Meow! I have come to Seto City, the only place this color is found.
Attractive places in Japan are surely attractive because they have some unique culture which is deeply rooted in that area. If you are planning a trip to Japan, I recommend coming to spend a day in Seto City to discover the charm of a thousand years' history of ceramics.
The entire city is like a pottery art museum, and is the birthplace of the ceramic cat, and the lucky cat is a symbol and treasure that shops display so they will prosper. Tourists also come to Japan to buy “maneki neko” or “lucky cat”. I felt that the “lucky cat” was indeed a mascot that symbolizes Japan.
Seto is a great place to take a slow walk. As we leave the station, I will take you on a tour as together we look for surprising points of joy.
1 Station Area: A musical clock: "The sound of ceramic bells"
It is heavy and has a sound like a contrabass that echoes in your heart. All the bells ring on time, making a sound of ceramic bells only found in Seto.
2 Ginza Commuter Street and surrounding area
Just 3 minutes from the station, there is a lively street called Ginza Street. Cermaic artists' art gallery and fried miso-flavored pork chop shops in the the shopping district are full of playful and humorous pottery works.
3 Fukagawa Shrine
Unlike common shrines in Japan, the Fukagawa Shrine, which is nearly 1300 years old, the green tile roofs of Seto City shine under the sun with a gentle luster, blending into the clear atmosphere of the shrine.
4 Lucky Cat Museum
This is Japan's largest lucky cat museum. There are about 5000 lucky cats gathered together from all over the country. The cats vary for the culture of each local area, but each has its own culture and beauty, so one becomes unconciously caught up in the charm of the lucky cat. There are lucky cat shrines throughout the country, and one can feel the culture of love that the Japanese have for the Lucky Cat.
In order to participate in the "Lucky Cat Painting" program, I closely watched several "lucky cat" videos online beforehand. My own "lucky cat" is complete. Even people who do not usually draw can do it.
Lucky Cat Experience Course: Entry --> Put on lucky cat paper hat --> Visit the museum --> Lucky cat painting --> Tea time --> Get a souvenir --> Can also buy souvenirs
Official site: http://www.luckycat.ne.jp/eng/index.html
Next to the museum, there are many cute "lucky cat" gift shops lined up, all with many cute lucky cats. Please enjoy your lucky cat after taking it home.
5 Seto Hakata Machi Shopping Area
The atmosphere and warmth of the Showa period spreads throughout this shopping area. A cute cat-patterned bag made by an old lady, Rainbow Coffee, a cafe where you can absorb classical music, and a quaint hotel that feels as if time has stopped. I'm sure people do not wish to return back to reality.
6 Trail
The green, hilly land is in harmony with the private houses and pottery workshops. The pottery walls and pottery trails are like the paintings of Seto City. When entering a pottery / gallery, you can touch the work and lifestyle of former pottery workers. As I stand on the sidewalk overlooking Seto City, I feel as if I have blended into the city.
7 Seto Art Museum
This is a museum that records the history of Seto pottery. On the 2nd floor, you can find displays of where the old Owari Seto Station was restored. The old trains were used to carry Seto-made pottery. Also, displays showing the pottery manufacturing process, the use of lime kilns, chinmneys and other propers. On the 3rd floor, you can find displays recording the beginning of the ceramics industry thousands of years ago, and ceramic dolls that were exported to Europe during the Meiji Era. Over 30,000 years of history in Seto is recorded here.
There are lucky cats throughout Seto city, and many of them! 29 of them were designed by Pkachu creator, Nishida Atsuko. If you can find all 29, perhaps you will feel a sense of accomplishment.
So have you felt fascinated by this city? Seto is registered as a cultural heritage spot in Japan, but if you experience this wonderful title first hand, you are sure to have unique and wonderful experiences!
DeepJapan Editor
Japan
