Okawachiyama — The Secret Porcelain Village

Okawachiyama is a narrow valley 10km from Imari City that was deliberately sealed from the outside world in the 17th century — the feudal lord of Nabeshima established his most prized kilns here and forbade potters from leaving (and outsiders from entering) to protect the production secrets of Nabeshima-yaki, the most technically refined Japanese porcelain tradition. Today the valley has 30 kilns, each open as a showroom, surrounded by a gorge and connected by a single stone-paved lane with no through road.