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Prefecture capital and Special city in Kyushu, Japan
Photo: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Saga (佐賀) is the eponymous capital of Saga prefecture on the Japanese island of Kyushu. Most travelers seem to pass by on their way to Nagasaki, but the city does have its share of worthwhile sites if you take the time to stop by and explore.
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佐賀城
The original Saga Castle was built in 1608 by the Lord Nabeshima Naoshige. The castle suffered repeated fires over the centuries before eventually being torn down. One of the gates survived all of this and has been listed as an Important Cultural Property. In 2004 the castle's honmaru palace was rebuilt. It is now the Saga Castle Museum of History. It offers excellent free English audio guides.
神野公園, kōno-kōen
Kono Park is home to a lovely Japanese garden complete with teahouse called the Kakurin-tei sitting along the central pond. The southern end contains a small amusement park for children.
佐賀市歴史民俗館, sagashi rekishi minzokukan
A unique museum that features many preserved historic buildings. Visitors can enter the buildings and learn about the families that lived there and in turn learn more about the history of Saga City.
佐賀バルーンミュージアム
A new museum all about hot air balloons and competitions. It has interactive exhibits and a small theatre.
肥前国庁跡, hizen kokuchō ato
筑後川昇開橋, Chikugo-gawa shōkaikyō
This bridge was part of a train line that is no longer used. Visitors can now walk across it from Saga Prefecture to Fukuoka Prefecture and back. If you arrive at the right time, you may see the middle of the bridge lifted.
三重津海軍所跡
During the days when Nagasaki served as the only port open to the outside world, the Saga Domain owned and was in charge of protecting the port. With that, they were the only domain that received information from and about other countries, including discoveries and advancements in science and technology. The naval docks were established in Saga to begin producing Western-style ships and forming Japan's first Western-style navy. The dock here was an important part of Japan's modernization on the shipbuilding and naval front and is inscribed as one of the World Heritage Sites that make up the Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.
干潟よか公園
A park on the coast of the Ariake Sea where visitors can see native flora and fauna up close and through provided binoculars. Most famous are the mudskippers that hop around on the mudflats, and the shichimensō, a plant that turns deep red in November. It's also a popular spot for birders, as many shorebirds stop here during migration. The park also has a charming Saga-themed playground.
徐福長寿館
Xu Fu came to Japan from China during the Qin Dynasty in order to find an elixer that could make a human immortal. The leader of the Qin wanted desperately to find a way to avoid death. Xu Fu was sent on two missions but he never returned from the second mission and it is said that on that mission he landed in Japan. The museum has information about him and various legends associated with him and outside is an herb garden with over 500 different herbs.
巨石パーク
A large park filled with gigantic boulders, each with its own name and story behind it. Many are in interesting and unique positions. It's a popular place for day-hikers. The trail around the boulders takes about an hour to complete, so it's a nice place to enjoy at your own pace.
佐賀線跡,徐福サイクルロード
Take a bike ride on the converted railway. Bikes can be rented conveniently close to Saga Station. You may need a map to get your way to the entrance of the bike trail, but after that it's a quiet ride southeast under sakura trees, past the remains of old train stations, that leads you straight to Saga's arguably most famous structure, the Chikugo River Lift Bridge.
佐賀インターナショナルバルーンフェスタ Saga Intānashonaru Barūn Fesuta
季楽
The restaurant that is famous for serving Saga beef (saga-gyu) dishes.
Kitajima sells marubolo and other sweets. Marubolo (丸ぼうろ) is a cookie-shaped cake, and is a Saga specialty. These cakes can be found in a number of other tourist locations, as well.
A cool little sports bar run by a guy called Yuji. Premier League and Champions League are on the big screens. English is spoken, and there is often a foreign presence there. Beer is cheap and the atmosphere is good.
ホテルニューオータニ佐賀
Saga's branch of the upscale Otani Hotel chain.
ホテル グランデ はがくれ
サガシティホテル
モラージュ佐賀
A large shopping mall with many clothing stores and a cinema, just a short walk from Saga Station.
By train
Limited express train services run from Hakata station in Fukuoka twice each hour (usually :02 and :22 past the hour), including the Kamome and Midori train services.
By car
From Fukuoka, simply drive south on Route 263 to reach Saga. From the east and west, the Nagasaki Expressway travels directly through the city.
By bus
Nishitetsu Bus operates buses from Nishitetsu Tenjin Bus Terminal (Tenjin Station) in Fukuoka.
By boat
Visitors often come just to visit Saga Castle on their way to other places. For that, you can just walk. There are plenty of other minor sites in the same area.
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