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[Saga ]Saga is fun because it's a solo trip

[Saga ]Saga is fun because it's a solo trip
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Popular Tourist Spots Castles Temples and Shrines History Single travelers Onsen - Hot Spring Baths Spots with incredible view

2023-11-28

In Kyushu travel, popular tourist destinations such as Fukuoka and Nagasaki are scattered throughout the prefecture, and to be honest, you may not plan a trip to Saga Prefecture for its own sake.
However, Saga Prefecture has a variety of attractive tourist destinations, including Karatsu, Imari and Arita, which are famous for their pottery, Yobuko, where you can eat excellent squid, and Ureshino, where you can enjoy one of the three most beautiful skin baths in Japan!
Every fall, one of Asia's largest balloon festivals is held, and the sight of colorful balloons floating in the sky is breathtaking.
This article introduces some of the must-visit tourist destinations in Saga.
Use this article to plan your trip to Saga, and visit Saga to enjoy the atmosphere that can only be experienced when traveling alone as a woman.

Author of this article

Table of Contents

  1. 1.
    Yoshinogari Historical Park
    1. 1-1.
      Facilities to experience history
  3. 2.
    Saga Castle Park
    1. 2-1.
      Saga Prefectural Saga Castle Honmaru History Museum
  5. 3.
    Yoka Shrine
  7. 4.
    Saga International Balloon Fiesta
  9. 5.
    Matsubara Kappa Shrine, along the Matsubara River
    1. 6.
      Saga Station
    3. 7.
      Forest of Environmental Art
    5. 8.
      Underwater torii of the Oooshi-jinja Shrine
    7. 9.
      Ureshino Hot Spring
    9. 10.
      summary

    Yoshinogari Historical Park

    The site of one of Japan's largest Yayoi period moat encircled by an estimated 2.5 km moat stretching from Yoshinogari-cho to Kanzaki City, "Yoshinogari Historical Park ".
    It is a valuable site for understanding the transition of the Yayoi period.
    "Adjacent to the Yoshinogari Ruins ", "Yoshinogari Historical Park "is a tourist attraction that opened in April 2001. "Entrance Zone ""Ancient Forest Zone ""Encampment Village Zone ""Ancient Field Zone "The vast site is divided into four zones.
    The reconstructed architecture of the period allows visitors to fully experience life in the Yayoi period, and there is also a large playground equipment in the style of a watchtower for children to enjoy.

    Facilities to experience history



    In the vast park, facilities from the Yayoi period have been restored, allowing visitors to experience the lifestyle of that time.
    The facility includes reproductions of "Nannai Kaku ", "Mura ", "Kura and City ", and you can actually enter the pit houses and other structures, so you can actually see and experience what you learn in your history textbooks to further deepen your learning.



    "Facility Information "
    Facility name: Yoshinogari Historical Park
    Address: 1843 Tate, Yoshinogari-cho, Kanzaki-gun, Saga 842-0035
    Phone number: 0952-55-9333
    By car: For those using the expressway, exit at the Higashisefuri I.C. of the Nagasaki Expressway and head south on Route 385 for 5 minutes.
    By train: JR Saga Station → "Nagasaki Main Line Regular Train Up [Tosu direction] "→ JR Kanzaki Station (about 9 minutes)
    or JR Yoshinogari Koen Station (about 12 minutes)
    *15 min. walk from Yoshinogari Park Station to Park East Exit (Main Gate)
    *15 min. walk from Kanzaki Station to the west exit of the park (playground)
    Parking: Available
    Closed: Third Monday in January and the following day, December 31
    Admission: Adults 460 yen, seniors 65 and over 200 yen, junior high school students and under free
    URL: https://www.yoshinogari.jp/

    Saga Castle Park



    Although there is no castle tower, you can see the castle tower and the magnificent gate, and when you go up to the tower, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city around Saga Castle.
    The "Shachi-no-Mon "and "Sequential turrets ", designated as National Important Cultural Properties, are a sight to behold.
    Many of the buildings were destroyed by fire during the Saga Rebellion of 1868, but the 50-meter wide moat and other features of the park give visitors a sense of the scale of the castle.
    The park is also home to the Saga Prefectural Museum, a library, and a gymnasium, making it a place not only to learn about history, but also a gathering place for local residents.

    "Facility Information "
    Facility Name: Saga Castle Ruins
    Address: 1-10-11 Jonai, Saga City, Saga Prefecture, 840-0041
    Phone number: 0952-22-5047
    Access by bus: 10 minutes from Saga Station.
    URL：https://sagajoupark.com/

    Saga Prefectural Saga Castle Honmaru History Museum



    This is a museum where visitors can learn about Saga Castle, which was rebuilt in 1838 by Naomasa Nabeshima, the 10th lord of the Saga Domain, while preserving the remains of the Honmaru Goten, the main building of Saga Castle.
    It is the first reconstruction of the Honmaru Goten in Japan, with a 45-meter-long tatami-mat corridor and a 320-mat hall, and the Goza-ma is designated as an important cultural property of Saga City.
    In the exhibition corner, "Saga in the Bakumatsu/Restoration Era "is the theme, introducing in an easy-to-understand manner the restoration of Saga Castle, the science and technology of the Saga clan that led the modernization of Japan, and the great men and women produced by Saga.
    When you actually enter the museum, you will be introduced to the history of the museum by volunteers, who may or may not be there depending on the time of year and the time of day.

    "Facility Information "
    Name: Saga Prefectural Saga Castle Honmaru History Museum
    Address: 2-18-1 Jonai, Saga City, Saga Prefecture
    Phone number: 0952-41-7550
    Closed: Open daily (with occasional closures)
    Office Hours: 9:30 - 18:00
    Admission: Free
    Access by car: 9 km 25 min. from Saga Yamato IC of Nagasaki Expressway via Route 263
    By train: Saga Station Bus Center in front of JR Saga Station→10 minutes by city bus on the Saga Castle Ruins Line, get off at bus stop: Saga Castle Ruins, walk shortly.
    URL：https://saga-museum.jp/sagajou/

    Yoka Shrine



    The shrine was founded in the 6th century, during the reign of Emperor Kinmei, and was the Shinto shrine for Saga Castle.
    The vermilion-colored gate built in the Muromachi period, the three torii gates built in 1603, and the stone bridge connecting them, all built in 1606, are designated as national important cultural properties.
    One of the attractions is a large camphor tree (a prefectural natural treasure) estimated to be more than 1,400 years old on the temple grounds.
    This is a must-visit place when you visit the Saga area.

    "Facility Information "
    Facility name: Yuka Shrine
    Address: 2-50 Yogamachi, Saga City, Saga Prefecture
    Phone number: 0952-23-6091
    Closed: Open every day
    Office hours: Morning to evening
    Fee: Free of charge in the precincts
    Access by car: 8 km 20 min. from Saga Yamato IC of Nagasaki Expressway via Route 263 and 264
    By train: Saga Station Bus Center, a short walk from JR Saga Station→9 minutes each by city bus bound for Higashiyoga, Sesui, or Saga Women's Junior College, Yutoku Bus bound for Kashima or Yutoku, or Showa Bus bound for Karatsu; 3 minutes walk from Tsujino-do bus stop.
    URL：https://yokajinjya.sagafan.jp/

    Saga International Balloon Fiesta



    This is one of Asia's largest international hot air balloon competitions, held annually from late October to early November on the banks of the Kasegawa River in Saga City.
    Today, more than 100 hot air balloons participate. The hot air balloon competition is called a task, and it is not about time, distance, or altitude, but solely about the ability to pilot the balloon. The spectacle of more than 100 colorful balloons all floating at once during the competition flight is something that can only be seen in Saga and is a spectacular sight.



    Also, the night mooring "La Montgolfier Nocturne "is a fascinating festival where you should experience the fantastic scene of hot air balloons illuminated by the flames of the burners.

    Matsubara Kappa Shrine, along the Matsubara River

    Matsubara Kappa Shrine is known as the god of water and disaster prevention. Legend has it that in the old days, children were often drowned by kappa on the Matsubara side next to the shrine, which angered the lord so much that the kappa changed their ways and became the protectors of children from the river.
    Each of the kappa objects scattered throughout the museum is accompanied by an explanation of its family relationship to the kappa.

    Kawataro, in the photo, stands along the river as the lone bronze eldest son, and is a great friend to the children, tilting his head and offering his hand with a smile. He gazes at passersby, apparently asking for a handshake. I shake his hand to test his smile, and suddenly, a jet of water shoots out from a nearby bridge!
    We invite you to experience it for yourself.

    Saga Station

    JR Saga Station is the gateway to Saga City where people gather.
    Lined with restaurants and food stores that promote the charms of Saga, the west side ticket gate in particular will be renovated and opened in the spring of 2023, attracting even more attention.
    The old station building is one of the popular locations for the movie "Zhangkomi "written by Seicho Matsumoto, which was released on January 15, 1958, and the current station building is one of the popular locations for the movie "Bad Guy "written by Shuichi Yoshida, which was released on September 11, 2010.
    One of the attractions is the "Tabidachi Ebisu "on the platform of Saga Station (No. 3) and the "D51 steam locomotive (SL) "on display on the south side of the Saga City Hall. Please visit them when you come to Saga.

    "Facility Information "
    Facility name: Saga Station
    Address: 1 Ekimae-Chuo, Saga City, Saga Prefecture, 840-0801
    Phone number: 050-3786-1717

    Forest of Environmental Art



    Located halfway up Mt. Sakure, the "Forest of Autumn Leaves" was built over a period of nearly 30 years.
    Under the slogan "Autumn leaves will save the earth," about 10,000 maple trees and maples will be in abundant color, and you can take a rest at "Fuyu Sanso ", which was built with the scrap wood of an old house built 100 years ago.
    The small waterfalls, streams, and natural stones are exquisitely arranged. In autumn, more than 10,000 autumn leaves turn the valley into a variety of deep red and yellow-green colors. In May, the fresh green foliage is vibrant.
    The view of the autumn leaves reflected on the floor is popular among young women in recent years because it looks great on SNS.

    "Facility Information "
    Facility name: Forest of Environmental Art
    Address: 667 Hirano, Itsuki-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture
    Hours of operation: 9:00-16:00
    Admission: Adults 700 yen, elementary and junior high school students 300 yen, infants free, groups 600 yen (20 or more people)
    Parking: Available (free of charge)
    Phone number: 0955-63-2433
    URL：https://morisaga.com/

    Underwater torii of the Oooshi-jinja Shrine



    The torii gate floating above the sea has been attracting attention in recent years for its mysterious and SNS-worthy appearance. "The underwater torii of the Oooshi-jinja Shrine ".
    It is said that about 300 years ago (around 1693), a deputy marooned on the island was saved by a big fish (Namino-wo), and the deeply moved deputy built "a shrine named after the fish ( ") and also built a torii (a shrine gate) in the sea about 2 cho (about 200 m) from the shore.
    This torii is the gateway between the island and Okinoshima, and the custom of erecting it every 30 years is still carried on.
    The contrast between the blue of the ocean and the red of the torii gate is spectacular.

    "Facility Information "
    Facility Name: Underwater Torii of Oooshi-jinja Shrine
    Address: 1874-9 Tara, Tara-cho, Fujitsu-gun, Saga 849-1602
    Access by car: 5 minutes from Roadside Station Tara,
    Access by train: 10 minutes on foot from JR Tara Station

    Ureshino Hot Spring

    One of the best hot spring towns in Kitakyushu is "popular since ancient times as a famous hot spring that appears in the Bizen Fudoki "" Ureshino Hot Spring ".
    It is a traditional hot spring resort, which was compiled in 713 (Wado 6) "and described in the Hizen Fudoki ( ") "as having a hot spring in the eastern area that heals people's illnesses ".
    It flourished as an inn town on the Nagasaki Kaido Road in the Edo period (1603-1867) and is still the best hot spring resort in northern Kyushu, so be sure to stay there when you spend a night in Saga.

    "Facility Information "
    Facility name: Ureshino Onsen
    Address: Ureshino-cho, Ureshino-shi, Saga
    Access by train: 33 minutes from Takeo Onsen Station on the JR Sasebo Line by JR Kyushu Bus bound for Ureshino Onsen or Konki, 8 minutes walk from Ureshino Onsen Bus Stop.
    Parking: Available

    summary

    This article has introduced many of Saga's attractions.
    Trains in Saga are not very frequent, with only one train per hour or one-car trains, so they are not very convenient. Also, each tourist attraction is scattered in a remote location, so it would be perfect if you could drive a rental car.
    In fact, when I, the author, traveled alone by train, I could not visit all the places I wanted to see due to transportation access.
    However, I think it is also a hurdle to rent a car for a solo female traveler.
    In this case, we recommend that you research the places you want to visit and transportation access well in advance, and plan your trip carefully.

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