Photo/Illutration The Zwinger palace, a German masterpiece of 18th-century baroque architecture, is faithfully recreated at the Arita Porcelain Park in Arita, Saga Prefecture. (Shoma Fujiwaki)

ARITA, Saga Prefecture--Visitors to the Arita Porcelain Park here can learn more than just about the long history of Arita ware and how the area became the birthplace of Japanese porcelain.

The park, designed similar to a traditional German village, was established to promote porcelain cultures from around the world.

Standing in one corner of the theme park is a magnificent building of Baroque architectural style, giving visitors the illusion that they are in the Europe of 300 years ago.

Faithfully recreated is the Zwinger palace in the German city of Dresden.

The original palace was built in the early 18th century by Augustus the Strong, who was a collector of Oriental porcelain.

The massive replica is housed with a porcelain gallery and a salon available for wedding banquets and other special occasions.

Sprawling in front of the palace is a garden, which is a "popular Instagram spot," according to three women taking pictures of each other.

It is a "holy site" for cosplayers, particularly for Gothic Lolita fashion fans.

It became instantly popular after it served as a filming location for "Black Butler."

But due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the gallery inside the palace and restaurants in the park remain closed.

With the annual Arita ceramics fair also canceled for two consecutive years, fewer sightseers are seen walking around in the town.

"We have been dealt a serious blow, but we can't let it defeat us," said Naruki Ikeda, 54, general manager of the Arita Porcelain Park. "We want to increase the charms of the park and contribute to tourism in the town."

Arita is where the first porcelain was made in Japan in the early 17th century.

The town is home to the Izumiyama porcelain clay quarry and many other tourist landmarks. The Kyushu Ceramic Museum is scheduled to reopen on April 9.

The park is also featured in "Daughter of Lupin The Movie" released last fall. It was singled out as a locale for the film because it offers scenery unlike anywhere else in Japan when overseas location shoots are restricted.

"We will continue to make use of the strength of this valuable sightseeing resource," Ikeda said.

Arita Porcelain Park is located about 13 minutes by bus from JR Arita Station, or about three minutes by car from the Hasami-Arita Interchange on the Nishi-Kyushu Expressway.

The Zwinger palace, as well as restaurants housed in another building, are currently closed. But visitors can stroll around the park, while they can make reservations to learn the art of producing Arita ware in a studio.

The venue is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the official website at (https://www.arita-touki.com/).

Meanwhile, four restaurant operators in Arita went all out to produce a new feast prepared with local ingredients.

The highlight of the Aritayaki Gozen meal is Torizara Gozen, serving food prepared with locally grown "Aritadori" brand chicken on five Arita ware plates.

The treat is complete with a local specialty of "godofu," or tofu with a pudding-like texture, and a cup of coffee for 1,500 yen ($12.30) at one of the four restaurants, Honjin.

The restaurant is located about a 18-minute walk from JR Arita Station. The ruins of a "honjin" inn reserved for use by those of high standing during the Edo Period (1603-1867) serves as a landmark for the eatery.

Diners are told that it will take a while for the restaurant to prepare an order of Aritayaki Gozen.

Honjin is open from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It operates in the evening hours when it accepts dinner reservations.

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