshida Ware Fair) Location Hizenyoshidayaki Kamamoto Hall Date early-Oct.- early-Nov. Contact Hizenyoshidayaki Kamamoto Association TEL 0954-43-9411 In this event you can enjoy Hizen Yoshida ware through the Ureshino Exhibition of Old Stoneware and Porcelain and a stamp collecting rally in a tour of the kilns, and also in a gourmet restaurant using Yoshida ceramics as well. (Arita Ware Hands-on Festival) Location Arita Town Date early-Nov. Contact Arita Commerce-industry and Tourist Division TEL 0955-43-2101 This event brings you in touch with Arita ware through a Raku earthenware contest, the experience of decoration and wheel-forming, and a stamp collecting rally in a tour around the town. Free bus services are available in the town during the period. Mass for Bowls�EArita-ware Bowls Festival Location Aritayakiorosidannchi Date early-Nov. Contact Aritayakiorosidannchi Association�@TEL 0955-43-2288 This is a memorial service for late potters featuring ceramic tea bowls in daily use. During the period a number of events are held such as exchanges of chipped or broken but still precious tea bowls and auctions of famous potters' works. Nabeshima Autumn Pottery Festival Location Okawachiyama zone, Imari City Date early-Nov. Contact Imarinabeshima Ware Exhibition Hall�@TEL 0955-23-7293 This is a festival held to praise our ancestors for preserving the official kiln patronized by the Nabeshima domain, where pottery fairs, a memorial service for paint brushes, and a Raku earthenware contest are held. Kishitake Fire Festival Location Hata-Hachiman Shrine in Kitahata-mura Date mid-Nov. Contact Kishitakekei Karatuyaki Council�@TEL 0955-64-2132 This is an event for Ko-Garatsu ware descended from Kishidake, where a tour of the old kilns, and an exhibition and sale of Karatsu ware are held. Mintou Fire Festival Location Kuromuta area, Takeuchi-Cho Date late-Nov. Contact Commerce and Industry Tourism Section, Takeo City Hall TEL 0954-23-9237 This is a stoneware fair by the potteries of Kuromuta and Tatara, whose wares are characterized by a simple, rustic, and warm feeling. Shidayaki Ware Furusato Festival Location Sidayakinosato Museum Date Nov. Contact Sidayakinosato Museum�@TEL 09546-6-4640 Shida ware is a pottery whose vessels, bowls, and other items for daily use were made in large quantities for the general public. At the Shida Ware Museum you can enjoy flower arrangement and the exhibit of those ware pieces unearthed from the old kilns, and gain some experience of potting on a potter's wheel.