Last Updated: May 2, 2023

Saga Prefecture

The Place to Go for Ceramics, Sake & Foxes

Welcome back to another Japan area guides. As always, I’ll be going incredibly deep to ensure that you, the reader, are equipped with all that you need to know to get off the beaten path. Today we’ll be taking a look at the inviting but bucolic Saga Prefecture. Located down on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu, Saga is a prefecture that strikes a Goldilocks-like balance that few other places can achieve. Though chock full of many attractions, the prefecture somehow manages to maintain all of its rural charm. Alas, all of this comes at the hefty price of things being rather spread out. To properly see it all, you’ll need to budget for at least a day and a half. Trust me on this one. I had two whole days and could barely fit in everything that I wanted to see.

Now, before we dive into the weeds, let’s first quickly cover what type of traveler Saga most appeals to. For starters, like with all prefectures in Kyushu, Saga is great for those who are looking for something a little different than the mainstream Tokyo and Kyoto experience. Additionally, Saga is also great for connoisseurs of artisanal crafts. The prefecture is known both in Japan as well as overseas as a Mecca for porcelain wares. Moreover, you’ll also find a slew of other creators in Saga…