Saga Travel Guide

From pottery to archaeology, humble rice to some of the highest quality beef in the world, Saga Prefecture has a lot to offer and it is also a welcome retreat from the faster-paced Fukuoka and Nagasaki regions.

Saga Tourist Attractions

Saga Featured Food Experiences

Saga Featured Restaurants

SEAT RESERVATION
SAGA

Arutokoro

Lunch: ¥10,000-15,000
Dinner: ¥10,000-15,000
SEAT RESERVATION
SAGA

Kawashima

Lunch: ¥2,000-2,999
Dinner: ¥10,000-14,999
SEAT RESERVATION
SAGA

Kira Honten

Lunch: ¥3,000-4,000
Dinner: ¥10,000-15,000
SEAT RESERVATION
SAGA

Tempura Minematsu

Dinner: ¥15,000-19,999
Saga Prefecture is famous for producing top-quality, beautiful ceramics and porcelain, particularly in Imari and Arita. It has a prosperous rice farming culture that dates back thousands of years and the Hamanoura Rice Terraces are a famous attraction, a collection of almost 300 terraces that are a striking image when flooded in May. Saga is the smallest prefecture in Kyushu and the perfect place to get away from the busier populated nearby areas of Fukuoka and Nagasaki. Its proximity to mainland Asia has resulted in it being an important gateway for the passing of culture and trade throughout Japanese history. Travel through time at the Yoshinogari Ruins which is the best archaeological site about the Yayoi Period that dates back to around 300 BC, and visit Yutoku Inari Shrine, one of the three largest Inari shrines in Japan. Saga Prefecture is also known for hosting quirky festivals and events such as the Kashima Gatalympics in May and June, involving playing a variety of sports on the mudflats of the Ariake Sea; and the Saga International Balloon Fiesta in November, which is one of the biggest hot air balloon competitions in the world. There is also a substantial food culture with one local Saga dish being Saga Gyu (Saga beef), which is a type of Japanese black beef known for its fine lines of marbled fat that creates a tender texture. It’s often graded at the A4-A5 level, which is some of the highest grades of Japanese wagyu beef. Seafood is also vastly popular, and the produce caught in the Ariake Sea is beloved by locals. There is an abundance of variety and some of the favorites include gazami (crab), mutsugoro mudskipper), mantis shrimp, and seabass. A popular, tasty dish is hamayaki which is fresh seafood such as turban shells and oysters that are chargrilled in their shells. Like most places in Japan, this prefecture is not short of onsens and there’s a local delicacy of boiled tofu, cooked in the hot spring water.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What to eat in Saga?

Located next to the East China Sea, Saga offers abundant fresh seafood options. Yobuko ika (live squid sashimi) is a famous dish from Saga; there is even a Yobuko ika festival there! If you are not a fan of raw seafood, you can also eat squid grilled or fried as tempura. If you can’t pick between all the delicious food Saga has to offer, we’ve narrowed it down for you in our blog post covering what to eat in Saga.

What are the best things to do in Saga?

Takeo Onsen, with its relaxing hot springs, is a great place to go to pamper yourself. Take a trip to Yutoku Inari Shrine, which looks over Kashima City. The architectural highlight there is the impressive main hall, which is held up by 18-meter tall beams.

Where to see cherry blossoms in Saga?

The natural beauty of Ogi Park always stuns visitors. The park has around 3,000 cherry blossom trees that extend up the hillside. If you take the south path, you will find yourself surrounded by cherry blossoms. Visiting towards the end of cherry blossom season is also nice, as the sakura petals fall and decorate the surface of the huge lake inside the park.

What is Saga famous for?

Saga is famous for its seafood and rich history. Many come just to try the fresh seafood from Genkai Sea. If you are not a fan of fish, Saga beef is also popular due to its high quality and gorgeous marbling.

What to buy in Saga?

Pottery is an important handmade craft of Saga, a tradition that started there 400 years ago. If you head to Arita and Imari, you can find hand-made ceramics, the perfect souvenir of your trip to Saga.

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