What is ceramic stone?

Pottery stone is the raw material for porcelain products, and is also known as "magnetic stone." In Japan, it was first discovered in 1616 at Izumiyama in Arita, and its discoverer is said to be the Korean potter, Yi Sam-pyeong.

The Izumiyama Porcelain Quarry was designated as a National Historic Site in 1980, and no mining has taken place there since the Meiji era. It is carefully protected as a valuable site that tells the story of the origins of Arita ware, and this pottery stone site, where it is said that an entire mountain became ceramics, has been developed into a park. Standing here, you can experience a profound moment touching the source of Arita ware's history. Izumiyama, truly "the birthplace of everything," is a place you should definitely visit if you come to Arita.

Currently, porcelain from the Hizen region is made using Amakusa pottery stone from Kumamoto Prefecture, which is easier to process. Pottery stone produced in Izumiyama in Arita and Amakusa is a raw material unique to this region, and due to its high quality, it is possible to create high-purity products using it alone, without mixing other raw materials.