Things to Do in Saga
Hand-picked sights and experiences across Saga, with day trips from Fukuoka.
When to catch the colours in Saga?
Average red maple, golden ginkgo and cherry blossom dates for Saga, from the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals — the fortnight to aim for, not a promise for any particular year.
- Red maples
- Leaves turnNov 30
- Peak viewingNov 30 – Dec 14
- Golden ginkgo
- Leaves turnNov 21
- Peak viewingNov 21 – Dec 5
- Cherry blossom
- First flowersMar 24
- Full bloomApr 2
Where to look next?
The prefectures we've mapped so far, nearest to Saga first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Porcelain above all — Arita and Imari, where Japanese ceramics began — plus Yutoku Inari, one of Japan's three great Inari shrines built into a hillside, the mudflat games of the Kashima Gatalympics, and November's balloon fiesta.
Yes — kiln-lined lanes, the shrine with a porcelain torii, galleries from museum-grade to bargain seconds, and workshops where you can paint your own. It's a satisfying half-day between Fukuoka and Nagasaki.
It's near Kashima on the JR Nagasaki line — a short taxi or bus from Hizen-Kashima station. Climb past the vermilion main hall up the torii path for the plain-and-sea view; it's far less crowded than Kyoto's Fushimi Inari.