Twice a year, the broad paths of Ueno Park transform into an open-air gallery of Japanese ceramics. The Saga Products & National Grand Pottery Market runs from May 21 to 26, 2026, spreading hundreds of stalls beneath the zelkova trees that shade one of Tokyo's most-visited green spaces.
The market's roots lie in Saga Prefecture, home to Arita — the birthplace of Japanese porcelain, where potters have been firing kilns since the early 1600s. But the event has long since outgrown its Saga origins. Today you'll find ceramics from Mino (Gifu), Shigaraki (Shiga), Mashiko (Tochigi), Hasami (Nagasaki), and dozens of other kiln towns, each with centuries of tradition and distinctive glazes.
What You'll Find
The range is enormous. At one end, there are museum-quality pieces by established artists — a single tea bowl or sake cup that might cost ¥30,000 or more. At the other, stacks of everyday rice bowls, plates, and mugs priced at ¥300–¥1,000, far below what you'd pay in a department store.
For visitors who care about provenance, this is a rare chance to buy directly from kiln operators. Many stall owners are potters themselves, or family members who can explain the clay, the glaze, and the firing technique behind each piece. Arita's delicate blue-and-white porcelain sits beside Shigaraki's earthy, ash-glazed stoneware and Mashiko's bold, rustic forms — the full spectrum of Japanese ceramic aesthetics in a single afternoon.
Beyond pottery, the Saga Products section offers regional specialties: Ureshino green tea, Saga beef jerky, dried nori, and local sweets. It's a miniature food market within the ceramics fair.
Shopping Tips
Bring a bag. Pottery is heavy. A sturdy tote or backpack makes browsing much easier. Some vendors offer bubble wrap and newspaper for packing, but not all.
Go early for selection, late for deals. Morning hours (opening around 10:00) offer the widest choice. The final day (May 26) often sees vendors dropping prices to avoid shipping unsold stock back to the kiln — but popular items will be gone.
Look for "B-grade" (B品) tables. Many stalls set out pieces with minor imperfections — a tiny glaze bubble, a slight color variation — at significant discounts. These are functionally perfect and often indistinguishable from the full-price versions.
Cash is king. While more stalls accept digital payment each year, cash remains the fastest and most widely accepted option.
Ueno Park & Beyond
The market's Ueno Park location means you're surrounded by other things to do. The Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Western Art, and Ueno Zoo are all a short walk away. The Ameyoko shopping arcade, just outside the park, is worth a detour for street food and bargain hunting.
If you're visiting on a weekend, combine the pottery market with the Oedo Beer Festival (May 20–31) for a full day of Tokyo culture: handmade ceramics by day, craft beer by night.
Dates: May 21–26, 2026 Hours: Approximately 10:00–17:00 daily Location: Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo Access: JR Ueno Station (Park Exit) or Tokyo Metro Ueno Station (Exit 7), both 3-minute walk Cost: Free admission
Image: Ueno Park, Tokyo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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