Otaniyaki Kiln Festival 2026: Naruto’s Giant Pottery Sale
Otani ware is thrown so large that potters lie on their backs beside the wheel to shape the biggest jars – and for one weekend a year the kilns sell it cheap.
Overview
Otani ware (Otaniyaki) has been made in the Otani district of Naruto for more than 240 years, since a craftsman passing through the village fired local red clay in the 1780s. It was designated a national traditional craft in 2003, and is best known for enormous storage jars and indigo-dyeing vats.
The kiln festival is when the six remaining kilns in the area open up together. Pieces are sold at roughly 15 to 20 per cent below normal prices, alongside an exhibition of the potters’ finest work.
When and where
The festival is held annually on the second Saturday and Sunday of November, which in 2026 falls on 14 and 15 November. The organisers confirm the exact dates each autumn, so check before travelling if you are building a trip around it.
Nearest station: JR Awa-Otani, about eight minutes on foot from the kiln district.
Getting there
JR Awa-Otani is on the Kotoku line, roughly 15 minutes from Naruto and under an hour from Tokushima Station. By car it is about 11 minutes from the Naruto interchange on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto expressway, which makes this an easy stop for anyone crossing from Kobe or Awaji Island.
The kilns are spread along a walkable route through the district, so allow a couple of hours to see them all on foot.
What to expect
This is a buying-and-browsing festival rather than a procession, and it rewards a slow pace.
- Six kilns in the Otani ware district open for a discounted sale of bowls, plates, pots and small pieces
- A juried exhibition of the potters’ best current work
- Hands-on pottery sessions available at some kilns
- Giant indigo vats and storage jars, the form the region is famous for
- Nearby Otsuka Museum of Art and the Naruto whirlpools for the rest of the day
Tickets and admission
Free to enter; you pay only for what you buy. Bring cash – some kilns are small family operations and card acceptance varies. Large pieces can usually be shipped, including internationally, but ask before you commit.
Tips for visitors
Come early on the Saturday for the widest choice, as the best discounted pieces go quickly. Pack a little bubble wrap or a soft layer if you plan to carry pottery home in hand luggage. The Naruto whirlpools are strongest around the spring and autumn tides, so check the tide table and you may be able to pair the festival with the Uzunomichi walkway on the same day.
Access and map
| Dates | 14-15 November 2026 (second weekend of November; confirm with organiser) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Otani ware kiln district, Naruto, Tokushima |
| Access | JR Awa-Otani station, 8 minutes on foot |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Awanavi, Tokushima Prefecture tourism |
Source: Awanavi (Tokushima Prefecture Tourism Association)
Image: Photo: Hellbuny / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
