Tucked away up in the hills above Milpitas is a jewel of a pottery gallery, Arakawa Pottery! Thomas & Kathy are lovely people and we enjoyed so much, visiting with them while I picked out a lovely Fusako Compote Bowl for flower arranging, for a friend whom I have introduced to Ikebana. They have a variety of lovely items there; decorative, cookware, etc. I picked up a pair of Koryu scissors & incense for myself. Their website is very informative. And who can resist Toujiro? read more

This is the real deal for pottery. I bought two soup bowls. I love everything about them - the earthy color is calming, not overpowering but also a satisfyingly rich color. The interior is smooth, but the exterior has a mixed texture, partly rough, which comes in handy when hand-washing the bowls. The thickness of the bowls, shape of the heel, are just right and the shape and depth is perfect for soup. Also, just going there is a great, scenic drive, and the shop itself is peaceful and fun. Mr. Arakawa gave us a mini-tour of the shop with the two kilns in the back. Bought a wasabi fish shaped grater as well. I would probably opt for a larger grater next time since it's a bit hard to hold onto. read more

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I have several Arakawa dishes and flower arrangement containers--beautiful and unique.

Wonderful little pottery gallery hidden deep in the hills east of San Jose. Thomas and Kathy are helpful and eager to tell you about their art and show you their working studio. It's a beautiful drive up into the hills to get there so a smaller vehicle and leisurely pace are helpful, but we enjoyed the views on the way up and back. The southern route has some one lane sections so if you aren't feeling adventurous, stick to the northern route in. read more

5 STARS across the board for this local business! Thank you so much to Thomas and Kathy for showing us around :) This place is a hidden gem, but if you're willing to drive up hills and windy roads, you're bound to find something that fits your taste. Arakawa Pottery makes some of the best handcrafted ramen bowls, utensil coasters, and more -- and yes, even some of these our local businesses buy from this pottery (which I did NOT know until Thomas mentioned it to us)! Both of them make such interesting creations and honestly it makes me amazed at how much time it takes for them to fulfill restaurants' orders -- even personal ones from customers and friends and people like us too. Kudos to them. Things are more on the expensive side, but because they're all handcrafted, they make it with tons of love and more. I am very thankful to have gotten a tour around not just the pottery, but also since this business is right next to a farm of chickens, goats, and peacocks, we also happened to get a tour of all the animals as well. I'm definitely coming back soon to visit again! Because why would you say no to this place? The hospitality is awesome, and so is the vibe. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Wonderful experience meeting Kathy and Thomas and learning about ikebana and matcha, as well as enjoying a tour of the studio. Beautiful handmade pottery and a curated selection of kitchenware and other goods imported from makers in Japan. read more

They have beautiful pottery! Thomas and Kathy are always so very nice and welcoming :)

Very cool pottery and utensils. Wife/husband make everything and are some of nicest people you could meet

Shoutout to Thomas and Kathy for providing us with such a wonderful experience when visiting Arakawa Pottery! It was such a pleasure to get to know them and their artwork. Their shop offers high quality and handmade dish ware, Ikebana vases, utensil rests, matcha bowls, and so much more! I highly recommend anyone to give this place a visit. read more

When looking for Asian clay pottery Arakawa Pottery is the place to go. Thomas and Kathy are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet. My wife was looking for a Matcha bowl and found them on instagram. Visiting from Hawaii and on a tight schedule Thomas and Kathy made special accommodations that allowed us to come by. Once there we fell in love with both of their clay works. Both are true artist in what they do. Thomas' pieces are made on a wheel by hand more traditional and Kathy's designs are modern contemporary. Both complement each other. Whether you are looking for something to display or for daily use you're sure to find it there. My wife was so happy to find the perfect matcha bowl. Me I ended up finding several items that I wasn't even looking for but, truly needed. Like the perfect bowl to eat my hot rice and natto. As well as the perfect size bowl to drink my Korean Makgeolli drink. We also had to share their pieces so we bought some for Christmas gifts. They also import from Japan several accessories like a variety of handmade chopsticks, utensils, coasters and placemats. Once we decided what we were getting Kathy was so nice and offered to wrap them for shipping. While doing so Thomas gave us a tour of the property. We saw the wood burning ovens Thomas once used. They were both so nice and answered all of our questions on how they make their pieces. The route there takes you through the picturesque rolling hills of San Jose. So if you are wondering if you should make an appointment to go by and check it out. The answer is "YES!" There's a huge selection of various types of pottery and the prices are very reasonable for such unique pieces. We wish Arakawa Pottery much Aloha and Kanpai to a prosperous future. read more

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The shop was closed in the day I wanted to bust, but I figured I should still call and give it a try since it will be last day in NorCal. Thomas picked up and told me him and his wife was planning to close the shop and work all day, but he leaned that I was heading back to LA right away, so he made an exception to let me go visit the studio. I've been to San Jose enough times, but never knew that there is such a beautiful area in the mountains. The drive from the city roads to the studio is probably around 12 minutes. It was such a scenic and therapeutic drive. I was welcomed by horses, goats, alpacas and a peacock. As I arrived, I was welcomed by Thomas and Kathy, the potters and owners of the studio. They showed me their entire work process and shared some valuable insights with me. At the studio, you can pick up unique dinner sets, teaware and vases. Colors, shapes and forms vary. I'm sure you'll find something that you like! Appointment is needed. I recommend driving slowly and enjoy the warmth of nature and the little adventure! read more

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Top quality wonderful Ikebana vases that can last life time! Impressive art design with great attention to details - very high quality artwork that are pragmatically elegant! Thomas and Kathy are not only amazing in their artwork, but also they make each customer feel very much welcome and cared for. Arakawa pottery work (plates, dishware, bowls, Ikebana vases etc.) is great life-time investment - each artwork is beautiful, well-made, pragmatic and versatile. There is a good set of choices (designs, styles etc.) for different price ranges. The artistic work such as color, glazes is fabulous! read more

This place is awesome!!! Kathy and Thomas are so friendly and welcoming. Their passion for their craft is very evident. All of the pottery is beautiful and well crafted. We bought 3 flower pots today and couldn't be happier. Highly recommend making the trip to their studio to checkout their items. We will be back when the matcha bowl. read more

Arakawa Pottery - Pottery studio. - Home Decor Near Me - San Jose, California

I ordered several pieces of dinnerware (sushi plates, rice bowls, soy sauce dishes) online in 2 complimentary glazes. I could not be happier! Everything is beautiful, sturdy, and very well made. A good measure of craftsmanship for hand-made pottery is how well the pieces stack. These are great! Thank you, Kathy, for your excellent customer service. read more

Thomas and Kathy are very kind and helpful. They responded very fast and provided me the necessary information to purchase their product. Their matcha tea bowl and glazes are beautiful designed, which caught my attention. When my tea bowl arrived, the quality on it was top notch. It looked even better in person. read more

Appreciate how quickly the order was delivered. I also had a question re my credit card charge, which was handled right away. Thank you

I ride my Bike in this area all the time, but would of never of thought any business were be up here.. The Studio is located on a dead end county road about 5 miles up Calaveras Rd. Yeah.. Way up in the Hills.. I'm so glad I made the trip... I was able to find the perfect Xmas gifts for my Mom & Aunt. They just loved the Japanese Style Pottery. Quality & Craftsmanship is Top Notch. Kathy & Thomas are super friendly. They take Amex too. Definitely will be making the trip back up. read more

I came across Arakawa Pottery on Tiktok and loved the beak of the matcha bowl (which I personally find it hard to find elsewhere). This was my first matcha bowl I've truly enjoyed! Thank you so much! I also appreciate the craftsmanship and supporting a local business. read more

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These are outstanding artists in producing old world pottery. We have multiple ikebana vessels from their studio and always feel they offer great value. . Our sensei always raves at their quality and beauty (and she studied in Japan for 20 years under ikebana masters.) carefully packaged with prompt delivery. Look for Arakawa pottery at galleries or be confident ordering over web. read more

I LOVE my new vase that Kathy made for me. It felt like a custom piece as she adjusted the size and glaze to fit what I needed. She was very accommodating and both she and her husband, Thomas were kind and very enthusiastic about what they do. Both of them are very talented potters! Their studio is in the East foothills of San Jose, a charming, rustic place and fun to visit. But if you don't want to go there, they are more than willing to mail you your pottery. The shipping was free so that was an added bonus. read more

Thomas and Kathy create beautiful and functional pieces that are a joy to admire and use. Beyond their pottery, they are both exceptionally welcoming. I implore anyone in the area with some time to visit to go, if not for their pottery, just for the gorgeous drive. Truly a staple business run by amazing people. I look forward to buying more pieces from them in the future! read more

This is exactly the kind of hand made pottery you can find in Japan but here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I can tell about it as a flight attendant who visited Japan many times. The quality is spot on and the owners are so friendly and the art they have here it is amazing!!!! read more

Arakawa Pottery - Arakawa Pottery - Home Decor Near Me - San Jose, California

I have several of Arakawa Ikebana vases. All are excellent. this new one is great , Fast delivery. Check out their website. read more

Arakawa Pottery - my new vase - Home Decor Near Me - San Jose, California

The items I ordered were beautifully made and came packaged extremely well to avoid any breakage during shipping. I highly recommend this company! read more

I have known Thomas Arakawa for approximately 16 or 17 years ever since he was a student at Foothill College. He is an outstanding master potter. I'm so proud of all that he has accomplished. His pottery pieces are absolutely beautiful. read more

Love the matcha bowls I ordered. Good quality and beautiful. Ordered from their website and it came really fast

Super friendly and professional. Such a hidden gem in the Silicon Valley. Each pottery piece speaks beauty, elegance and strength. They create pottery that are just another level. You can easily make a reservation for a gallery visit through their website. read more

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Very friendly and professional customer service, and very accommodating in making sure the product is made just the way I like it. I am very happy with the service. read more

Hidden charm! Visiting Arakawa Pottery for the 1st time reminds me why I love, support & appreciate small businesses, and why I want to write reviews. If anyone is searching for unique & handmade pots, vases & tea cups/bowls, please come to Arakawa Pottery and meet with Kathy & Thomas. This pottery place is mostly for succulent pots, Japanese flower arrangement pots & wood fired pottery (please contact the store for more details). You will enjoy the ride uphill to the studio. You can meet their cute dog & see every beautiful, one-of-a-kind pots & vases. Also, you can learn more about pottery from Thomas & Kathy. Personal note to Thomas& Kathy: thanks for opening the store late & waiting for us tonight! read more

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Thomas and Kathy Arakawa are incredible artists. I am so glad that I was able to find them. Their Ikebana containers are fabulous and I love each of the one that I have. The styles are terrific and the glazes wonderful. I can't recommend them enough. I just received a new container and can't wait to use it. You can't go wrong purchasing their containers and they ship them really well. read more

Came back after one year. Again, I brought my hiking group with me. All of us were super excited about the hand crafted potteries, it just has a nature beauty to it that you do not find in box stores. I love the Celadon bowls that I bought. It is perfectly imperfect because it was handmade! I am going to look at it everyday and be happy! read more

I have been looking for a great and local pottery shop and lo and behold I found Arakawa Pottery right next to my house! Kathy, Thomas, and Don greeted me with a warm welcome! They are really passionate about their work and they tell you the history, process, and other facts you didn't know about ceramics! I purchased a total of 5 pieces, but these three are wood fired! The tulip cup and sake cup are both made my Thomas/Kathy, while the smaller cup is made by Don! I came for their pottery, but stayed for their hospitality! I am now a regular customer! read more

Arakawa Pottery - Wood-fired tulip cup (left), sake cup (center), and tea cup (right) - Home Decor Near Me - San Jose, California

All beautiful work! Can't go wrong with any choice. Everything is packed so safely and perfectly that if they had enclosed a raw egg it wouldn't have broken! read more

Thomas and Kathy are artists, truly. I have purchased many vases for Ikebana as well as a full set of plates and bowls (which they custom made for me). You can find them at most Ikebana shows in the San Francisco Bay Area-- and a small selection of vases are for sale at Soko Hardware in San Francisco-- but I highly recommend that you visit their studio in the hills above Milpitas. They host several open studio events each year-- and you can call to make an appointment. I have visited several times and been given a tour and received lots of wonderful information about their process. They are wonderful and talented people. Highly recommended! read more

Exquisite plates and bowls! Great personal service and communication. Can't wait to order more plates, bowls and ikebana containers. So worth it! Thank you, Thomas and Kathy! read more

I and my Ikebana friends have been purchasing a lots of ikebana vases from Thomas and Kathy, their quality, nice design, excellent service, I would recommend this business . read more

My husband and I visited Arakawa Pottery after seeing a few of their pieces in my sister's home. We were so warmly welcomed by Thomas and Kathy! They told me about the pieces I was interested in and even gave us a tour of their kiln and workroom! It was such a wonderful visit. We purchased several items from their store and I could not wait to get home to display them! Thank you Thomas and Kathy for your warm hospitality and your beautiful pottery pieces! We will visit again the next time we are up north! read more

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I purchased one of their Ikebana vases at Soko Hardware and absolutely love it! In fact, I had to contact Thomas to order a suiban as well. Fabulous handmade vases and pottery that is beautiful. read more