Bizen Yakimatsuri 2026: 100,000 Buyers in a Pottery Town
Bizen ware is fired without glaze, so every piece comes out of the kiln differently – and for one weekend the whole town puts it on the table at a discount.
Overview
Bizen is one of the six ancient kiln areas of Japan, and pots have been fired in the Imbe district for something close to a thousand years. The clay is iron-rich and the pieces are unglazed, taking their colour and markings from the fire itself.
The Bizen Yakimatsuri, running since 1983, is the year’s biggest event for the pottery. Members of the Bizen potters’ association sell from their own shops and from a special venue, and around 100,000 people come over the two days. The 2026 edition is the 42nd.
When and where
The festival is held every year on the third Sunday of October and the Saturday before it, which in 2026 means Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October.
Nearest station: JR Imbe, on the Ako line – the venue is the area around the station.
Getting there
JR Imbe is about 40 minutes from Okayama on the Ako line. Trains are the sensible choice: the town is small, the streets fill up, and the organisers ask visitors to avoid driving. If you do drive, shuttle buses run from the outer car parks and some closer parking is reservable in advance for a fee.
What to expect
The appeal is buying directly from the people who fired the pieces.
- Association members’ work sold at 20 per cent off the marked price
- Shops throughout the Imbe pottery district open together, plus a main sales venue
- Food stalls and kitchen cars through the streets
- The Bizen Pottery Traditional and Contemporary Art Museum by the station
- Kiln workshops in the district where you can see the climbing kilns
Tickets and admission
Free to enter; you pay for what you buy. Bring cash, and bring a bag you can carry – Bizen pieces are heavy for their size. Larger purchases can usually be shipped.
Tips for visitors
Go early on the Saturday for the widest selection; serious collectors queue before opening. Prices span a huge range, from a few hundred yen for a small cup to five figures for a named potter’s work, so it is a good festival even on a small budget. Bizen makes an easy day trip from Okayama, and the same weekend the Achi Shrine festival runs in Kurashiki on the other side of the city.
Access and map
| Dates | 17-18 October 2026 (42nd edition) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Imbe district, Bizen, Okayama |
| Access | JR Imbe station, on foot |
| Admission | Free |
| Official site | Okayama Kanko WEB |
Source: Okayama Kanko WEB (Okayama Prefecture official tourism)
Image: Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
