GUO JIAWEI

Hasami Day Trip Day 1

Hasami is a treasure site located in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. A 30-kilometer drive from Natsumebata takes you to this village filled with the flavor of pottery.

There is a history of ceramic development here for over 400 years. It is said that very traditional craftsmanship is still used today. There is a simple beauty. Even the tourist reception desk was renovated from the former factory building. In a word, it is very tasteful.

Of course, coming to Hasami is not only a place to learn Japanese ceramic craftsmanship, but also a place to experience Japan's unique food culture. Here, you can also make your own soba noodles for lunch, of course. Starting with the dough, slowly make the finished product, and even cook it yourself. Some people may find it a little difficult, but it's actually very easy. If you're not very good at it, you can always ask the Japanese master next to you for help. I won't reveal the specific process, but I'll show you the finished product.

After a hearty meal came the big one.

Since it is a place where ceramics are produced, of course it is important to visit a ceramics factory and experience ceramics. You can also paint the base blanks with colors by yourself. Don't worry about your skills, just relax. After you finish, the master will burn the plate for you as a souvenir. (Honestly, brush painting is difficult, so I'll show you how ugly it is)

It can be really therapeutic to slowly enjoy this process with a friend.

Hasami Travel Diary Day 2

We followed our tour guide to Hasami Valley. This day's journey was a bit physically demanding, so we needed to get plenty of rest the day before. The scenery there is very beautiful, with vast farmland. It is said that locals place hundreds of dolls on the road to create a lively atmosphere. Unfortunately, most of the dolls had been removed when we visited.

On the way up the mountain, a little incident happened. The guide introduced us to the rice-producing area of Nagasaki. As I listened, I realized that this was rice I had eaten before (and the quality was very good). I didn't expect it to be right next to us.

After climbing for more than 10 minutes, we reached the top of the mountain. Although it is called a mountain, it is actually a small hill. The slope is not steep and the road is a normal cement road. In fact, you can also drive up to the mountain. When you climb to the top of the mountain, you can see the tea fields. The local tea farmers treated us to local specialty tea. Sitting on the top of the mountain, drinking tea (herbal tea), eating Japanese sweets, and looking at the surrounding scenery, you can really feel the beauty of nature.

In the afternoon, our tour guide took us on a "treasure hunt" in a local river. Hasami has a history of over 400 years of ceramic development. According to local potters, in the old days, they piled up the defective products in a big hole. Due to erosion by rainwater, quite a few pieces were washed into the local river. One of the guides who traveled with us was a master of porcelain identification, and he was able to identify the age of any treasure he touched. I took off my shoes and entered the river to search for treasures (don't try this at home, it's better to wear slippers when entering the river).

After all, the oldest thing I touched was only 150 years old, while a wise friend touched one that was over 350 years old.

It's never been so simple as touching the treasure. After touching the treasure, you can make a necklace from the part you like, which is very fulfilling. Interested friends are welcome to bring their friends to try it out.