Shisa Making Experience (Pottery Workshop)

Create your own shisa — the lion-like guardian figures found on Okinawan rooftops and gates. Ceramic workshops for tourists are available in Yomitan, Onna Village, and central Naha. Take home a one-of-a-kind shisa as a souvenir.

Cultural Background

Shisa are lion-like protective figures unique to Okinawa, developed from Chinese and Southeast Asian influences into a distinctly Ryukyuan form. They are placed as guardians on roofs, gates, and entrances. Yomitan has long been a center of yachimun (pottery) production, recognized as a traditional craft by the Japanese government. (Source: Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database)

Source: https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/

Where to Experience

* Experience facility hours, fees, and reservation methods are subject to change. Please contact each facility directly for the latest information. This content is provided for reference only.

Yachimun no Sato (Yomitan) individual studios

Yomitan Village

Multiple studios offer shisa-making workshops. Fees and reservation methods vary by studio.

Last updated: 2026-05

Mura-Saki Mura (Onna Village) cultural facility

Onna Village

Multiple experience programs including shisa-making. Check the official site for fees and reservations.

Last updated: 2026-05

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