Saga

Japan

Saga Saga is located in the northwestern part of Kyushu. The shoreline of the Higashi-Matsuura-hanto Peninsula facing the Genkai-Nada ("the Sea of Genkai") is a much indented Rias coast with many outlying islets sitting in the offing. In the prefecture are many nature-rich places to sightsee, like Niji-no-matsubara ("Pine Grove of Rainbow") with a Japanese black pine forest arcing 5 kilometers from east to west along the Karatsu Bay. Nanatsugama known for a row of sea-eroded caverns created by the raging waves of the Genkaki-Nada is another place worth visiting. Thanks to its location facing the Korean Peninsula with the Sea of Japan in between, Saga was an important point of trade with the continent and had been influenced by the Chinese and Korean cultures since early times. Even now, you can witness such influences at places like the Tashiro-Ota Mound in Tosu City known for an ancient color picture-decorated grave. The site of Yoshinogari, featuring a reconstructed complex of a 12 meter tall watchtower and an ancient colony, is said to be where "Yamatai-Koku", a primitive polity of Japan mentioned in an ancient Chinese history book "Gishi-wajin-den" stood, and has attracted more than 10 million visitors since its discovery in 1989.

Boasting many potteries, Saga has been known as the home of ceramics, like "Arita yaki" that have grown as chinaware enameled with color pictures, "Imari yaki" and "Karatsu yaki" long loved by masters of ceremonial tea, since Korean-descended potters from the Li Dynasty opened the first kilns there. Getting There About 1 hour and 45 minutes to Fukuoka Airport from Tokyo Haneda Airport; about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport. About 5 minutes from Fukuoka Airport to Hakata Station by subway. About 4 hours and 50 minutes to Hakata Station from Tokyo Station by JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line; about 2 hours and 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station. About 37 minutes to Saga Station from Hakata Station by JR Nagasaki Main Line Limited Express.