Saga is located about 1h00 by train from Fukuoka, it is a city in the northern part ofKyushu, where modern urban features and traditional Japanese landscapes coexist. The city is surrounded by rich nature with the vast Ariake Sea to the south and the Sefuri Mountains to the north. The Saga International Balloon Fiesta, organized every fall, is one of Asia’s largest air sports events, attracting pilots from around the world.
Ruins of the castle
The castle of Saga was completed in 1611 when a father and his son, Naoshige and Katsushige Nabeshima, carried out work to expand and maintain Muranaka Castle built by former lord Ryuzoji of Saga. There was once a 5-level castle tower in the northwest and the height of the stone walls would have been about 9 m. The perimeter of the castle was planted with pines and camphor trees.
Today, all the moat surrounding the ruins of the castle is now part of the Saga Prefectural Saga Castle Park, where the waterbirds and Japanese carp are established.
Museum of history of the castle of saga
The Saga Castle History Museum is housed in a reconstruction of the main dungeon (honmaru) of the castle. It is one of the largest wooden reconstructions in Japan. This space offers a wide variety of exhibitions, including data, images and models that represent Saga during the fall of Tokugawa Shogunate and Meiji Restoration.
Doll Festival
This dolls festival announces the arrival of spring in the castle city of Saga and takes place from mid February to the end of March. Dolls and ornaments formerly belonging to the Nabeshima estate are exhibited in all their grace and elegance, and dolls dressed in clothes made with the “Nabeshima motif”, which was once used in the uniforms of officials of the Saga estate give an idea of Saga’s history. The hand woven Saga Nishiki dolls, according to the traditional crafts of the region, are delicate and beautiful. These dolls are exhibited in historical buildings of the Edo, Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods, such as the cultural museum of the city of Saga and Chokokan.
Saga observation platform
A 10-minute walk from the castle is the new government office of the prefecture of Saga which offers the highest point in the prefecture.
The observation room on the top floor of the building offers a 360-degree view and is one of the few sights of the prefecture, with views of Mount Unzen on one side and on the other side of the sea of Ariake when weather permits.
The restaurant of the observation room is the highest of the prefecture at 50 meters above the ground, and you can enjoy your meal while admiring the sunset over the city and the night view.
Prefectural Museum of Saga
The Saga Prefectural Museum was opened in 1970 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Meiji period, for the study and research of materials collected on nature, history, arts, crafts and folk traditions. Many objects from these collections can be seen in the permanent exhibition “The History and Culture of Saga”.
The permanent exhibition focuses on real materials and also presents models, dioramas and reproductions. Explanatory panels for each subject, including photographs, illustrations and diagrams, were put in place and a tactile experience corner was set up.
Outside the museum are the Seikeian Tea House, in a traditional building for the Japanese tea ceremony, and sculptures by Koga Tadao, famous sculptor born in Saga.
Beef and Saga sake
Saga beef is well known among the Wagyu. It is tasted in steak, shabu-shabu(type of fondue) or seiro-mushi(steam cooking method).
Balloon party
The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is one of the largest international balloon conventions. It is held annually in early November along the Kasegawa River. The quality of the Saga winds is internationally recognized.
The highlight of the festival is the start of more than a hundred hot air balloons simultaneously, creating dreamlike views that can only be enjoyed in Saga.
Chikogu rising bridge
The rising bridge that spans the Chikugo River, Kyūshū’s largest river, is one of the few vertical lifting bridges in the world and a symbol of Saga Prefecture. The bridge has a total length of 507 metres, moving parts which can be raised up to 23 metres to allow passage of ships.
The rising bridge of the Chikugo River is today a popular tourist attraction on the day and a romantic walk at night. The bridge remains open to pedestrians even when the moving span is lifted and visitors can walk to the central gates. In 2003, the bridge was designated an important cultural asset to preserve for its historic importance.
From the bus center opposite the Saga train station, take the bus to the Onakashima stop (about 24 minutes by bus). Cross the river and descend along the river (about 10 minutes).
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