Saga

Saga (dead link: January 2023) (佐賀) is the eponymous capital of Saga prefecture on the Japan 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.

Understand

Get in

By plane

Saga Airport is small but has daily flights to Tokyo (Haneda) and Osaka (Itami). From the city it takes about 30mins by bus and costs ¥600.

Buses also connect Fukuoka Airport to Saga (70 minutes, ¥1000). This option to travel via Fukuoka is much more practical for most travelers, because there are a wider variety of connections.

By train

Saga is a stop on the JR Nagasaki Line.

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. Trains run directly to Saga in about 40 minutes at a cost of ¥2300. It is best to get the return ticket, as it costs the same amount but you save yourself the trouble of having to purchase another ticket to get back to Fukuoka. Even if it is unused, it doesn't hurt to get it as it doesn't cost you any extra.

Local trains from Hakata cost only ¥1080, but you will have to change trains in Tosu and the travel time will be about 75 minutes or more, depending on the timing of the connection.

From Nagasaki to Saga it takes 75-90 minutes on the limited express (¥3740), or about 2½ hours on the local service (¥2070). From Sasebo it is about 65 minutes by limited express (¥2470) or about 100 minutes by local (¥1250).

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. Take the exit for Route 263 South to go towards Saga Station and the city center.

By bus

Nishitetsu Bus operates buses from Nishitetsu Tenjin Bus Terminal (Tenjin Station) in Fukuoka. If you're traveling from Nagoya or Osaka, there are highway buses to Nishitetsu Tenjin Bus Terminal and from there you can transfer to one of the Saga-bound buses.

By boat

Get around

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. A lot of Saga's sites, such as Furuyu Onsen, its World Heritage Naval port, etc. are best reached by bus or car. All bus routes in the city connect at the bus center, which is adjacent to Saga Station.

See

Saga Castle (佐賀城), 33.245744°, 130.302153°. 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. Entry by donation, castle grounds free
Kono Park (神野公園, kōno-kōen), 33.2662117°, 130.2809646°. 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.
Saga City History and Folk Museum (佐賀市歴史民俗館, sagashi rekishi minzokukan), 33.2541057°, 130.3065743°. 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.
Saga Balloon Museum (佐賀バルーンミュージアム), 33.2524°, 130.2982°. 10:00-17:00. A new museum all about hot air balloons and competitions. It has interactive exhibits and a small theatre. ¥500 2018-02-20
Hizen Provincial Capital Ruins (肥前国庁跡, hizen kokuchō ato), 33.316944°, 130.274°. 9:00-17:00, Closed Mon. Free
Chikugo River Lift Bridge (筑後川昇開橋, Chikugo-gawa shōkaikyō), 33.215°, 130.361944°. 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. 2018-02-20
Mietsu Naval Dock (三重津海軍所跡), 446-1, Hayatsue, Oaza, Kawasoe-machi, 33.207733°, 130.340116°, +81 95-234-9455. 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. 2016-06-29
Higatayoka Park (干潟よか公園), 33.1738°, 130.2703°. 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. 2018-02-20
Xu Fu Chojukan Museum and Herb Garden (徐福長寿館), 33.329786°, 130.308464°. 09:00-17:00. 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. ¥300 2016-07-03
Kyoseki Park (巨石パーク), 33.337644°, 130.262403°, +81 95-264-2818. 09:00-17:00. 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. Free 2016-07-05

Do

Remains of the JR Saga Line (佐賀線跡,徐福サイクルロード), 33.2438308°, 130.3149265°. 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. 2016-02-13
Saga International Balloon Fiesta (佐賀インターナショナルバルーンフェスタ Saga Intānashonaru Barūn Fesuta), 33.25309°, 130.24547°. every year in the beginning of november.

Buy

Mallage Saga (モラージュ佐賀), 33.252136°, 130.31879°. A large shopping mall with many clothing stores and a cinema, just a short walk from Saga Station. 2016-07-05

Eat

Kira (季楽), 33.261582°, 130.303255°, +81 95-228-4132. Lunch 11:00-15:00, dinner 17:00-22:00 (last order 1 hour before closing). The restaurant that is famous for serving Saga beef (saga-gyu) dishes. 2016-07-06
Kitajima Marubolo, 33.2649°, 130.2969°. 09:00-20:00. 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. 2018-02-19

Drink

Cron, Saga City-Aikei machi (a 5-10 minute walk from the station), 33.261074°, 130.300855°. 19:00-late. 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. 450y a beer

Sleep

New Otani Saga (ホテルニューオータニ佐賀), 33.249592°, 130.295859°, +81 95-223-1111. Saga's branch of the upscale Otani Hotel chain. 2016-07-06
Hotel Grande Hagakure (ホテル　グランデ　はがくれ), 33.260566°, 130.295866°. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. Rooms from ¥9000 2016-07-06
Saga City Hotel (サガシティホテル), 33.262113°, 130.297197°, +81 95-240-0100. Singles from ¥4400 2016-07-06

Go next

The city is centrally-located within the prefecture, so it serves as a good base to visit nearly anywhere in the prefecture. It is also possible to use as base to go beyond to Nagasaki or Fukuoka.

Saga - capital city of Saga Prefecture, Japan