Arita, Saga

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Town in Kyūshū, Japan

Arita Flag Seal
Location of Arita in Saga Prefecture
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Saga
District	Nishimatsuura
Area
• Total	65.85 km² (25.42 sq mi)
Population (August 1, 2020)
• Total	18,989
• Density	290/km² (750/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (JST)
Postal code	849-4153
Symbols
• Tree	Ginkgo biloba Quercus glauca
• Flower	Prunus serrulata
Phone number	0955-46-2111
Address	2202 Tachibe, Arita-chō, Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga-ken
Website	Official website

Arita (有田町, Arita-chō) is a town located in Nishimatsuura District, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is known for producing Arita porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan. It also holds the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, the Arita Ceramic Fair. This event is held from April 29 to May 5 (Golden Week) every year and has thousands of stores and stalls lining the six-kilometre long main street.

On March 1, 2006 the town of Nishiarita, from Nishimatsuura District, was merged into Arita.

Geography

Arita is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture, bordering Nagasaki Prefecture from its southwest to western sides. About 70% of the town is forest and mountains.

Neighbouring municipalities

Saga Prefecture
- Imari
- Takeo

History

Arita was one of the first sites in Japan to produce porcelain, Arita ware. The discovery of porcelain stone is attributed to a Korean potter named Kanagae Sambe(Yi Sam-pyeong) who discovered a source of kaolin underneath the Izumiyama mountain in Arita, and began firing the nation’s first porcelain.^[1]

^ 《arita-mangekyo.jp》, Retrieved October 1, 2023.

April 1, 1889 – The modern municipal system is established. In accordance with this system the village of Sarayama is renamed and reclassified as the town of Arita. Also at this time the villages of Shin, Magarikawa and Ōyama are formed.
November 13, 1896 – The village of Shin is renamed Arita.
January 1, 1947 – The village of Arita becomes a town and is renamed Higashi-Arita.
April 1, 1954 – Higashi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.
April 1, 1955 – Magarikawa and Ōyama merge to form the village of Nishi-Arita.
January 1, 1956 – Several areas of Nishi-Arita are incorporated into Arita.
April 1, 1965 – Nishi-Arita becomes a town.
March 1, 2006 – Nishi-Arita is incorporated into Arita.

Demography

According to Japanese census data,^[1] this is the population of Arita in recent years.

1995	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020
22,818	22,314	21,570	20,929	20,148	18,989

Twin towns – sister cities

Arita is twinned with:^[2]

Meissen, Germany

Friendship city

Jingdezhen, China

Education

Prefectural high schools

Arita Technical High School

Municipal junior high schools

Arita Junior High School
Nishi-Arita Junior High School

Municipal elementary schools

Arita Elementary School
Arita Chūbu Elementary School
Magarikawa Elementary School
Ōyama Elementary School

Other schools

Arita College of Ceramics

Transportation

Air

There is no airport in Arita. The closest airports are Saga Airport and Nagasaki Airport.

Rail

Main station: Arita Station
- JR Kyushu, Sasebo Line: (To Takeo) – Kami-Arita – Arita – (To Sasebo)
- Matsuura Railway, Nishi-Kyūshū Line: Arita – Midaibashi – Kurogō – Zōshuku – Nishi-Arita – Ōgi – Yamadani – Meotoishi – (To Imari)

Road

National highways

Sightseeing

The Kyushu Ceramic Museum houses large exhibits of old and modern style ceramics.
The Porcelain Park is a ceramic centered theme park, and is modeled on the Zwinger Palace in Germany. Ceramic ware from the heyday of Arita are on display in the gallery.
Arita Kan (有田館) has an exhibition of modern art porcelain, 400 different cups for coffee or tea and a theatre with computerized puppets made of porcelain.
"China On The Park" dates back to the end of the last century when the Fukugawa factory was chosen to provide the Imperial household with porcelain. This large and modern style facility contains a factory, galleries, shops and a restaurant.
Tozan Shrine has a porcelain archway and other items of porcelain which, at other shrines, are usually made of stone. This shrine was and still is particularly revered by Arita's ceramists.
Rokuroza (ろくろ座), located near Kami-Arita Station, is a place where one can learn how to make pottery.