Where to Buy & Care

This page explains how to get our pottery wherever you live, where you can see it in person, and how to look after it once it is yours.

Where to buy

If you live in Japan

You can order from this online shop. We deliver within Japan only.

If you live outside Japan

This shop does not ship outside Japan. A selection of our pottery is available from TOKO ONLINE GALLERY, which ships internationally.

See and buy it in Mashiko

Our pottery is on display and for sale at Toko Gallery on Jonaizaka, the main pottery street in Mashiko. Admission is free. What is on the shelves changes over time, so a particular piece may not be there when you visit.

Toko Gallery
2 Jonaizaka, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi 321-4218, Japan
Open 10:00 to 18:00 from March to October, and 10:00 to 17:00 from November to February
Closed from December 29 to January 2

For directions, see Visiting Toko Gallery.

Every piece is a little different

Glaze that sits thicker in some places, a natural mark of handmade pottery

Every piece is made by hand, so color, shape, and size vary a little from one piece to the next, and a piece may look slightly different from its photo. Some marks come with the material and the firing: fine crackle in the glaze, small pinholes, tiny dark specks of iron, and glaze that sits thicker in some places than others. We see these as part of each piece's character. Every piece is inspected, and cracks or chips that could affect use are treated as defects.

Using and caring for our pottery

Is there anything to do before use?

Pottery is made of clay, and clay takes in water. Before using a piece, soak it well in hot water, or in plain water, so the clay takes in water first. Tea and food will then stain it less easily. This step is called medome, and we recommend it especially when a piece is new.

Can I use it in the microwave?

Yes, as long as the piece is not decorated with metal.

Can it go in the dishwasher?

Most pieces can, but we do not recommend it. The water itself will not break them, but they can get scratched or damaged, especially if they knock against each other inside the machine. To keep them for a long time, wash them by hand.

Can I use it in the oven or over a flame?

No. Our pottery is not made for the oven or for direct flame.

What should I avoid?

Do not leave pieces wet for a long time, as that can cause mold and wear. Leaving strongly scented or deeply colored food or drinks in a piece for a long time can also leave smells or stains.

Why is there fine crackle in the glaze?

Fine crackle in a piece glazed in Nuka (rice-husk ash glaze), after years of use

The fine crackle, called kannyu, forms as a piece cools after firing, because the clay and the glaze shrink by different amounts. It is not a crack that leads to breaking. Over time, water and color can slowly seep in through it and change the tone of the piece. In Japan, the way pottery changes with use has long been enjoyed as part of its keshiki, its scenery. If you would rather keep the color as it is, medome helps keep water and color from seeping in.

To see what goes into our glazes, visit Our Glazes & Making.