Introduction
While a lot of people only hear the name Tokoname as an announcement on the train to the airport, the historical significance of this place cannot be underestimated. Getting off the train on a beautiful Monday morning in early October, I felt a bit groggy (not a morning person even by the furthest stretch of the imagination) and ducked in a combini to get a cup of coffee. A few minutes later, more alert, and halfway through my transformation from a morning Zombie to curious explorer, I located the bus to take me to my first stop on this incredible trip - The INAX Live Museum.

INAX MUSEUMS
Located just a short bus ride from the station, this monument to the legacy of ceramics trade in Tokoname is quite a sight to behold. The Museum includes a 97 year old Kiln, which has been designated a tangible cultural asset by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and is a heritage of industrial modernization. Other interesting parts of the INAX Museums site include an impressive Tile Museum, the aforementioned Kiln Plaza, the Clay Works building,
and a building with a collection of old Japanese pottery toilets, intricately decorated in blue and white motifs.

Stepping into the Tile Museum, I immediately noticed the gigantic entrance area, enshrined in beautiful Turquoise blue tiles reminiscent of middle-eastern, or Mediterranean cultures. I’ve been to the Middle East and all over the Med, but I had never seen something like this in Japan. My interest was immediately piqued.

The entrance gave way to an intricate wall-pattern created with clay “pegs”. This design would be at home in either Africa or the Middle East somewhere.

An informative video on the wall showed how these “Pegs” are made and utilized. Turns out the technique is from 3,500 BC!!! Wow!

Around the next corner, an Egyptian door greeted us, adorned with blue-coloured tiles, as blue was thought of as the colour of life in ancient Egypt. I’ve always loved Egyptian history, but this was fascinating.

The displays thereafter ranged from Islamic tiled dome ceiling,

All the way to British Pubs, and everything in between.

I would have never guessed that the history of tiles and pottery in general could be so exciting. Syrian Clay Tablets, Spanish Tiles, old Japanese Pottery Toilets, and much more are on display here.

The sheer variety of tiles and their uses throughout history enthralled me and the short time I had there passed by so quickly.

The tour was eye-opening, examining in detail, the utter importance Pottery and Tiles have in history and the current world around us, in addition to highlighting the passion people in the tile industry have for their craft, thus enriching all our lives.

You don’t realize how deep the history of pottery is, and what a far-reaching impact it has on our daily lives. Even the Imperial Hotel in Japan is connected to this tiny town in Aichi. It is really an informative place and definitely worth a trip if you’re in the Tokoname area, which is just a short trip from Nagoya on the Meitetsu Line.

Inside the INAX Museums area are also the impressive Clay Works workshop.

A Tiling Workshop,

The Ceramics Lab,

A Museum Shop where you can buy all kinds of souvenirs for yourself and others,

And lastly, a lovely Italian Restaurant called *Pizzeria La Fornace* to satisfy your Pizza and Italian fare cravings after a visit to the Museum.

The food here is delicious and the atmosphere just lovely, so don’t leave out *Pizzeria La Fornace* on your visit to the Museum.

This was a great start to my day in Tokoname. The Tile Museum alone (picture below) was definitely worth the visit here. Add in a great tour and some delicious Italian Food, and you’ve got a recipe for a great day already. But there’s still more to come…