【佐賀観光】“魅力度最下位”の佐賀県「佐賀市」に行ってみたら想像以上だった…

【佐賀観光】“魅力度最下位”の佐賀県「佐賀市」に行ってみたら想像以上だった…

Good morning. Right now, I’m in Saga City, Saga Prefecture. That behind me is Saga Station. Saga City is the capital of Saga Prefecture, with a population of around 220,000 people. Today, I’ll be exploring this city of Saga. Now I’m at the north exit of Saga Station. The south exit is where the castle and the prefectural office are, but there’s somewhere I want to visit first on the north side, so I’ll start from here. This is the north exit of Saga Station. Right in front of the station is Sunrise Street. Let’s walk down it. It has a stylish exterior, and at first glance, it looks like a modern café, but it’s actually a long-established bakery founded in 1954, loved by locals for years. I bought some bread for breakfast. Beef curry bread. Melon bread. Rum raisin bread. If you buy bread here, you also get free coffee. What a great morning. First, I’ll try the curry bread. Crispy! Freshly baked is always the best. Next is the melon bread. Apparently, it’s pretty famous too. Delicious. Bread is definitely the best breakfast. The eat-in space is spacious and super comfortable. I had breakfast at a bakery called “Kusukusu.” It was really tasty. They had a wide variety of bread, and the prices were very reasonable. I actually wanted to eat more, but I held back. This is Prefectural Route 264 right in front of the station. It’s well maintained and very spacious. Now we’ve arrived at the next spot. One of Kyushu’s largest multipurpose arenas. If you go straight down Sunrise Road from the north exit of Saga Station, you’ll reach this arena. It’s a weekday today, and there’s no event, so it’s empty, but the restrooms are spacious and very clean. There’s also an open deck nearby — it’s a very pleasant spot. As you can see, this whole area is called Sunrise Park, a multi-purpose park. There’s Saga Arena and Saga Stadium, plus sports grounds and tennis courts. And the Sunrise Tower. This piece was designed by Kensuke Miyazaki, an artist from Saga City. It serves as a symbol of Sunrise Park. It also functions as the stadium’s lighting. Saga Stadium. I’m now on the second floor, near the entrance to the arena. There’s a running course surrounding the stadium. It feels urban — a city-style park. It’s all well maintained and really pleasant. Next, I’m heading further north, so I’ll rent a car and drive. After about a 15-minute drive from Saga Arena, I’ve arrived at Kawakamikyo. As you can see, there are colorful carp streamers flying over the river — it’s beautiful. Every year on Children’s Day in May, around the Kawakami Bridge, about 300 streamers are hung in front of the Kanjin Bridge that crosses the Kase River. This area is sometimes called the “Arashiyama of Kyushu” — a truly scenic and picturesque location. It really feels like spring here, and the atmosphere is just amazing. Each carp streamer has a different face, and if you look closely, the designs vary too — which makes it fun to look at them all. The wind has picked up — they’re swaying beautifully now. Even the inns across the river look really nice. It’s so peaceful here — I really love this place. And right by Kawakamikyo, you’ll find Yodohime Shrine. Yodohime Shrine was once the top-ranked shrine of Hizen Province, which included present-day Saga and Nagasaki. It’s a shrine with a long and prestigious history. The enshrined deity is said to be the younger sister of Empress Jingu, Yodohime-no-Mikoto. She is believed to bless people with safe childbirth and good relationships. This is the great camphor tree of Yodohime Shrine. It’s massive. They say it’s about 1,400 years old. There’s even a large stone embedded in its trunk. Just seeing that tells you how much time it has endured. Kawakamikyo is such a peaceful, lovely place. I bought a local specialty of Kawakamikyo— a white bean paste manju (rice cake bun). I got it from Tokiwaya, a long-established shop. Their manju is all-natural, made only with locally grown rice, red beans, sugar, and a pinch of salt. A very simple, traditional sweet. So good. It’s a simple flavor, but it has a gentle saltiness, and the balance between sweet and salty is just perfect. So that was my visit to Kawakamikyo and Yodohime Shrine. Now I’m heading back toward the station to explore the southern side next. Back at the north exit — the Sunrise Exit of Saga Station. Next, I’m exploring the area on the south side. This is Saga Station’s south exit— also called the Saga Castle Exit. Right next to the station is a multi-use complex called COMBOX. Out front, you’ll find three bronze statues. Among them, the man in the middle is especially significant to Saga. He’s Naomasa Nabeshima, the 10th lord of Saga Domain. He’s remembered as a wise ruler who helped modernize Japan during the late Edo period. Now I’m walking along the south-side street. Both the north and south exits of Saga Station are really well-maintained and clean. Very comfortable to walk around. Here I am at a major intersection south of the station. There’s a rather unique plaza here. Lining the plaza are statues of famous figures connected to Saga. This person is especially well known— Shigenobu Okuma. I thought about introducing each one individually, but since they’re all bronze statues, they all kind of look the same… So I’ll skip that for now. In front of Saga Bank’s distinctive rooftop, there’s another statue. This is Kingo Tatsuno, a famed architect from Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. A master of modern architecture. I actually featured him in my Karatsu vlog too. As you walk around Saga, you’ll also spot little statues of Ebisu scattered around. Those are fun to find too. As I walk down the main road in front of the station, I’ve reached the shopping street entrance. At the entrance to the arcade, there’s a moat. Apparently, this area was once part of the Saga castle town and is called “Jukkenbori.” They’ve got maps here showing the current layout, along with old historical maps so you can compare how the town has changed over time. It gives you a great sense of what the castle town used to be like— how the area around the Saga Castle Honmaru developed. Really well-done tourist signage. “Jukken” means ten ken (about 20 meters), so this moat is roughly that wide. This is Shirayama Meitengai. It’s a small covered shopping arcade. Looks like it connects to another arcade street as well. There’s a map showing the stores in the arcade— and wow! I’ve never seen a map this packed with shops before. I’ve walked straight down from Saga Station to this point. When it comes to autumn in Saga, nothing beats the Saga International Balloon Fiesta—one of the largest in the world. And here at the Saga Balloon Museum, you can experience the world of hot air balloons all year round. Inside the museum, there are actual balloon exhibits, a flight simulator where you can try piloting one, and behind-the-scenes videos about the competitions. From kids to adults, it’s a place where everyone can see, touch, and learn about Saga’s proud aerial festival. Let’s try out the balloon simulator. I started without really knowing how to do it… But a staff member kindly taught me. It was harder than I expected. I got a C rank. Do people ever get S rank? Apparently, hardcore regulars who come all the time can reach S rank. Got a coin for the crane game! Hmm… doesn’t look easy to win. Oh? No way! It was actually pretty easy — that was a kind setup. Got myself a card! It was small, but a lot of fun. So that was my visit to the Balloon Museum. Even if you can’t make it to the actual Balloon Fiesta, it’s great that you can experience it through the permanent exhibits. I really enjoyed it. Here’s the gate of the old Ureshino samurai residence. It’s a gabled structure with a tiled roof, and the tile crest bears the character for “water.” This area is called Matsubara Koji. The atmosphere here is amazing. You could walk around here forever. It’s such a pleasant and relaxing place. This is the old Nagasaki Kaido road. That’s where the Balloon Museum was, and I’ve been walking along here since. This red dotted line shows the old Nagasaki Kaido. It was a road connecting Kokura and Nagasaki during the Edo period. This area, called Yanagi-machi on the Nagasaki Kaido, has historic buildings that still remain, creating a very charming old-town feel. These red bricks might even be original from that time. You really get a sense of history from this townscape. Walking around Saga City has been more enjoyable than I imagined. This building is a registered Important Cultural Property of Saga City. And apparently, you can eat lunch here too, so I’ll be stopping here for lunch. Inside the former Koga Bank building is a cafe restaurant called Romanz. It’s a calm space with classical music playing where you can enjoy lunch or coffee. Today I’m having a local Saga specialty— Sicilian Rice. Roast beef, fresh veggies, and creamy mayo sauce— all delicious over rice! The food and atmosphere were both incredibly satisfying. I had Sicilian Rice at Romanz. I’d been wanting to try it, so I’m glad I did. The Nagasaki Kaido and Yanagi-machi area really has an amazing atmosphere. The historic townscape has so much charm, it’s a joy just to take a stroll here. There are many historic buildings throughout the Nagasaki Kaido and Yanagi-machi area. This old Koga residence was once home to the head of Koga Bank during the Meiji era. It was also used as a traditional inn back in the day, and features a samurai-residence-style design. Right next to it is the old Ushijima residence— a relocated and restored townhouse from the early 18th century, offering a glimpse into Edo-period life. This is the old Morinaga residence, now home to a specialty tea shop and a gallery for Nabeshima carpets. You can enjoy tea and shopping while taking in the historical vibe. There’s so much to see on the Nagasaki Kaido and in Yanagi-machi, I’m running out of time! I’d love to explore more, but I have to keep moving. It’s a bit of a shame, but there are other places I still want to visit. Here’s a replica of a gas lamp used during the Meiji era. I love how the town is designed to give you a feel of that old-time scenery. This shrine was originally built in 1932. It’s relatively modern. It enshrines Naomasa Nabeshima, the 10th lord of Saga, and Naohiro Nabeshima, the 11th lord. Both were key figures in Saga’s history. Naomasa in particular was known for reforms in medicine, education, military, and more— he truly laid the foundation for Japan’s modernization. In the shrine grounds, you’ll find Japan’s first domestically made iron cannon, as well as a replica of a Western-style Armstrong cannon. You can really feel the history here. It’s fitting for a shrine to Naomasa Nabeshima— even the Saka Shrine feels modernized. There are several other shrines within the same grounds. First is this one— Matsubara Shrine. It enshrines Naoshige Nabeshima, the founder of the Saga domain, and was built in 1772. In fact, it’s older than the Saka Shrine. There are Arita porcelain lanterns on the grounds— the detailed dragon designs are stunning. There’s also the Matsune Shrine. It honors Furukawa Matsune, a close aide to Naomasa Nabeshima, respected for his excellence in etiquette, academics, and the arts. Altogether, there are seven shrines within the grounds, making it a popular site for shrine pilgrimages. This is the moat of Saga Castle. There’s a popular meat bun shop across the street that people line up for. I’ll cross the moat now and head toward Saga Castle. Every guideboard here includes an old map, which makes it very easy to understand. They overlay the current buildings and roads with historical maps— these guideboards are incredibly helpful. This is the old Saga Prefectural Office building. The design somewhat resembles the National Diet Building. We’ve arrived at the Saga Prefectural Office. Apparently, this is the old building, and the new, currently used building is next door. The new wing (current office) is designed to match the horizontal lines of the old building. We’ve come inside the Prefectural Office. On the first floor, there’s a large open hall. There’s a dedicated elevator that goes to the observation floor. The hours for the observation hall are surprisingly long. This is amazing. The observation floor really feels like a properly designed tourist spot. Anyone can access the observation floor for free, and you get a 360-degree view of Saga City. It’s one of the best scenic spots in the prefecture. On clear days, you can even see Mount Unzen across the Ariake Sea. I just enjoyed the observation floor at the Prefectural Office. It’s truly designed for 360-degree views, and I really liked it. There were also historical exhibit panels, making it a fully developed tourist attraction. You might be wondering why I suddenly brought up Black Mont Blanc, but actually, it’s made by Takeshita Seika, which is based in Saga. So that’s why I’m eating one. The Saga Prefectural Office is very well maintained—really impressive. There’s a FamilyMart next door, and behind that is a place called SAGA CHIKA. It used to be the staff cafeteria, but it’s been renovated into an open public space. The environment here seems like a great place to work. From the observation floor, I spotted a building with a very unique shape. This building was donated by Kiyoshi Ichimura, the founder of Ricoh, and was designed by Junzo Sakakura, a disciple of Le Corbusier. It has a dynamic, clearly modernist design— I really love it. The design even looks like a crown. There’s also a slide-like, mysterious structure— not sure what it’s for, but it looks so cool. There’s just too much to see in Saga City—not enough time! This place is commonly called “Uma-arai-ba.” It’s an artificial pond where they raise fireflies. Wow! The area around Saga Castle has such a nice atmosphere. Walking around here is just enjoyable. I can see the stone walls now. I’ve arrived at the area around the Saga Castle Honmaru ruins. The lawn is so well manicured—very impressive. Now I’m at the Ninomaru of Saga Castle. There’s a statue at the entrance. It’s Naomasa Nabeshima. Now I’m at the Saga Castle History Museum. That right there is the Shachinomon Gate. I’m now standing in front of the Shachinomon Gate. Saga Castle doesn’t have a main keep anymore, but that stone base you see there is where the keep used to stand. The main keep once stood atop that stone platform. The Shachinomon Gate still bears bullet marks from the Saga Rebellion in 1874. You can actually see them. They’re still there. There are more bullet marks than I expected. Looking closely, you can see some even way up high— it must have been an intense battle. Alright, let’s head inside. And here we are— This was the political center of the Saga domain during the Edo period, and it’s a faithful reconstruction of part of the original palace. As a wooden reconstruction, it’s one of the largest in Japan. One highlight is the recreated grand hall with 320 tatami mats. The scale of it is truly breathtaking in person. And this is the room where Naomasa Nabeshima actually stayed— his private quarters. It’s not just a replica— some parts of the original Edo-period structure have been preserved as-is. I visited the Saga Castle History Museum. It had tons of material on Naomasa Nabeshima, the late Edo period, and the Meiji Restoration. It’s amazing that admission is free with this much to see. There’s no main keep, but it’s still very impressive. And here’s the moat of Saga Castle. There’s a walking path around it, and lots of people are out strolling. Walking around the Saga Castle area, I noticed that some of the paths go deep inside, making it feel like a bit of a maze—which is quite fun. Actually, there’s a good reason for that. The Saga Plain originally had poor drainage, so to support agriculture and daily life, a network of waterways called “creeks” was developed. Looking at a map, you can see how these waterways stretch out in a grid-like pattern across the land. Thanks to this geographical feature, Saga Castle was also built surrounded by water, giving it a unique appearance. Now I’ve come to a place next to the Saga Castle ruins. This too looks like modernist architecture, and the facade makes quite an impact. It’s exactly 6 PM now, which is closing time, so I just barely missed getting in. Still, I’m glad I got to see the building. It’s really striking. Right next to the museum is an art museum—so you can enjoy both the museum and art gallery as a set. And amazingly, both are free to enter. Hard to believe, right? Just around the Saga Castle area alone, there’s so much to see. Now I’ll head back toward the station, but there’s one more place I want to visit, so I’ll head there next. So I’ve come back to the area around Saga Station. There’s one last place I really wanted to see in Saga, so I’m renting a car to get there. After a 20-minute drive from the station, I’ve arrived by the Chikugo River. And here’s the thing I absolutely wanted to see in Saga City. It’s a lift bridge with a moving center section— a rare kind of movable bridge. It was completed in 1935, originally as a railway bridge. At the time of its completion, it was called “the best movable bridge in the East.” Now it’s open to the public as a pedestrian walkway. At night it’s lit up, creating a magical atmosphere. From March to November, it’s open until 9 PM. The night view is beautiful. It’s absolutely breathtaking. If there’s someone in the control room during the day, they’ll even operate the bridge up and down for you. Since we’re right in the middle of the Chikugo River, the wind is super strong— but the whole thing is so impressive. I’m so glad I got to see it—what a beautiful sight. I said it was a Saga City spot, but actually, the Chikugo River marks the border between Saga and Fukuoka Prefectures. Technically, it’s not all in Saga City— but half of it is. I’ve returned the rental car and come back to Saga Station. I’m going to grab some dinner before heading home. This restaurant is a popular yakitori chain that started in Imari. The Saga location is great for solo diners, and the place is super clean! I ordered their classic Ichiban set meal. Grilled chicken with chicken rice, plus chicken soup—super filling! You grill the meat yourself, which makes it even more fun. Add garlic pepper and their secret sauce— Mixing the garlic pepper into the special sauce is insanely good. I also ordered the chicken with ginger— it’s the kind of dish that makes you crave more rice. Tasty, filling, and affordable—just perfect. I definitely want to come back here. So good. This time, I explored Saga City in Saga Prefecture. It turned out to be way better than I expected. There were so many sights to see— I didn’t have enough time at all. What really struck me walking around was how well-maintained all the tourist spots were, making them easy to explore. You can tell the city was designed with tourists in mind. It’s a relaxing place to walk around and enjoy, and the more you walk, the more charm you discover. Hope this video was helpful! Thanks for watching until the end!

「魅力度最下位」なんて言われがちな佐賀県。今回は、そんな佐賀県の県庁所在地、佐賀市へ遊びに行ってきました！
実際に歩いてみたら、歴史・文化・グルメが詰まった、渋くて楽しい街でした！見どころたっぷりで、街がきれいに整備されていて、快適に観光できました！佐賀はいいぞ。

動画が良ければチャンネル登録、グッドボタンよろしくお願いします👍

📹️ 関連動画
・佐賀県唐津市へ行ったら魅力ありすぎた

📍 今回訪れた場所
・石窯パン工房 くすくす
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HkmSqXMV556TnJiSA
・SAGAアリーナ
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KusgKcnEs4QjKMNx9
・川上峡
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nsjoDAx2mMQV2wLGA
・與止日女神社
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TzmwKKiuuohBjjgw6
・白玉饅頭本家ときわ家
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sKZ3xbcU9WmT8us96
・佐賀バルーンミュージアム
https://maps.app.goo.gl/X5Gf5eDKNAJZecMT6
・Restaurant & Cafe 浪漫座
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kddcHUxHQmDQ2iEj8
・佐嘉神社
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uFx2isuMUoX4wvu27
・佐賀県庁
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kqyCPSMke6EAmcQW7
・市村記念体育館
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SmyKnoGpqJvAVPtV7
・佐賀城跡
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qhphJtEBtpggKbMAA
・佐賀県立美術館・佐賀県立博物館
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1YaTz1oKTzBrPpD96
・筑後川昇開橋
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DWEouHaWxafZbLcM9
・ドライブイン鳥 佐賀店
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zcie9geT9BtmCKoB8

🎵使用している音楽
Artlist（以下から登録で2ヶ月分無料になります！）
https://artlist.io/referral/c48a3ef8-a079-4f03-82ba-aa274ebf0700