"I'd love a hot cup of tea, but the teacup is too hot for the kids to hold…"
Have you ever felt this small frustration at your everyday dining table?
The solution — and something that doubles as a food education tool — is "Oobori Soma Ware (大堀相馬焼)," a style of pottery made in Fukushima Prefecture.
With over 300 years of history, Oobori Soma Ware has a "magical structure" found in no other pottery.
It's called "double firing (futae-yaki)," a construction where the vessel has an inner and outer layer.
Even when boiling water is poured in, the outer surface stays cool, so even small children can safely hold it with both hands.
At workshops in Fukushima Prefecture, you can enjoy pottery experiences where you actually touch clay and create your own original vessel.
The time spent making a one-of-a-kind teacup while satisfying the scientific curiosity of "Why doesn't it get hot?" makes for the ultimate independent research project.
In this guide, we thoroughly cover everything from the fascinating appeal of Oobori Soma Ware to recommended experience spots for families with children, and nearby sightseeing model courses!
Tips for Enjoying a Family Pottery Experience (30 seconds)
- Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty: Many workshops lend aprons, but clay can get on your cuffs and pants, so comfortable, washable clothes are a must.
- Keep nails trimmed short: When kneading clay, long nails can dig in and hurt, or leave marks on the surface of the vessel.
- It arrives about 1 month later: The finished piece goes through drying, bisque firing, glazing, and final firing, so it takes about one month to arrive at your door.
- Perfect for independent research projects: Learning about the "double-wall structure" and Fukushima Prefecture's history of recovery makes it an ideal topic for elementary school research projects.
- Enjoy the beautiful sound: The clear, ringing tone that sounds as the fired piece cools is an emotional experience unique to Oobori Soma Ware.
1. [Insider Knowledge] A Vessel That Doesn't Get Hot? The "3 Magical Features" of Oobori Soma Ware
Beyond simply shaping clay, Oobori Soma Ware contains wonderful "wisdom and beauty of our ancestors" that you'll want to share with your children.
Be sure to remember these 3 features before your experience!
① The "Double Firing (Futae-yaki)" That Doesn't Conduct Heat
The most distinctive feature is that the vessel has a double-wall structure, with an inner and outer layer.
Just like a modern thermos flask, heat from a hot liquid is slow to transfer to the outer surface, so you can hold it firmly in your hands.
The contents also stay warm longer, making it a highly practical and gentle design for savoring tea time at a leisurely pace.
② The "Blue Crackle (Ao-hibi)" That Resonates with Beautiful Sound
The beautiful glass-like crackle pattern on the surface of the vessel is called "ao-hibi" (blue crackle).
It forms due to the difference in shrinkage rates between the clay and the glaze, and as the fired vessel cools, a delicate "ping" sound rings out.
This crazing sound (kannyuu-on) is so beautiful and moving that it was selected among the "30 Sounds of Utsukushima."
③ The Auspicious "Running Horse (Hashiri-koma)"
The vessels feature a dynamic painting of a horse called the "running horse (hashiri-koma)."
Modeled after the "divine horse (goshinme)" of the former Soma Domain, this image has long been cherished by locals as a lucky charm meaning "things will go smoothly (uma ga yuku — the horse moves forward)."
2. Knead Clay or Paint a Design? How to Choose Your Pottery Experience
Pottery experiences broadly fall into two types: "forming a shape (hand-building or wheel throwing)" and "painting a design (eitsuke)." Choose based on your child's age and personality.
| Experience Menu | Features and Recommended Child Type |
|---|---|
| Hand-building (Clay Kneading) Experience |
[For Kids Who Love Playing with Clay] Shape clay on a table to create a vessel of your own free design. Since you can work at your own pace more easily than with a wheel, even young children can join in without worry. It's the ultimate activity for developing fine motor skills with the fingertips. |
| Eitsuke (Painting) Experience |
[For Kids Who Love Drawing] Paint your favorite pictures or letters onto a pure white pre-bisque-fired vessel using special paints. Try drawing the auspicious "horse," add a message for family members — the result becomes a lifelong keepsake. |
3. [Fukushima] 2 Recommended Oobori Soma Ware Pottery Experience Spots for Families
* The pins on the map mark the spots featured in this article. Please check the official websites for the latest information on prices and opening days.
① Toukichirougama (Iwaki City) | Authentic Pottery Making with Colorful Clay
"Toukichirougama" is a workshop that relocated to Iwaki City after the Great East Japan Earthquake, keeping the flame of tradition alive.
Here they hold "pottery experience classes" where participants use colorful clay to make small plates and bowls. The tasks are very straightforward, making it easy for everyone from small children to grandparents to enjoy together as a family.
Skilled artisans teach you kindly, so even a child touching clay for the first time can safely create a one-of-a-kind vessel.
👨👩👧👦 Family & Kids Checklist
- Held irregularly: Experience classes are held on an irregular basis, but special sessions may be arranged if enough participants gather. Contact them in advance by LINE or phone.
Basic Information (Approximate)
- Experience: Pottery experience class with colorful clay
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Approximate price: From ¥3,300 per person
- Access: Yotsukura-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima (check official site for current workshop availability)
② Michinoeki Namie "Namieno Waza / Nariwai-kan" | Learning at the Symbol of Recovery
"Michinoeki Namie" is located in Namie-machi, the hometown of Oobori Soma Ware. The "Namieno Waza / Nariwai-kan" inside is a base where you can experience the full appeal of Oobori Soma Ware.
The attached workshop offers "hand-building (te-hineri)" to knead clay into shape, and "eitsuke" painting on bisque-fired vessels (reservation required at least 3 days in advance).
The facility displays and sells works from all kilns, and the sight of beautiful blue-crackle vessels lined up is breathtaking.
👨👩👧👦 Family & Sightseeing Checklist
- Virtual potter's wheel: The facility also features digital content where you can experience wheel-throwing on screen — guaranteed to excite the kids.
- Great food options: Inside the roadside station, you'll find delicious local dishes like the famous "Namie Yakisoba" and shirasu-don (whitebait rice bowl).
Basic Information (Approximate)
- Experience: Hand-building, eitsuke painting (teacups, coffee cups)
- Approximate price: Hand-building ¥2,200, Painting ¥1,650+ (tax included, additional fees may apply)
- Reservation: Required at least 3 days in advance
🍵 The Magic of Staying Cool! Order Beautiful "Oobori Soma Ware" Online
For those who can't make it all the way to Fukushima — "double-fired" Oobori Soma Ware, where the outside stays cool even when filled with hot tea, is available to order online! Teacups and mugs adorned with the beautiful blue crackle pattern and the auspicious running horse motif make wonderful gifts for Respect for the Aged Day, or a perfect daily comfort during tea time.
4. [Model Course] Aquarium and Pottery! Fukushima Iwaki Day-Trip Schedule
Fukushima Prefecture's coastal area (Hamadori) is packed with beautiful sea, rich food, and great learning spots. Here's our golden family-friendly route based in Iwaki City!
- 10:00 | Arrive at "Aquamarine Fukushima" (Iwaki City), Tohoku's largest hands-on aquarium. Marvel at the massive ocean current tank!
- 12:30 | Head to the market at "Iwaki Lalamew" nearby for a superb "seafood rice bowl" lunch!
- 14:00 | Drive to "Toukichirougama" and join a pottery experience class!
(Knead colorful clay to create your own unique small plate or bowl) - 15:30 | Rest at a hot spring facility or a seaside café. Refresh to the sound of Pacific Ocean waves
- 16:30 | Stop at a local farm stand to pick up sweet Fukushima-grown fruit (peaches, pears, etc.) as souvenirs, then head home
5. Places to Play After the Experience! 3 Powerhouse Sightseeing & Gourmet Spots Nearby
① Aquamarine Fukushima (Iwaki City) | Catch and Eat! An Aquarium That Teaches the Value of Life
This is Tohoku's largest hands-on aquarium where you don't just watch fish — you learn about the environment and the importance of life.
At the fishing pond inside, you can actually catch horse mackerel yourself and eat it right there as karaage (fried fish)! The ultimate food-education experience of "giving thanks for the life of a fish that was swimming just moments ago" — combine it with the pottery experience for a day that truly grows a child's heart.
② Michinoeki Namie & Namie Yakisoba (Namie-machi) | The King of Local B-Grade Gourmet
When visiting Michinoeki Namie for the Oobori Soma Ware experience, you absolutely must try "Namie Yakisoba" — the king of local B-grade gourmet.
Extra-thick chewy noodles — about three times the usual size — tossed with rich sauce, pork, and bean sprouts in a bold, satisfying dish! Packed with flavor and volume, it's a taste that both kids and adults will devour without stopping.
③ Iwaki Lalamew (Iwaki City) | A Paradise for Fresh Seafood Souvenirs
A massive tourism market for marine products located right next to Aquamarine Fukushima.
Freshly landed seafood from Onahama Port just in front is lined up in abundance, letting you soak up the lively market atmosphere. Enjoy food stalls selling seafood rice bowls and grilled squid, or pick up fresh sashimi for dinner — it's a spot where you can fully savor the rich "bounty of the sea" from Fukushima's coastal region.
6. From the Magic Vessel to a Hot Spring Resort! Recommended Accommodation in Fukushima's Coastal Area
After touching clay at workshops in Namie-machi and Iwaki City and learning the depth of Soma Ware, let loose at the hot spring resorts Fukushima Prefecture's coastal (Hamadori) area has to offer!
We've picked top family-favorite accommodations: a "massive theme-park hotel" that will send kids' excitement through the roof, and a "scenic seaside resort" conveniently located for aquarium visits.
🌴 Iwaki Yumoto Onsen Area (Play All Day in a Giant Pool! A Year-Round Tropical Hot Spring Resort)
Spa Resort Hawaiians (Hotel Hawaiians / Monolith Tower)
When it comes to family stays in Iwaki City, this is absolutely unmissable! Spread across grounds six times the size of the Tokyo Dome, it's an "onsen theme park" packed with a massive all-weather dome pool, slides, and hot springs open all year round.
Hotel guests enjoy unlimited pool access! After quietly focusing on pottery, this is the place to help kids burn off every last bit of energy. At night, the breathtaking Polynesian show performed by authentic hula dancers makes your family trip even more vibrant and memorable.
🌊 Onahama Area (Great Access to the Aquarium! A Scenic Seaside Resort Overlooking the Pacific Ocean)
Onahama Ocean Hotel & Golf Club
A hugely popular seaside resort hotel, perfectly located as a base for visiting "Aquamarine Fukushima" (Tohoku's largest interactive aquarium) and "Iwaki Lalamew" (fresh seafood market).
Every room has an ocean view overlooking the Pacific! Soak in the open-air bath (natural hot spring) with a stunning sea breeze, and enjoy nature's grandeur together as a family. Perfect for families who prefer to relax and enjoy the ocean scenery and local cuisine rather than a pool.
7. [After You Return] A Ritual for Long-Lasting Use. Seasoning Your Vessel with "Medome"
About one month after your pottery experience. When the long-awaited handmade vessel arrives at your door, don't use it right away — perform this small ritual to keep it in great condition for years to come.
How to Season Your Pottery with "Medome" (Pore Sealing)
Fired pottery (especially earthenware) has countless tiny invisible pores.
If you use it without treating it first, tea tannins and cooking liquids can seep in and cause discoloration. That's why you coat the pores using rice washing water in a process called "medome."
- ① Prepare rice washing water (Pour enough rice washing water into a pot to fully submerge the vessel. If you don't have rice washing water, you can substitute by dissolving 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or flour in water.)
- ② Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes (Place the vessel in the pot and apply heat. Don't let it boil too hard or the vessel may bounce around and crack — keep it at a gentle bubble for about 20 minutes.)
- ③ Let cool in the pot, then rinse (Turn off the heat and leave it until the water is completely cool. Remove the vessel, rinse with water, and let it air dry thoroughly — you're done!)
🧽 Don't Scratch That Precious Pottery! Gentle Care Tools
Whether it's a vessel you made yourself or a piece of Oobori Soma Ware fired by an artisan — the time spent hand-washing it with gentle care, rather than tossing it in the dishwasher, nurtures a respect for things. Use natural sponges that won't scratch, and beautiful Japanese-pattern cloths, to lovingly "raise" your favorite tools so they last a long time.
Summary: The Magic Vessel You Made with Your Own Hands Makes Tea Time More Enjoyable
"It really doesn't get hot! I can hold it firmly with both hands!"
A vessel that's yours alone — kneaded from clay in a Fukushima workshop and delivered home after about a month.
When hot tea is poured in but the outside stays cool, a child's eyes light up with wonder at the "double firing" magic.
And each time the vessel is tilted, you might faintly hear the sound of the "blue crackle."
In an era where everything can be obtained at the flip of a switch, the warmth of a tool born from clay and shaped by the power of fire teaches children the deep "value of things."
This coming weekend, why not head to Fukushima Prefecture to enjoy delicious seafood and the aquarium — and create a "magic vessel" with 300 years of history?