Entry No. 59 — the Durango file — filed under: hands-on
Yunomi Pottery Studio
Tucked inside Durango's historic Smiley Building artist hub, Yunomi is a wheel-throwing studio for both first-timers and people sharpening their skills. It offers wheel classes and monthly memberships in an intimate, craft-focused space. The name itself refers to a Japanese teacup, fitting its hand-thrown ethos.
The story
If you navigate the corridors of Durango's historic Smiley Building and find Suite 4B, you enter the focused, clay-covered world of Chyako Hashimoto. She named her studio Yunomi—the Japanese word for an everyday, handleless teacup—and built the space around the quiet, physical labor of wheel-throwing functional ceramics.
Rather than operating as a walk-in retail gallery or high-volume production plant, the studio functions as an intimate teaching floor and workspace. Hashimoto guides students through the exact mechanics of working at the wheel, offering adult beginner classes alongside monthly memberships for local potters sharpening their technique.
What it's like
Reaching Suite 4B inside the Smiley Building feels like slipping into a working artist enclosure rather than visiting a store. Expect a small room anchored by pottery wheels, clay dust, and focused stillness. This is not a place for spontaneous walk-ins; drop-in sessions are nonexistent, so you need to book a class or contact the studio directly in advance if you want to secure two adjacent wheels for an evening.
The move: Book a wheel-throwing class and try to center clay and pull your first cups together at adjacent wheels.
📍 Before you go Geared toward classes and memberships rather than guaranteed drop-in; contact to confirm a one-off session for two.
- 📍 Durango
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Smiley Building, 1309 E 3rd Ave, Suite 4B, Durango, CO 81301
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- White Rabbit Books & Curiosities — Pair a focused pottery session in the Smiley Building with a quick walk down to the river trail to find Durango's hidden 150-square-foot bookstore.
- The Subterrain — Transition from working with wet clay to grabbing late-night drinks inside Durango's hand-painted basement art bar.
- Pots & Pints at Durango Arts Center — If you want a low-stakes slab-building class with a beer instead of technical wheel-throwing, try this downtown evening option.
Good to know
Who owns and teaches at Yunomi Pottery Studio?
The studio is owned and operated by Durango artist, potter, and instructor Chyako Hashimoto.
What does the name 'Yunomi' stand for?
Yunomi refers to a traditional Japanese teacup designed for daily, informal tea drinking, pointing to the studio's emphasis on functional hand-thrown pottery.
Can I show up without a reservation?
No. Yunomi operates purely through structured adult classes and monthly artist memberships, so you must arrange a spot ahead of time.
Where inside the Smiley Building is the studio located?
You can find Yunomi in Suite 4B at 1309 East 3rd Avenue in Durango.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · durangocreativedistrict.org · Instagram · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-23