Japanese art was all around me while traveling through Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan. One of the reasons I started Passport by Design was because I saw such a connection between travel and art. Traveling through Japan, I saw art everywhere. In this post I will share a few of the ways I experienced Japanese art in Japan.

Japanese Pottery

Japanese pottery is very easy to find in Japan. You can find it in many local shops. Even the dollar store Daiso, has pottery made in Japan. Some of the pottery I saw was handmade. Others were mass produced.

All the pottery was made locally in Japan. There are even places where you can make your own pottery. This makes it a great item to bring home as a souvenir or to give as a gift.

One place I would have loved to visit while I was in Japan, is Kawai Kanjiro’s House. It is a museum dedicated to a famous potter and ceramist named Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966). His former home was turned into a museum and is still managed by the Kawai family. Explore his home and workshop to step back in time and experience the life of a talented Japanese ceramic artist.

The Kyoto Ceramic Art Association Official Shop and Gallery

The Kyoto Ceramic Art Association Gallery is located in the Gojo neighborhood. The Kyoto Cermaic Art Association was started in 1953 by a group of ceramic artists in Kyoto who wanted to promote ceramic culture. The association promotes all things Kyoto Ware, known locally as Kyo-yaki.

This gallery is the perfect place, not only to view great examples of Japanese art. But also, it is a place where you can experience the art being created. The day I was there, I watched an artist use paint to decorate a ceramic bowl. These demonstrations take place daily. Address: 583－1, Yugyomae-cho, Higashioji Gojo Agaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0864

The gallery allows you to support local artists. Artists also leave postcards and other ways for you to contact them and see more of their work. I picked up a postcard from the artist Taichi Kawai. Visit his Instagram (@taichi_potter_usurai) to see his work.

I purchased a beautiful pair of ceramic earrings in the shape of small birds (below). Fuyumi Fujiwara is the artist who created them. She has an Instagram as well (@fuyougama.ceramiya). Check out her pottery and jewelry.

Definitely visit this gallery if you are looking to purchase high quality pottery made locally in Japan. They have something for every taste and budget. The staff were extremely friendly.

Japanese Graphic Art

The Japanese store Uniqlo is an unlikely place to experience Japanese art. I’ve purchased items from the store in the states, and I’ve always liked their reasonably priced basics.

The Uniqlo stores in Japan offer a unique insight into Japanese art.  They display items such as paper fans and traditional textiles.

When I was at the Uniqlo Okachimachi branch in Tokyo, I learned about Uniqlo UT. It’s a sub-brand of Uniqlo that collaborates with brands, designers and artists to produce limited edition collections promoting Japanese culture. Address: Japan, 〒110-0005 Tokyo, Taito City, Ueno, 3 Chome−27−12 御徒町吉池本店ビル

Collaborations include iconic American brands such as Disney, as well as famous Japanese brands like Sanrio (Hello Kitty).

Another feature the Uniqlo stores in Japan offer, is the ability to have designs embroidered onto clothing and accessories. Check out the video by FashionbyAlly, where she gets her items custom embroidered.

Architecture in Kyoto

The buildings I saw in the Gion neighborhood of Kyoto were so breathtaking. These buildings are primarily made of wood and have tiled roofs. The wood had been beautifully preserved and showed no signs of wear, despite its age.

Among these buildings in Gion is the Yasaka Pagoda. It is the last remaining building of the Hokan-ji Temple complex. Look at the close-up photos of the fence surrounding the pagoda (bottom, right), to see the aged wood in detail. Address: Japan, 〒605-0862 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, 清水八坂上町388

Japanese Kimonos

Kimonos are such a unique art form, and many people don’t even consider them to be Japanese art. In my Kimono experience post, I tried on a Kimono during a presentation, right in my home state of Connecticut. It prepared me for all the Kimonos I would see in Kyoto.

The fabrics and styles are so varied. Each one is more unique than the last. Vintage Kimono An Gion is a shop that sells beautiful vintage Kimonos. I could have spent hours in that shop exploring the rooms full of Kimonos, antique Japanese paintings and pottery. Learn more about this shop in my Kyoto Hidden Gems post.

Handmade Fabric Items

One of the most unique spots where I experienced Japanese art, was a shop in the middle of nowhere, selling handmade fabric items. I talk all about this shop in my Kyoto Hidden Gems post.

Art is all around us and looking for us to find it. Japanese art is no different. Wherever you are in the world right now, try to see what types of art you can find.