Private multi-day tour · Multi-day from Tokyo
From Tokyo: 3-Day Shigaraki & Miho Customizable Tour
Three days in Shiga. Make pottery in Shigaraki, one of Japan's six old kiln towns, and visit the Miho Museum by I.M. Pei in the mountains.
Private · your group only◆3 days◆Up to 6 guests◆Pickup included
Road-day snapshot
This is your private tour, so the route is flexible: tell us if you want to skip a stop, stay longer somewhere or add a place nearby.
The experience
A private journey, thoughtfully paced
Shigaraki is one of Japan's six ancient kiln towns, making pottery for about 800 years. It is also known for its smiling tanuki statues, which stand outside shops all over town. In the hills nearby is the Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei, the architect of the Louvre pyramid.
On Day 1 we drive from Tokyo to Shigaraki, about 5 hours. In the afternoon we walk the old kiln area and visit the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, with its galleries and outdoor works. You stay in Shigaraki or Koka.
On Day 2 you join a pottery class at a Shigaraki workshop. You shape your own cup or bowl with a local potter. The class is included. In the afternoon we drive to the Miho Museum, about 20 minutes. You walk through a tunnel and over a bridge to a museum hidden in the forest, with art from Japan and the ancient world. Entry is included. On the way back we stop at a local sake brewery in Koka. Non-drinkers and the driver can buy or try non-alcoholic choices.
On Day 3 we drive back to Tokyo, about 5 hours.
The Miho Museum opens only in spring and autumn, so this tour runs about March to June and September to December.
This is a private tour. Only your group. One van, 1 to 6 people, never shared. Your driver-guide speaks English, and also Hindi and Urdu.
If the Miho Museum is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead spend more time in Shigaraki with a second workshop or a visit to an old climbing kiln.
DAY 1 Drive Tokyo to Shigaraki, old kiln area, Ceramic Cultural Park, stay in Shigaraki or Koka
DAY 2 Pottery class, Miho Museum, sake brewery stop in Koka, stay in Shigaraki or Koka
DAY 3 Drive back to your Tokyo hotel
Choose with confidence
Is this the right journey for your group?
Excellent fit if
- Make your own cup or bowl in Shigaraki
- Visit I.M. Pei's Miho Museum in the forest
- Walk the tunnel and bridge to the museum
- Spot smiling tanuki statues all over Shigaraki
- Visit a sake brewery with non-alcoholic choices
Said plainly
Private tour for 1 to 6 people in one van. Your driver-guide speaks English, Hindi and Urdu Season: about March to June and September to December. The Miho Museum is closed on Mondays and between exhibitions Your pottery is fired after the tour and takes several weeks Day 1 and Day 3 have about 5 hours of driving If the Miho Museum is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead spend more time in Shigaraki with a second workshop or a visit to an old climbing kiln
Your day
Suggested itinerary
Times are approximate. Your driver-guide adjusts the order for traffic, weather, opening hours and the best light.
Make your own cup or bowl in Shigaraki
Visit I.M. Pei's Miho Museum in the forest
Walk the tunnel and bridge to the museum
Spot smiling tanuki statues all over Shigaraki
Visit a sake brewery with non-alcoholic choices
What is covered
What you see is what you pay
Ours — included
- Private van and English-speaking driver-guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
- All parking, fuel and road tolls
- Shigaraki pottery class
- Miho Museum entry
- Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park museum entry
Yours — paid on the day
- Meals and drinks unless listed as included
- Gratuities, which are never expected in Japan
- Hotel accommodation (you book your own hotel in Shigaraki or Koka)
- Optional shipping of your fired pottery
- Optional sake and pottery purchases
Good to know
Before you book
Languages
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Pickup
Pickup and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel or accommodation (23 wards).
Group and vehicle
Private for up to 6 guests. Enter adults, children, infants and child seats separately at booking.
Dietary and mobility needs
Halal, vegetarian, allergy, walking or other practical requests go in your booking notes and are planned before the day.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can we change the route on the day?
Yes. It is a private tour in our own van, so your driver-guide can skip, extend or add stops where time allows.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for your whole private group of up to 6 people, including the van, fuel, tolls, parking and your driver-guide.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for an automatic full refund to the original payment method. Within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can help. If a typhoon or official weather warning stops the trip, we offer a new date or a full refund. For a GetYourGuide booking, the terms shown on that booking apply.
Somewhere else in mind?
Any destination in Japan
If this route is not exactly what you need, tell us the destination, dates and group. We confirm the plan and the exact price before any payment is taken.
Plan a custom journeyYour private Japan day
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From¥268,000
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