"ARITA Marshmallow CHRISTMAS 2026 with FINLAND FAIR" (アリタ・マシュマロ・クリスマス 2026 with FINLAND FAIR) will be held at Arita Sera (アリタセラ) in Arita Town, Saga Prefecture. The event is hosted by the Arita Sera Christmas Event Executive Committee (Saga Prefecture, Arita Town and the Arita Ware Wholesale Center Cooperative Association) and planned by Afro&Co., the creative company led by Afromance (アフロマンス), a creator who has produced many talked-about events.
As a special program, the event will offer "Gastronomy of Vessels and Flowers" (器と花のガストロノミー), a dining experience in a photogenic space surrounded by flowers. Chef Shogo Hikichi (引地翔悟) of arita huis (アリタハウス), who paints local ingredients and climate on a single plate with scent and color, will serve dishes made with selected ingredients from Saga Prefecture.
Dining on Vessels by Living National Treasures
The vessels used include works by Manji Inoue (井上萬二), a master of white porcelain who left great achievements as a Living National Treasure, and by Imaizumi Imaemon XIV (第十四代今泉今右衛門), a Living National Treasure who preserves and develops the tradition of overglaze enamel porcelain (色絵磁器). Other well-known Saga vessels, such as those from the Kakiemon Kiln (柿右衛門窯) and Nakazato Tarouemon Pottery Studio (中里太郎右衛門陶房), are also used.
On the day, guests can choose their favorite vessel and enjoy their dish in it. This special gastronomy experience is possible because it takes place in Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain.
Gastronomy of Vessels and Flowers: Details
Dates:
- December 9, 2026 (Wednesday): Dinner
- December 10 (Thursday): Lunch and Dinner
- December 11 (Friday): Lunch and Dinner
- December 12 (Saturday): Lunch
Venue: arita huis (アリタハウス), inside Arita Sera, 2351-169 Akasaka-hei, Arita-cho, Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga Prefecture (佐賀県西松浦郡有田町赤坂丙2351-169 アリタセラ内)
Capacity: 8 pairs (16 guests) per session, by advance reservation. Reservations can only be made for an even number of guests.
Start times: Lunch at 12:00 PM / Dinner at 7:00 PM
Price (tax included, per person): Lunch ¥6,600 / Dinner ¥16,500
Format: Lunch is a course meal of about four dishes. Dinner is a course meal of about eight dishes.
Vessels: Arita ware and others, including vessels from Inoue Manji Kiln (井上萬二窯), Imaemon Kiln (今右衛門窯), Kakiemon Kiln (柿右衛門窯) and Nakazato Tarouemon Pottery Studio (中里太郎右衛門陶房)
Reservations
Reservations are accepted on a first-come basis on the website below.
Reservations open: From 11:00 AM on October 21, 2026 (Wednesday)
Reservation site: https://marshmallow-christmas.com/gastronomy
Guests with allergies are asked to contact arita huis in advance.
Inquiries about reservations, dishes and allergies: arita huis, email info@aritahuis.com, TEL 0955-25-8018
About arita huis
arita huis (アリタハウス) is described as a "restaurant with rooms where you spend time with vessels" (「器とすごす、泊まれるレストラン」). It has 10 guest rooms and 42 seats, with a lively counter kitchen and a calm dining room. The venue welcomes guests with hospitality, food and beautiful spaces for a time that can be enjoyed only in Arita, and lets visitors experience and taste Japan's beautiful porcelain.
Website: https://aritahuis.com/
Chef Shogo Hikichi: Profile
In 2025, while serving as chef at "NIRVANA New York" in Roppongi, Tokyo, Hikichi took part in "Chef in Residence SAGA" (シェフ・イン・レジデンス SAGA), a program promoted by Saga Prefecture with Wataya Bessou (和多屋別荘) cooperating as the base for stays. Visiting producers and kilns across the prefecture, and encountering the region's rich ingredients, the culture of Arita ware and the passion of the makers, marked the beginning of his connection with Saga.
That experience led him to start working between two bases, Tokyo and Saga, and he became chef of arita huis in spring 2026. While exploring local ingredients and culture in depth, he aims to create new dining experiences, such as "fragrance gastronomy" (フレグランスガストロノミー), which combines scent and food.
Chef Shogo Hikichi: Comment
Since I began cooking in Arita, my way of thinking about cooking has gradually changed each time I touch the vessels and listen to the makers. The blank space of a vessel, its feel in the hand and the colors painted on it all give me clues for choosing ingredients and plating. This time, I am thinking about how to layer this winter's ingredients and scents onto vessels that have been handed down. Flowers are added, the dish is served, and the guest brings it to their mouth. I want to bring out the expressions of the vessels that can be felt only in that time. I would like to create, together with the makers of the vessels and flowers, an evening in which the scent and scenery come back to mind even after the meal is over.
The photos are for illustration purposes only and may differ from what is actually served.
ARITA Marshmallow CHRISTMAS 2026 with FINLAND FAIR: Event Overview
Dates: December 5 (Saturday) to 6 (Sunday) and December 12 (Saturday) to 13 (Sunday), 2026
Illumination period: December 5 (Saturday) to January 11 (Monday)
Venue: Arita Sera (アリタセラ), 2351-169 Akasaka-hei, Arita-cho, Nishimatsuura-gun, Saga Prefecture (佐賀県西松浦郡有田町赤坂丙2351番地169)
Admission: Free. Additional fees may apply for food, drinks and content experiences inside the venue.
Official website: https://marshmallow-christmas.com
ARITA Marshmallow CHRISTMAS 2026
Purpose: To raise awareness of the pottery culture that Saga Prefecture is proud of, starting with Arita ware, among younger generations, and to further increase the number of pottery fans.
Program:
- Marshmallow tree exhibition
- Marshmallow hunting
- Toasted marshmallow experience
- Marshmallow food and drinks
- Mini marshmallow tree making
- Christmas market
- Stage events
- Sara Santa Race (サラサンタレース)
- Shiro and Ai (シロとアイ) illumination
- Shiro and Ai (シロとアイ) fireworks
- And more
Organizer: Arita Sera Christmas Event Executive Committee (アリタセラクリスマスイベント実行委員会), made up of Saga Prefecture, Arita Town and the Arita Ware Wholesale Center Cooperative Association (有田焼卸団地協同組合)
Planning: Afromance / Afro&Co.
Cooperation: Festa Luce Executive Committee (フェスタルーチェ実行委員会)
Finland Fair in SAGA Series 8
Purpose: To let visitors learn about the partnership between the Republic of Finland and Saga Prefecture, and about collaborations that compare, combine and fuse various related content.
Program:
- Aurora Ceremony (オーロラセレモニー)
- Santa Claus Is Coming (サンタクロースがやってくる)
- Saga x Finlayson Exhibition (佐賀×フィンレイソン展)
- Saga x Embassy of Finland in Japan chef collaboration menu
- And more
Organizer: Saga Prefecture
Endorsement: Embassy of Finland (フィンランド大使館)
