Saga Hidden Gems
Japan's porcelain heartland — the kilns of Arita and Imari, plus a seaside shrine and one of the country's oldest onsen.
5 spots
Climate & Best Season
Warm and humid with heavy early-summer rain; mild winters. The Arita pottery fair in late April draws the biggest crowds.
Famous For (Food)
- Saga beef
- Yobuko squid
- Takezaki crab
- Ureshino tea
Signature Sights
- Arita & Imari kilns
- Yutoku Inari Shrine
- Ureshino Onsen
- Yoshinogari archaeological site
Takeo Onsen Motoyu — Japan's Oldest Public Bath
Motoyu, the central public bath of Takeo Onsen, occupies a building constructed in 1915 in the style of a Noh stage — a…
Takeo City Library — Japan's Most Beautiful Public Library
Takeo City Library, redesigned by Tsutaya Books and architect Takato Tamagami in 2013, is consistently ranked among Japa…
Kyuragi Valley — Ancient Camphor Forests
The Kyuragi River valley, between Takeo and Saga City, is one of western Kyushu's most intact examples of the mixed broa…
Takeo Shrine 3,000-Year-Old Camphor Tree
Within the grounds of Takeo Jinja, a camphor tree estimated at 3,000 years old stands 30 meters tall with a circumferenc…
Mifuneyama Autumn Maple Forest Walk
The maple forest on the slopes below Mifuneyama's granite cliff face contains 4,000 Japanese maple trees (momiji) that t…