https://https://uk.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/saga-prefecture/best-things-to-do/10070014589090
Best Things to Do
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Saga Prefecture [2025]
Saga Castle Ruins
4.3
/5
50 reviews
5.0
525m from downtown
Phone +81952417550
Address: 2 Chome-18-1 Jonai, Saga, 840-0041, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
Highlights:
Unique castle on flatland
Edo-era domain office site
Verified user reviews
There are not many places to visit in Saga, but Saga Castle is worth a visit. In the evening, the setting sun falls on the Saga Castle History Museum like molten gold, giving this ancient city a soft and mysterious golden coat. Stepping lightly, stepping into this land treated gently by time, it seems as if you have traveled through the tunnel of time and space and returned to that turbulent era.
Saga Castle, whose history can be traced back to the early Edo period, was once the location of the Saga Domain Office. However, after many wars and fires, Saga Castle has been damaged several times. Especially in the Saga Rebellion in the early Meiji era, most of the buildings in the city were burned down, and only the city walls and gates were preserved. The Saga Castle History Museum we see today was built on the basis of the reconstruction by the then domain lord Nabeshima Naomasa in 1838, and has been maintained and restored.
The History Museum stands quietly under the city wall. Without the hustle and bustle of the day, it is more solemn and quiet at this moment. The city wall, the mottled stones, every brick and tile are engraved with the stories of the past. They have witnessed the changes of countless dynasties and the baptism of wind and rain, but they still stand tall, guarding the memory and glory of this land. Walking along the city wall, you can still vaguely hear the echo of history
Walking into the history museum, the lights are soft and the atmosphere is warm. With more than 700 tatami mats, it is one of the largest wooden restoration buildings in Japan. The museum displays a variety of exhibits, from ancient weapons to exquisite works of art, from documentary records to daily utensils, each of which carries the weight of history and tells the past and present of Saga Castle. In particular, those historical materials related to the late shogunate and the Meiji Restoration period, through materials, images and models, present the history of this period in many ways, making people feel as if they are in that turbulent era.
Saga Castle (さがじょう) is a castle in Saga City, Saga Prefecture, Japan. Located in the center of Saga City, the castle is a compound flat castle with multiple outer moats. Saga Castle was renovated from Nakamura Castle of the Ryuzoji clan. In 1584, Ryuzoji Takanobu was killed in a battle with the Shimazu-Arima coalition, and the Nabeshima clan took control of the real power. Although Naoshige Nabeshima had a plan to renovate the castle at that time, he was afraid of the master and did not implement it.
Show All Photos
Ureshino Onsen
4.3
/5
25 reviews
4.5
Based on 146 reviews
34.2 km from downtown
Phone +81954431234
Address: Ureshino, Saga Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Featured in 2024 Asia 50 - Hot Springs Attractions
Highlights:
Sodium-rich hot springs cleanse skin
Origin of Empress Shinko's Onsen
53% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Ureshino Hot Springs is famous, and so is its tea. Ureshino tea is the tea that Toyotomi Hideyoshi brought back from the Korean Peninsula with the captives of the Central Dynasty (including soldiers from the tea-producing areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang) and the tea-growing and tea-making techniques. Did the three great expeditions of Wanli win or lose?
In any case, when they later paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty, the Ming people from Nanjing brought the iron pot tea-frying technique to the east. It is said that part of Ureshino tea, namely the iron pot tea, still retains the tea-frying technique of the Ming Dynasty. Now most Japanese tea-making techniques are steam-extracted tea, including matcha.
I talked to a tea garden owner about organic tea. Ureshino is a hilly basin area. As long as a tea garden inevitably uses pesticides, the pesticide residues floating in the air will cause a large area of tea gardens to not be able to obtain pesticide-free certification, and organic certification seems to be very difficult. Everyone tries not to use pesticides as much as possible, and then takes tea leaves from higher altitudes that are not easily contaminated by second-hand pesticides for certification. I couldn't control myself and bought a certain iron pot tea from Ureshino and a mixed tea of green tea and tea powder from another tea garden. The website of another tea shop said that they had 3 kilograms of award-winning tea. I went there just to take a look at the award-winning tea, but it was sold out just a few days after it was on the market. In the end, I ended up buying some tourist tea as a souvenir.
A must-visit in Japan! A beautiful hot spring town that you must not miss!
If you want to go to Japan, but don’t want to go to Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, which are full of people, then going to Kyushu, Japan would be a very good choice, especially during the National Day holiday! There are few people, the temperature is high, and you won’t feel cold even if you wear short sleeves!
·
When you come to Kyushu, don’t miss the beautiful hot spring town of Ureshino Onsen! Many people also come here to experience the local hot springs♨️, but if the budget is limited, staying in Saga and taking JR or bus here for a day trip is also a good choice! Next, I will tell you how to play in Ureshino!
·
Several attractions that cannot be missed in Ureshino Onsen:
1️⃣Toyotamahime Shrine⛩️, located in a small alley, the shrine enshrines the [Catfish God], the god of beautiful skin that can make the skin white and smooth. There are many "Ema" hanging next to the [Catfish God]. They are all wishes made by people who come to worship after the worship, and then hung up. The Fengna gold of "Ema" is 400 yen, just put it in the incense box.
2️⃣ Hizen Yume Street, also a ninja village, the only building in Japan that completely imitates the Edo period, and a small park with ninja as the theme. The ticket price is 1,100 yen. Those who are interested in ninja can go for a visit.
3️⃣ Ureshino Onsen Park, a small park, the small western-style buildings built by the river are very beautiful, and the scenery on both sides of the hot spring bridge is also very good!
4️⃣ Don't miss the several open-air foot baths scattered in the town. If you don't have time and budget to stay in a local hot spring hotel, you can experience the open-air foot baths on the street. It's warm and comfortable.
5️⃣ Zuikoji Temple, a very small temple, but very quiet, it's good to go for a walk.
6️⃣ Characteristic Japanese streets, you can take blockbusters on the street! You can also see kittens everywhere on the street, isn't it very cute!
7️⃣ Tofu soup is also a major attraction! Because Ureshino is full of hot springs, the locals use this natural resource to make a special delicacy - hot spring tofu soup, using hot spring water to cook tofu. The soup is very refreshing, the tofu is very tender, and a set meal is only 60 yuan!
·
How to get there:
From Saga, you need to take the JR first and then transfer to the bus to get there. If you take the JR, you need to transfer at Takeo Station, so you can put Takeo and Ureshino in a day trip.
Yūtoku Inari Shrine
4.7
/5
18 reviews
4.4
Based on 294 reviews
26.5 km from downtown
Phone +81954622151
Address: Japan, 〒849-1321 Saga, Kashima, Furueda, 乙1855
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Saga Prefecture
Verified user reviews
In the legend of Yutoku Inari Shrine, the fox spirit does not directly appear in the name of "Fox Fairy", but the fox plays an important role in the legend as the messenger or representative of Inari God. Here are some key points about the fox in the Yutoku Inari Shrine legend:
• The fox is regarded as a messenger of the god Inari, endowed with magical power and wisdom.
• The fox helped the villagers solve the problem of insect and rodent damage to the crops and protected the harvest.
• In order to thank the fox for its kindness, the villagers built a statue of the fox in the shrine and regarded it as the patron saint of the shrine.
Although the term "Fox Fairy" is not directly mentioned in the legend, the role played by the fox and the power displayed have certain similarities with the image of the Fox Fairy in Japanese culture.
The vermilion color of the stage is amazing!
That alone is worth the visit.
The shopping street in front of the temple is a little rundown, but it's fun to look at the souvenirs. 😊
No.
4
Show All Photos
Karatsu Castle
4.6
/5
30 reviews
4.3
From £2.51
Based on 502 reviews
37.5 km from downtown
Phone +81955725697
Address: 8-1 Higashijōnai, Karatsu, Saga 847-0016, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Highlights:
Panoramic view from castle top
17th-century historical site replica
42% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
When you arrive in Saga, you must visit Karatsu Castle. This castle built on the seaside is very unique. Climb up the castle and look into the distance, the beautiful scenery will be breathtaking and refreshing!
Karatsu Castle Honmaru
Located on Mandosan Mountain extending towards Dangjin Bay
With Ninomaru and Sannomaru
Forming a continuous flat mountain city
Because it faces the sea
It is also one of the sea cities
There is a section of stone wall directly facing the sea.
It is shaped like wings spread out from Mandosan Mountain
therefore
karjincheng
Also known as Maizuru Castle
Blue sky and white clouds
Sea and sky one color
Karatsu Castle spreading its wings
Beautiful and refined~
No.
5
Arita Porcelain Park
4.7
/5
47 reviews
4.2
37.6 km from downtown
Phone +81955410030
Address: Otsu-340-28 Toya, Arita, Nishimatsuura District, Saga 844-0014, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
31% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Arita Ceramic Park is a leisure park with ceramics as its theme. The biggest highlight is the ceramic art museum built to simulate the German "Zweienger Palace". The museum houses world-renowned Arita ware works. The historical evolution of Arita ware can be clearly seen from the works from the Edo period to the Meiji period. In addition, the 180 cm large vase exhibited at the 1870 Vienna World Expo is one of the must-see collections in the museum. In the Arita ware workshop, you can experience the fun of kneading pottery and painting. Even beginners can create a unique Arita ware. The Arita Pottery Market held in late April and early May every year is a grand local festival with a history of nearly 100 years.
In addition to being famous for its ceramics, Arita Ceramic Park also has a very distinctive appearance. Walking into the park is like walking in an 18th-century German town, because the buildings in the park are completely German-style.
There is a kiln for burning paper porcelain on the hillside in the distance, and there is also a small shop where you can experience porcelain hand-made. If you have time, you may want to try it.
There are drugstores and duty-free shops next to the ceramic park for tourists to shop.
No.
6
Show All Photos
Floating Torii Gate of Ōuo Shrine
4.8
/5
4 reviews
4.2
26.8 km from downtown
Phone +81-954-670065
Address: 1874-9 Tara, Fujitsu District, Saga 849-1602, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Verified user reviews
Torii (Torii/とりい) is one of the buildings in Japanese shrines. According to legend, it is a passage connecting the divine realm where gods live and the secular world where humans live, and is a kind of "barrier".
Why are most of Japan's torii gates red?
There is a saying that the Japanese have believed since ancient times that red has the power to exorcise demons, so the Torii gate is red. Also, red reminds people of blood flowing in the body and is adopted as a "symbol of vitality."
Perhaps for reasons like these, red is often used in sacred places such as shrines as a color that has the power to remove filth and bestow strength.
There are waves of tourists, but there is no need to queue, most of them are self-driving. Generally speaking, there are not many people. It is a bit difficult to wait for high tide or low tide.
1
