Major city · Japan
Imari伊万里市
Half a day for the ceramic galleries and a walk through the old kiln district; skip if you are not interested in porcelain. One night only if you time the Ton-Ten-Ton festival in late October.
Imari is a small city in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, known worldwide for Imari porcelain (Nabeshima ware). The main draw is the Okawachiyama kiln district, a 20-minute walk from the station, where you can see traditional workshops and the Imari Nabeshima-yaki Gallery. The city itself is quiet and compact; most visitors come as a half-day detour from Arita or Karatsu.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Airports
- NGO · FUK
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Imari110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Imari, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyVery safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckNGO Chubu Centrair (check).
- Getting aroundWalkable centre; the Okawachiyama district is a 20-min walk from Imari Station.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a café¥300–500 (≈ US$3–4)
- Budget bedHostel bed in Arita, a night, per person¥3,500 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room in Arita, a night, per room¥12,000 (≈ US$85)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room in Arita, a night, per room¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥5,000 (≈ US$35) · Mid ¥10,000 (≈ US$70) · High ¥20,000 (≈ US$140)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NGO Chubu Centrair (check) · FUK Fukuoka Airport (About 1.5 h by train via Hakata and Karatsu; check)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Feb
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Mar
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Dec
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C) low), wettest Jun (13 rain days), driest Dec (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Imari: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
8 rd
Feb
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
9 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
Apr
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
10 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
13 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8 rd
Nov
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
8 rd
Dec
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walkable centre; the Okawachiyama district is a 20-min walk from Imari Station. Local buses run infrequently; a taxi from the station costs about ¥1,000–1,500.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 30 min
Matsuura Railway, about 10 min
Porcelain town with more kilns and a ceramics museum; combine with Imari for a half-day loop.
Door to door: 1 h
JR Chikuhi Line, about 40 min
Karatsu Castle and the old merchant district; a full day if you add the beach.
Door to door: 50 min
JR Chikuhi Line, about 30 min
Takeo Onsen and the Takeo Shrine; a good half-day soak.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near Imari Station
A few business hotels and minshuku; limited options, book ahead.
Arita (10 min by train)
More accommodation choices and a better evening scene.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥5,000–8,000 (≈ US$35–55) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥8,000–15,000 (≈ US$55–110) excl. bed
- High
- ¥15,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room in Arita1 × 1 night × ¥12,000 | ¥12,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥10,000 | ¥20,000 |
| Matsuura Railway Imari–Arita round trip2 × ¥600 · check | ¥1,200 |
| Taxi from Imari Station to Okawachiyama1 × ¥1,500 · check | ¥1,500 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥3,470 |
| Trip total≈ ¥19,090 per person per day, bed included | ¥38,170≈ US$300 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–500 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Nabeshima-yaki bowl (small) | ¥2,000–10,000 (≈ US$14–70) |
| Taxi Imari Station → Okawachiyama | ¥1,000–1,500 (≈ US$7–11) |
| Matsuura Railway Imari–Arita one way | ¥300 (≈ US$3) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Okawachiyama workshops close by 17:00; go in the morning.Okawachiyama workshops close by 5:00 PM; go in the morning.
- The Ton-Ten-Ton festival has reduced the scale of the shrine battle after a 2006 accident; check the current programme.
- Most ceramic shops accept cash only.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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Imari伊万里市
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
The US consulate in Fukuoka is the nearest; most other countries have consulates in Fukuoka or Osaka.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Imari Station → Okawachiyama (taxi): ¥1,000–1,500 (≈ US$7–11)
- Imari → Arita (Matsuura Railway): about ¥300 (≈ US$3), 10 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとう — Thank you (arigatō)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Imari. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Okawachiyama kiln district and Imari Nabeshima-yaki Gallery with verified opening hours.
- Eat pages for the restaurant at the gallery (dishes on blue porcelain).
- Festival page for Ton-Ten-Ton with current schedule and access info.
Sources
Ask about Imari
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