Nota Shop
25.05.2025
Nota Shop
Store & Gallery
@nota_shop
2317 Shigarakicho Chokushi,
Koka, Shiga 529-1804, Japan
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 6:00pm
◉ Closed on Tuesdays
During my residency at Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park @air_sccplast year, I had the chance to visit NOTA Shop in Shigaraki, Japan. A beautifully thoughtful space where ceramics, architecture, exhibitions, and daily life quietly come together. Located inside a renovated former pottery factory, the space carries the long history of Shigaraki’s ceramic culture while feeling deeply contemporary at the same time. The front area functions as both a shop and exhibition space, thoughtfully displaying ceramics, objects, and artworks within warm timber interiors and raw industrial textures.
What I found especially inspiring was that behind the store, ceramic production is still actively happening, keeping the connection between making and exhibiting very alive.
NOTA continues to honour Shigaraki’s pottery traditions while supporting contemporary practice and creative exchange. Last year also marked the first year of their artist residency program, creating new opportunities for artists to live and work within this evolving ceramic community.
The name “NOTA” comes from the adhesive used in pottery-making, symbolising connection between people, objects, materials, and place; something that could truly be felt throughout the entire space.
Photographed by Nani P - post via instagram @nani.visit
