Definitely sounds like the Pleiades ( the Japanese name is Subaru, and yes the cars are named after it!) In darks skies you should be able to see 7-10 stars with naked eye without any probs and they seem to be surrounded by a haze4 which is the fainter stars in the cluster.
The 'saucepan' in Orion is formed by the 3 bright stars of Orions belt, which is the base of the pan, the handle is the sword of orion (M42 and surrounds. Personally I have never liked the 'saucepan' asterism, it trivialises the most magnificent patch of sky in the whole night sky IMHO.
Malcolm
PS: Oh and welcome to IIS!!
