Shigaraki from Kyoto: A Quiet Day Trip by Train to the Kiln Walk, the Ceramic Park and the Craft Center

This guide covers how to reach Shigaraki from Kusatsu, the kiln walk, the ceramic park, the Craft Center, lunch and the practical details for a day out.

The kiln walking path in Shigaraki is lined with climbing kilns and old hibachi. The sections below follow the route from Kusatsu, the kiln walk, the ceramic park, lunch and the practical details.

Getting to Shigaraki

The SKR Shigaraki Kogen Railway links Kibukawa Station with Shigaraki Station. Passengers boarding at an unstaffed station on this line take a numbered ticket.

The table below gives the rail time from Kusatsu, the last stretch on the line and the drives from the interchanges.

From	Line and operator	Time or fare
JR Kusatsu Station to Shigaraki Station	Train	About 1 hour
Kibukawa Station to Shigaraki Station	SKR Shigaraki Kogen Railway	About 24 minutes
Shigaraki IC to Shigaraki	Car	About 10 minutes
Shigaraki IC to the Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park	Car	About 8 minutes
Mibuno IC to Shigaraki	Car	About 30 minutes

The Kiln Walk and the Climbing Kilns

Ceramic tiles and signposts are set into the road along the kiln walking path. The Noborigama Cafe uses a genuine climbing kiln.

The inner walls of that kiln, fired again and again, have taken on a reddish-brown scarlet color.

Item	Detail
Beginning of Shigaraki ware	About 750 years ago
Age of the climbing kiln at the Noborigama Cafe	About 90 years
Shigaraki Tanuki Day	November 8 each year

The Ceramic Cultural Park and the Craft Center

The Craft Center is a short walk from Shigaraki Station, so it fits in before the park. Viewing at the Craft Center is free.

The Craft Center is closed on Thursdays. The Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park is closed on Mondays. Within the park, admission to the ceramic art hall and the industry exhibition hall ends earlier than the closing time of the park.

Lunch in Shigaraki

Each lunch spot in Shigaraki sets its own times, and the table below lists them.

Lunch spot	Times
Noborigama Cafe	10:00 to 16:00
Mutsumian, weekdays	11:00 to 15:30, last order 14:30
Mutsumian, weekends and national holidays	10:30 to 16:00, last order 15:00
Kama-to no Mori	10:00 to 17:00
Chatoran	11:00 to 16:00, last order 15:00

Mutsumian is closed on Fridays. Chatoran is closed on Mondays.

If you would like a ready-made plan for the wider region, see tours and activities around Shiga.

Hours and Fees, and Planning the Day

It helps to settle the order of the stops before the day begins, using the tables below. The rental bicycle service at Shigaraki Station offers a standard bicycle and an electric-assist bicycle, and the fees table gives each price.

Part of the day	Stop or leg	Duration or hours
Arrive	JR Kusatsu Station to Shigaraki Station, by train	About 1 hour
Arrive	Kibukawa Station to Shigaraki Station, last stretch on the SKR Shigaraki Kogen Railway	About 24 minutes
Visit	Shigaraki Station to the Craft Center, on foot	About 3 minutes
Visit	Craft Center, opening hours	9:00 to 17:00
Visit	Shigaraki Station to the Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park, by community bus	About 5 minutes
Visit	Shigaraki Station to the Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park, on foot	20 minutes
Visit	Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park, opening hours	9:30 to 17:00
Lunch	Mutsumian on weekdays, lunch hours	11:00 to 15:30, last order 14:30
Head back	Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park, last entry to the ceramic art hall and the industry exhibition hall	16:30
Head back	Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park, closing time	17:00

Item	Fee
Rental bicycle at Shigaraki Station, per day	500 yen
Electric-assist rental bicycle, per day	1,000 yen
Parking at the Shiga Ceramic Cultural Park	Free, about 250 regular cars
Viewing at the Craft Center	Free