Japanese Pottery Apprenticeship
The Apprenticeship Series
Step into the life of a Japanese potter.
Five or twelve days in a working pottery studio in Mashiko or Bizen. Wheel, kiln, mountain clay. The Japanese potter's discipline of the small, beautiful object.
Limited cohorts each year. Request your dates above. We reply within 48 hours, no card required.
Step into the life of
A small Japanese pottery studio.
Mashiko has been a folk-pottery town for over 250 years. Bizen has been firing high-temperature unglazed stoneware for 1,000. Both places are home to small studios where one or two potters do everything from digging the clay to firing the kiln.
Your host is a working potter. You join their daily rhythm. The wheel in the morning, the kiln in the afternoon, tea on the wood floor between.
What you will do
Clay to fired piece.
Five days teaches you the wheel. Twelve days carries you through a full kiln cycle: throwing, drying, bisque firing, glazing, glaze firing.
- Wedge and prepare clay every morning
- Throw cups, bowls and small vessels on the wheel
- Trim, decorate and glaze leather-hard pieces
- Load and unload the kiln with your host
- Take home what survives the firing
"Every host on Apprenti Trips is someone we have met in person and would send our own family to. If we cannot stand behind them, the trip does not exist."
Who it is for
This is not for tourists. It is for the most curious of minds, the restless ones who come alive when the world opens from the inside.
No pottery experience required. Patience is everything. Best for travellers who want a craft that punishes hurry and rewards stillness.
What is included
What is included.
Included
- Daily time at the studio with your host
- Clay, glazes, tools and wheel access
- Your finished pieces, shipped home (subject to customs)
- Lunch at the studio each day
- One traditional dinner with the potter family
Not included
- Flights to Japan
- Accommodation in Mashiko or Bizen
- Breakfast and most dinners
At a glance
- Location
- Mashiko (Tochigi) or Bizen (Okayama), Japan
- Duration
- Five or twelve days
- Group size
- One to three apprentices
- Price
- From USD $1,490 (5 days) / $3,290 (12 days)
- Language
- Japanese; English interpreter on site
- Best season
- Year-round, avoid Obon (mid-August)
- Not included
- Flights, accommodation, most meals.
Questions
Common questions, plainly answered.
Do I need experience?
No. Our hosts work with adults of all levels. What matters is curiosity, presence, and willingness to slow down. Technical skill comes from being in the room.
When do I pay?
Never on inquiry. You submit your request, we confirm availability within 48 hours, and only then do we share a quote and payment link. Inquiring is free.
What if my dates change?
Date changes are flexible up to 60 days before your start date, no charge. Inside 60 days we work case by case with the host. We have never refused a reasonable change.
I am traveling solo, is that fine?
Yes. Most apprentices come alone. Group sizes are small (typically one to four), so you will not be lost in a crowd. Many trips are designed for solo travelers first.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We require apprentices to carry their own travel insurance covering trip cancellation and emergency medical care. We can recommend trusted providers on request.
Ready to step in?
Request dates with the form above. No card required to inquire. We reply within 48 hours, with a real answer.