tourism・eat・shopping 2023.12.01

Tsuboya Yachimun Street is a place with full of traditional coloured pottery

Writer

左右田知子

Born in 1979 in Kanagawa Prefecture. Rough personality but serious. Moved to Okinawa on a whim and opened a cafe. Fascinated by the sea and people, he is still enjoying Okinawan life with a fresh feeling even after more than 10 years. She loves the ocean, traveling, tableware, and trying new foods.

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I work in café and love pottery. Let me introduce Tsuboya Yachimun for you.

A place where you can learn about the Okinawa cultures and shopping

Pottery is referred to Yachimun. According to its name, Yachimum Street is lined with workshops, shops and cafes. You will find walking the Yachimum is like a treasure hunt as there is the history of Okinawa and pottery hidden everywhere such as in flower beds when you are walking.

You can discover a lot of pottery while strolling

The original Okinawa atmosphere is preserved, and it is also a very enjoyable thing to just stroll around as the street is full of souvenir shops.

There is a resting area in between. When you look around or look at the walls, you will see lovely pottery scattered everywhere that make you want to take a lot of photos.

There are many shops selling various ceramic works, from traditional shisa statues designs to modern-designed accessory shops.

Whether the traditional patterns, modern designs or lovely accessories, your eyes are automatically drawn to shops even you do not enter the shops. Therefore, it is a street where people of all ages can immerse themselves in the excitement of souvenir hunting.

Enjoy coffee time with pottery from Tsuboya

There are many small café shops. And among them, some of the shops allow you to choose your own coffee cup. It is a great place for those who love pottery. Take a break with a cup made in Tsuboya and plan for your stroll route.

A place where you can feel the history

If you go down one street from the main road, there is a different scenery with distinctive red tiled houses surrounded by a stone wall. This remaining valuable building shows the traditional potter’s housing style and has been designated as a tangible cultural heritage of Japan. The building is welcome for a free field trip between 13:00 and 17:00 on holidays or from Friday to Sunday.

Furthermore, there are several places near the street where you can make wishes. One of them was called ‘Agarinuka’ which is located at the east under a large tree. Tusboya still preserves the custom and tradition of worshiping the communal well, which is the oldest well in the village.

There are pots hiding everywhere but they are easy to be overlooked. It is fun to look for them while walking around.

As soon as you enter the street, you will see Tsuboya Yachimun Museum. In the Museum, pottery and videos regarding the history of Tsuboya will be displayed. It is a good idea for you to know the evolution of Yachimun with our multi-language guidance devices.

When you go up the stairs next to the Museum, you will see the God of Tsuboya, Nishinume. When it is shined by the sun, it will be more mysterious. In the past, it was the place for the potters and their families to pray. Now, it is used for blessing the development of the place and the health of the people.

It is easy to walk from Kokusai Street

Tsuboya Yachimun is close to Kokusai Street and easy to access from Naha Airport. It is 300m long that is a great place for taking a rest or stroll.

In addition, it is a great idea to stop by the Naha Tourist Information Centre at the midpoint of Kokusai Street as the staff there who can speak English, Chinese and Korean are knowledgeable about historical information.

Recommendation by the Writer in Charge

For those who love pottery, exploring the shops in Tsuboya is undoubtedly the most enjoyable experience, but those who have time for a leisurely strolling time, I encourage you to hunt for the colourful pottery hidden around.

Occasionally, you may come across interesting pottery items which are hidden in unexpected places. If you may encounter staff and locals who have a range of knowledge about pottery, it is a good idea to talk with them.