Saga Castle

Welcome to the Saga Castle Honmaru History Museum, a site that bridges the gap between feudal history and modern technological ambition. Saga Castle was the seat of the powerful Nabeshima clan, who ruled the Saga Domain for over…

We stand before the Shachimon Gate, a National Important Cultural Property and a rare survivor of the original Saga Castle complex. Completed in 1838, this gate showcases the formidable defensive architecture of the Edo period. …

Entering the Honmaru History Museum, you are immediately greeted by the scent of fresh 'igusa' (rush grass) from the thousands of tatami mats that line the floors. This reconstruction, completed in 2004, covers over 2,500 square…

A central theme of the Saga Castle museum is the transformative leadership of Nabeshima Naomasa, the 10th lord of Saga. Known as a 'Wise Lord' of the late Edo period, Naomasa realized that Japan needed to modernize to avoid being…

Leaving the Honmaru Palace, we approach the wide moats that still surround the castle site. During the Edo period, these moats were nearly 100 meters wide, serving as a formidable water defense. …

As we walk from the castle toward the Saga City Balloon Museum, keep a sharp eye on the street corners and shop entrances. You will notice hundreds of small, stone statues of 'Ebisu,' the Shinto god of wealth and prosperity. …

Our final stop is the Saga City Balloon Museum, the first of its kind in Japan. Saga is known internationally as the 'Hot Air Balloon Capital of Asia,' hosting the Saga International Balloon Fiesta every autumn. …

As we conclude our tour of Saga Castle and its surrounding treasures, we are left with an image of a city that has always looked forward without forgetting its past. From the traditional timber palace of the Nabeshima lords to…