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Koyo Ibushi Inaba is a quietly compelling wall tile series handcrafted in Funatsu‑cho, Himeji by the master ceramicists at Koyo Seiga. Using the time-honoured Ibushi Kawara method, carefully selected clay is slowly fired and then smoked in a reduction chamber, creating a fine carbon layer on the surface. This gives the tile its signature Ibushi Silver finish, soft, subtly reflective, and responsive to light, developing a dignified patina over time. Koyo’s mastery of this process has been trusted in the restoration of Japan’s most respected cultural landmarks, including the UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle.

Each tile in the Inaba collection features a clean, monolithic form with a smooth but naturally varied surface that responds gracefully to ambient light. Mounted on mesh backing for straightforward installation, Inaba offers calm structure and refined simplicity across interior or exterior wall surfaces.

True to the Koyo Ibushi tradition, Inaba tiles are made solely from clay and carbon, with no glazes or synthetic treatments. Their microporous structure supports humidity regulation, odour absorption, UV and frost resistance, and far-infrared radiation emission. These performance qualities are inherent to the material and require no added treatment.

Koyo Ibushi Inaba is well suited to architectural settings that call for understated elegance, including spa and wellness spaces, quiet lobbies, gallery walls, and facade applications. It brings together elemental materiality, long-term performance, and Japanese heritage craftsmanship in a surface that matures with presence and time.

We offer three main shipping categories: Local Stock, Stock from Japan, and Samples.

 

Local Stock

These tiles make up a smaller portion of our range but account for most of our sales by volume.

Stock is held in Dubai, Germany and the UK.

To ensure safe delivery, we only offer pallet deliveries for these tiles.

Orders are shipped the same day or the next day, depending on the confirmation time.

Delivery time varies by location but is typically within  3–10 days.

Our website provides clear shipping options and costs before requiring payment.

If you’re in a remote location, please contact us in advance to confirm shipping rates.

Stock from Japan (Pre-Orders)

We offer three shipping options for pre-ordered tiles from Japan:

1. Dedicated Sea Freight

Your order is shipped individually as soon as it’s ready.

The process includes 3-6 weeks at sea plus customs and local handling, totalling 6–14 weeks.

2. Shared Sea Freight

Your order is combined with others before shipment to our local warehouse.

We typically have four shipments per year.

Once dispatched, delivery follows the same timeline as Dedicated Sea Freight.

3. Air Freight

Your order is flown from Japan directly to your site.

This takes around 2 weeks from order to delivery

Each circumstance is different, please ask for a quote.

Samples

We carry a full range of samples in our UK and Dubai warehouses and the most popular tiles can be supplied from our German warehouse.

Shipping with  Courier in 2-10 days

Returns

We accept returns for bulk local stock items (not samples or orders from Japan). However, due to the high cost of return shipping, we encourage you to make an informed decision before ordering.

Return Policy

 Items from  Japan (Classed as Custom Orders) are non-returnable.

To initiate a return, email us at info@mittsugroup.com within 14 days of receiving your order.

The return must be sent to the warehouse it was dispatched from within the following 14 days.

Tiles must be returned  in their original, unopened, and undamaged conditionPallet shipping is required, (regular courier shipments often result in damage.)

Refunds will be issued within 14 days of receiving the returned items.

For further details or assistance, please contact us.

Welcome to Mittsu; Your Source for Authentic Japanese Tiles

Japanese tiles are renowned for their beauty, quality, and craftsmanship. If a stunning tiled bathroom led you here, you might feel overwhelmed by the choices but don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Who is Mittsu?

Mittsu is a privately owned company specialising in authentic Japanese tiles. We only sell tiles made in Japan, ensuring superior quality and craftsmanship.

Unlike other businesses offering “Japanese-style” tiles, our products are genuinely made in Japan, reflecting the rich heritage and artistry that define Japanese ceramics. Learn more about what makes Japanese tiles unique.

How to Choose the Right Tile

• Search by name on our website.

• Browse our collections for inspiration.

• Follow us on Instagram for design ideas.

Box Sizes & Pricing

Since we source tiles from multiple Japanese manufacturers, box sizes varyranging from 0.3m² to 2m². To keep things transparent, each tile page displays:

Price per square meter (for easy comparison).

Price per box (as we only sell full boxes).

For example, our Kaji Border tile costs more per box than Ka-Bu, but it covers 1.8m² per box compared to Ka-Bu’s 1m², making it a lower cost option per square meter.

Stock Availability

We stock our most popular tiles in our Dubai, UK and German warehouses.

Despite our best efforts, demand can sometimes outpace supply, so if a tile is out of stock, feel free to contact us for alternatives or restock timelines.

Pre-Orders (Stock from Japan)

For tiles not currently in our local stock, we offer three shipping options:

1. Dedicated Sea Freight; Your order is shipped individually as soon as it’s ready.

2. Shared Sea Freight; Your order is combined with others for more cost-effective shipping.

3. Air Freight; Your order is flow from Japan directly to you. This takes around 2 weeks from the tiles are available. Please contact us for a quote.

Our website allows you to order tiles from Japan with the understanding that shipping times vary. If you’re interested in a specific tile that’s out of stock, please get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to assist.

Samples

While we strive for accurate photography, tile colours may appear differently on screens. We highly recommend ordering samples to ensure you get exactly what you expect.

You can browse our sample collection or search by tile name and select the sample option.

We have over 450 sample variations ready to ship.

Sample orders within the UK and UAE are shipped with a Next Day Courier Service, with European deliveries taking 3–7 days. (there are no duty or taxes to pay within the EU)

Why Do We Charge for Samples?

1. To minimise waste: Charging a small fee prevents unnecessary orders.

2. To offset costs: Sample stocking and processing are expensive.

However, when you place a tile order for your project, we will refund the cost of up to 5 regular samples upon request.

Who We Serve

We cater to everyone, from private homeowners needing a single box for a kitchen backsplash to leading architectural firms designing luxury hotels.

If you are an Architect, Interior Designer or Buyer, please email us at  sales@mittsugroup.com or join our Specifier Program here.

We ship all over Europe/GCC and can assist projects in other locations upon request.

Personal Service

At Mittsu, we take pride in our personalised approach. When you contact us, you’ll speak directly with our Director, Ian. While our team continues to grow, he handles all customer inquiries personally to ensure you receive the best possible guidance.

Koyo Ibushi Inaba Sample

SKU: ITBS-30-100/Sample
Sale price£7.00
Out of stock

Koyo Ibushi Inaba is a quietly compelling wall tile series handcrafted in Funatsu‑cho, Himeji by the master ceramicists at Koyo Seiga. Using the time-honoured Ibushi Kawara method, carefully selected clay is slowly fired and then smoked in a reduction chamber, creating a fine carbon layer on the surface. This gives the tile its signature Ibushi Silver finish, soft, subtly reflective, and responsive to light, developing a dignified patina over time. Koyo’s mastery of this process has been trusted in the restoration of Japan’s most respected cultural landmarks, including the UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle.

Each tile in the Inaba collection features a clean, monolithic form with a smooth but naturally varied surface that responds gracefully to ambient light. Mounted on mesh backing for straightforward installation, Inaba offers calm structure and refined simplicity across interior or exterior wall surfaces.

True to the Koyo Ibushi tradition, Inaba tiles are made solely from clay and carbon, with no glazes or synthetic treatments. Their microporous structure supports humidity regulation, odour absorption, UV and frost resistance, and far-infrared radiation emission. These performance qualities are inherent to the material and require no added treatment.

Koyo Ibushi Inaba is well suited to architectural settings that call for understated elegance, including spa and wellness spaces, quiet lobbies, gallery walls, and facade applications. It brings together elemental materiality, long-term performance, and Japanese heritage craftsmanship in a surface that matures with presence and time.

We offer three main shipping categories: Local Stock, Stock from Japan, and Samples.

 

Local Stock

These tiles make up a smaller portion of our range but account for most of our sales by volume.

Stock is held in Dubai, Germany and the UK.

To ensure safe delivery, we only offer pallet deliveries for these tiles.

Orders are shipped the same day or the next day, depending on the confirmation time.

Delivery time varies by location but is typically within  3–10 days.

Our website provides clear shipping options and costs before requiring payment.

If you’re in a remote location, please contact us in advance to confirm shipping rates.

Stock from Japan (Pre-Orders)

We offer three shipping options for pre-ordered tiles from Japan:

1. Dedicated Sea Freight

Your order is shipped individually as soon as it’s ready.

The process includes 3-6 weeks at sea plus customs and local handling, totalling 6–14 weeks.

2. Shared Sea Freight

Your order is combined with others before shipment to our local warehouse.

We typically have four shipments per year.

Once dispatched, delivery follows the same timeline as Dedicated Sea Freight.

3. Air Freight

Your order is flown from Japan directly to your site.

This takes around 2 weeks from order to delivery

Each circumstance is different, please ask for a quote.

Samples

We carry a full range of samples in our UK and Dubai warehouses and the most popular tiles can be supplied from our German warehouse.

Shipping with  Courier in 2-10 days

Returns

We accept returns for bulk local stock items (not samples or orders from Japan). However, due to the high cost of return shipping, we encourage you to make an informed decision before ordering.

Return Policy

 Items from  Japan (Classed as Custom Orders) are non-returnable.

To initiate a return, email us at info@mittsugroup.com within 14 days of receiving your order.

The return must be sent to the warehouse it was dispatched from within the following 14 days.

Tiles must be returned  in their original, unopened, and undamaged conditionPallet shipping is required, (regular courier shipments often result in damage.)

Refunds will be issued within 14 days of receiving the returned items.

For further details or assistance, please contact us.

Welcome to Mittsu; Your Source for Authentic Japanese Tiles

Japanese tiles are renowned for their beauty, quality, and craftsmanship. If a stunning tiled bathroom led you here, you might feel overwhelmed by the choices but don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Who is Mittsu?

Mittsu is a privately owned company specialising in authentic Japanese tiles. We only sell tiles made in Japan, ensuring superior quality and craftsmanship.

Unlike other businesses offering “Japanese-style” tiles, our products are genuinely made in Japan, reflecting the rich heritage and artistry that define Japanese ceramics. Learn more about what makes Japanese tiles unique.

How to Choose the Right Tile

• Search by name on our website.

• Browse our collections for inspiration.

• Follow us on Instagram for design ideas.

Box Sizes & Pricing

Since we source tiles from multiple Japanese manufacturers, box sizes varyranging from 0.3m² to 2m². To keep things transparent, each tile page displays:

Price per square meter (for easy comparison).

Price per box (as we only sell full boxes).

For example, our Kaji Border tile costs more per box than Ka-Bu, but it covers 1.8m² per box compared to Ka-Bu’s 1m², making it a lower cost option per square meter.

Stock Availability

We stock our most popular tiles in our Dubai, UK and German warehouses.

Despite our best efforts, demand can sometimes outpace supply, so if a tile is out of stock, feel free to contact us for alternatives or restock timelines.

Pre-Orders (Stock from Japan)

For tiles not currently in our local stock, we offer three shipping options:

1. Dedicated Sea Freight; Your order is shipped individually as soon as it’s ready.

2. Shared Sea Freight; Your order is combined with others for more cost-effective shipping.

3. Air Freight; Your order is flow from Japan directly to you. This takes around 2 weeks from the tiles are available. Please contact us for a quote.

Our website allows you to order tiles from Japan with the understanding that shipping times vary. If you’re interested in a specific tile that’s out of stock, please get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to assist.

Samples

While we strive for accurate photography, tile colours may appear differently on screens. We highly recommend ordering samples to ensure you get exactly what you expect.

You can browse our sample collection or search by tile name and select the sample option.

We have over 450 sample variations ready to ship.

Sample orders within the UK and UAE are shipped with a Next Day Courier Service, with European deliveries taking 3–7 days. (there are no duty or taxes to pay within the EU)

Why Do We Charge for Samples?

1. To minimise waste: Charging a small fee prevents unnecessary orders.

2. To offset costs: Sample stocking and processing are expensive.

However, when you place a tile order for your project, we will refund the cost of up to 5 regular samples upon request.

Who We Serve

We cater to everyone, from private homeowners needing a single box for a kitchen backsplash to leading architectural firms designing luxury hotels.

If you are an Architect, Interior Designer or Buyer, please email us at  sales@mittsugroup.com or join our Specifier Program here.

We ship all over Europe/GCC and can assist projects in other locations upon request.

Personal Service

At Mittsu, we take pride in our personalised approach. When you contact us, you’ll speak directly with our Director, Ian. While our team continues to grow, he handles all customer inquiries personally to ensure you receive the best possible guidance.