Pottery studio "Kidoairaku" opened in Kyoto's Nishiki Market in 2007. Owner Yamamoto Yosuke's father used to run a soba restaurant in this historic townhouse, and the couple continue to make Kyoto ware together. Their playful creations have many fans, and there is a constant stream of repeat customers from both Japan and overseas. The shop also sells sake from Tanzan Sake Brewery, a brewery located upstream from Kyoto's Arashiyama River, and many customers purchase the sake and sake ware as a set.

The store name represents "connection and warmth"

The shop curtain that says "Ukidogosha" stands out in the Nishiki Market, bustling with tourists. The Yamamotos say they thought long and hard about deciding on the name for their shop. "First of all, we wanted it to be clear that we are a pottery shop. We also chose this name in the hope that we could create connections with people through the warmth that only earthenware can provide."

Pottery made close to the customer

Yosuke is in charge of making the pottery, while Chie is in charge of serving customers and painting. The store is lined with a wide variety of tableware, from small plates to large bowls. The tableware will brighten up your everyday dining table, and is also perfect as a souvenir from Nishiki Market, Kyoto's kitchen.

There is a space for making pottery inside the store, and the entire process from making the pottery to firing it is done inside the store, which is a style unique to Kidogosha. If you're lucky, you might see Yosuke turning the potter's wheel. "Many customers are surprised that we're firing pottery in the middle of town," says Chie with a laugh.

"One of our strengths is being able to hear directly from our customers. Of course, we're happy to hear their thoughts on our products, but we also appreciate hearing their requests directly, such as 'I want you to bake this' or 'I want you to draw this picture'. We always incorporate the requests and hints we receive from our customers," says Yosuke.

We listen to our customers' opinions and make use of them. The reason why "Kidogosha" is loved is because of its flexible and humble approach to manufacturing.

Enjoy Tanzan Sake Brewery's sake in your favorite sake cup

Inside Kidogosha, there is a wide selection of sake from Tanzan Sake Brewery, a long-established sake brewery located upstream of Kyoto's Arashiyama area. It is said to attract sake fans from not only Japan but also overseas.

It was about three years after the store opened that they started selling sake from Tanzan Sake Brewery. It all started when Yosuke happened to have a conversation with the proprietress of Tanzan Sake Brewery. Yosuke, who didn't like alcohol to begin with, was able to enjoy the sake, which is made with organic rice grown on the brewery's premises.

"When it comes to pottery, people tend to look at it carefully and slowly before buying it, but when it comes to sake, many people decide to buy it as soon as they taste it. Naturally, the way we interact with customers changes. The differences in customer service between tableware and sake are fun to see," says Chie.

Colorful sake cups and a lineup of sake that changes with the seasons. Why not try combining them freely to create a special Kyoto souvenir?

A bond formed through vessels

"We are blessed to be able to continue our shop in the historic Nishiki Market. We want Nishiki Market, where many people come and go, to be a place that our customers can always return to," say the Yamamoto couple. They will continue to build relationships with their customers through the pottery that only the two of them can make.

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Earthenware

電話： 075-231-5820

Address: Kyoto City, Nakagyo Ward, Nishiki-koji-dori Sakai-cho Higashi-iru

Access: 3 minutes walk from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station

HP: https://kidoairaku-tanzan.raku-uru.jp/

SNS: https://www.instagram.com/kidoairaku_nisiki/

*For details on business hours and holidays, please check the link above.