On Friday, November 20, 2026, a factory tour of Okura Art China will be held for members of Le-noble, a tableware specialty store operated by Noble Traders Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto). The tour is part of the company's 50th anniversary celebrations and is a special event made possible with the full cooperation of Okura Art China.
Founded in 1919, Okura Art China has continued to make fine porcelain under the philosophy of "making what is good even better." The company's white porcelain is known as "Sèvres blue, Okura white," and its skilled craftsmanship, including Okazome, urushi-maki, and embossing, is carried on to this day.
The tour offers a close look at the manufacturing process inside the factory, which is normally not open to visitors, and the painting work of skilled artisans. Participants can also see a special exhibition room that is not usually open to the public. It is a valuable opportunity for regular users of Okura Art China tableware as well as those just beginning to take an interest in ceramics, to experience the background of how the pieces are made and the artisans' skills firsthand.
A Visit to Where Tableware Is Born, in Noble Traders' 50th Anniversary Year
Since its founding in 1976, Noble Traders has introduced tableware from around the world to Japan and has offered ideas for richer dining tables and lifestyles through tableware.
In 2026, its 50th anniversary year, the company is creating more opportunities to look afresh at the products it has handled and to connect makers with users, as one of its anniversary projects. This Okura Art China factory tour was planned as part of that effort.
Beyond seeing finished tableware, participants can learn about the raw materials, the manufacturing process, the painting, and the work of the artisans, discovering what technique and time go into a single piece they use every day. The aim is to move from a "familiar piece of tableware" to "tableware whose background you know," and to offer a chance to feel the appeal of tableware more deeply at this 50-year milestone.
Experiencing Okura Art China's Craftsmanship Up Close
Since its founding, Okura Art China has pursued whiteness of color, hardness of the porcelain body, and smoothness of the surface, producing high-quality hard-paste porcelain. To bring out the beauty of white porcelain, it has established its own techniques, such as using top-grade kaolin and carrying out high-temperature main firing.
Distinctive techniques handed down over many years, such as Okazome and urushi-maki, are also among the hallmarks of Okura Art China. On this tour, participants can hear directly at the production site how these techniques are passed on, a rare opportunity.
Blue Rose, a signature series made with the Okazome technique
Iromaki (urushi-maki), used to express depth and gloss of color
Tour Highlights
Visit the factory, which is closed to the public
Visitors are guided through the actual manufacturing process and the painting work of skilled artisans.
Learn about Okura Art China's history and its commitment to craftsmanship
Participants learn about the history of Okura Art China, which has been in business for over 100 years, and the thinking put into its craftsmanship.
See the special exhibition room, which is not normally open to the public
Works and exhibits that are not usually on view are shown.
Experience Okura Art China cups firsthand
Participants hold Okura Art China tableware in their hands and experience its texture and feel in use.
Shop at the factory-adjacent store
After the tour, visitors can also shop at the Okura Art China headquarters store.
The tour takes place at the Okura Art China headquarters
The special exhibition room is also part of the tour
Event Details
Event name:
Noble Traders 50th Anniversary Event: Le-noble Members' "Adult Excursion" Okura Art China Factory Tour
Date and time:
Friday, November 20, 2026
- Morning session: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Afternoon session: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Venue:
Okura Art China, 20 Akiba-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 245-0052
Admission:
Free
Capacity:
12 people per session (first come, first served)
Note: A minimum of 5 participants is required for the tour to run.
Eligibility:
Le-noble members
How to apply:
Via Peatix
Both sessions are on a cancellation waitlist (as of the time of the announcement).
Note: Participants meet and disperse on site.
Note: Photography and similar activities inside the factory must follow the guidance given on the day.
More Than Selling Tableware: A Chance to Learn About It
Noble Traders plans to keep introducing tableware not just as products, but together with each brand's history, the makers' techniques, regional culture, and the joy of using it.
At the 50th anniversary milestone, the company aims to create an opportunity for customers to learn more deeply about the background of the tableware it has delivered to them.
Through this factory tour, participants can experience the production site of one of Japan's leading Western-style tableware makers and the appeal of the pieces made there.
