Saga

Travel Guide

• Photogenic Hotspots in Saga

  

  09.02.2020

• Saga – Home of Japanese Ceramics

  

  03.02.2020

• Smiles all Around at Kouraku Kiln　－Saga Arita

  

  28.01.2020

• Welcome to Hama-cho: Bizen Hamashuku Brewery Street in Saga

  

  27.01.2020

• Unmissable Autumn Leaf-viewing spots in Japan

  

  23.10.2019

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Best Events

• Festivals

  

  • Karatsu Kunchi
  • Imari Ton-ten-ton Festival

• Cherry Blossom

  

  • Ogi Park

• Fireworks Festivals

  

  • Kyushu Fireworks Festival

Top Things to do

• TOSU PREMIUM OUTLETS

  4.0

  289 Reviews

  Saga Pref. Tosushi Yayoigaoka 8-1

  This outlet mall with a stylish, exotic atmosphere reminiscent of a southern Californian town features a range of 150 shops mostly dedicated to brands and fashion. With breast-feeding rooms and playgrounds, parents can feel comfortable bringing young children. The place is bulging with shoppers during the “premium outlet bargain” sale held twice a year. There are also seasonal events including illuminations.

• Youme Town Saga

  Saga Prefecture Saga City Hyogo-north 5-14-1

  This large shopping center has 180 specialty stores ranging from fashion to consumer electronics, daily sundries and restaurants, and is located on the national highway Route 34. It employs universal design and is recognized by the Building Access Law. It is complete with breast-feeding facilities and free Wi-Fi.

• Yobuko Morning Market

  Yobuko cho Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture

  One of Japan’s three largest morning markets, Yobuko operates 364 days a year (only closing on New Year’s Day). Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., on weekdays some 40 stands operate and 60 on weekends and holidays. The market is particularly famous for its squid ikizukuri sashimi, made with a variety of squid throughout the year. In addition to the squid, visitors are encouraged to try the mackerel ikizukuri, which is fast becoming a new specialty for the market. Take the Showa Bus bound for Yobuko at Oteguchi Bus Center in front of JR Karatsu Station and get off at the Yobuko stop; the market is just a three-minute walk from there. 30 minutes by car.

• Karatsu Castle (Maizuru-jo “Dancing Crane Castle”)

  Saga Pref. Karatsushi Higashijounai 8-1

  This is a castle which could also be called a symbol of Karatsu, located in the northern part of Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. Terazawa Hirotaka, a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, spent seven years to build this castle. The inner citadel sits on Mt. Mitsushima which projects out into Karatsu Bay, while the outer citadel is on the west bank and the third citadel leads to a renkaku style flatland mountain castle. The inner citadel has now been turned into Maizuru Park, and also you can see the superb views of Matsuura Bay from that observation point, the current castle keep which was completed in 1966.

• Yoshinogari Historical Park

  4.0

  333 Reviews

  Saga Pref. Kanzakigunyoshinogarichou Tade 1843

  These are the ruins of a large-scale moat encircled settlement from the Yayoi period and are located on the Yoshinogari hills. This historic park is made up of National land and Prefectural land

• Nakazato Tarouemon Tobo

  4.0

  8 Reviews

  Saga Pref. Karatsushi Chouda 3-6-29

  The Nakazato family is the only family to maintain the traditions of ancient Karatsu and today, this Karatsu ware ceramics studio continues to be operated by the 14th head. Visitors can tour the studio’s gallery where Karatsu ware is displayed and sold as well as the Tojin-machi Ochawangama kiln, a nationally designated Historic Site. From 1734 through the Taisho period, the Tojin-machi Ochawangama kiln was used for official purposes by the local government. An eight-minute walk from the South Exit of Karatsu Station.

• Karatsu Yaki Cooperatives Karatsu Pottery Gallery

  Saga Pref. Karatsushi Shinkoumachi 2881-1 Furusato Kaikan Arpino 2nd Floor

  An exhibition hall and shop on the second floor of Furusato Hall Arpino next to JR Karatsu Station. Visitors can see a variety of pottery works in one place and purchase some as well. The hall offers a variety of dishes and containers perfect for everyday use, making this a great place to pick up a souvenir. The hall also presents how Karatsu ware is made through informational panels and other means. Pottery painting workshops available.

• The Former Takatori Residence

  4.5

  122 Reviews

  Saga Pref. Karatsushi Kitajounai 5-40

  This is the mansion built as a home and for welcoming guests by the coal mine (including Kishima Coal Mine) baron, Koreyoshi Takatori. There are two large buildings on a vast plot of land of about 7613 square meters. It has modern Japanese-style building architecture with a combination of Western style rooms while also still having Japanese style as a keynote. A must-see is the reception hall for the Noh stage and 72 “Sugido-e” (painting on cedar-board doors) paintings by the painter of the Kyoto Shijyo Faction, Koho Mizuno. You can have a good tour of the mansion as there are also always tour guides stationed here. In 1998, it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

• Hikiyama Exhibition Hall

  Saga Pref. Karatsushi Nishijounai 6-33

  This exhibition hall displays the 14 hikiyama festival floats used in the Karatsu Kunchi Festival, a harvest festival held each year from November 2 to 4. Each of the floats was dedicated sometime between the late Edo period and Meiji period. They were made by wrapping wooden frames with hundreds of sheets of Japanese washi paper and then applying and re-applying various colors of lacquer. Bold in design and modeled after themes such as a samurai helmet, Chinese lion, and sea bream, even when looked at through a protective case one can feel their power.