The Fujita Seitojo Pottery Museum (Toyuukan) in Tochigi is a really interesting spot if you’re curious about pottery. What’s cool is that the pottery made here uses local gravel from the area, so it’s something you won’t find anywhere else in Japan. You can actually see the whole process—from raw gravel to the finished pieces—which makes you appreciate how much work goes into it.

You can also try making your own pottery, and honestly, it was more fun and easier than I expected. The only thing is, it takes about two months for your piece to be finished. Since they don’t offer international shipping (it’s too delicate and might break), you’d have to come back to Japan to pick it up—which isn’t such a bad excuse for another trip!

If making pottery isn’t your thing, they have a shop where you can buy beautiful, high-quality pieces made by local artisans.

Also, if you’re staying at Iizukatei Hotel, you can ask about a package with transportation assistance to the museum, which makes getting there super easy. It’s a nice, relaxed way to experience a unique part of Tochigi’s culture.