Saga, Saga

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Saga
佐賀市
Location of Saga
Saga's location in Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country Japan
Region Kyūshū
Prefecture Saga Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area 431.42 km² (166.57 sq mi)
Population (as of December 1, 2007)
     Total 239,862
     Density 556 /km² (1,440 /sq mi)
Location 33°16′N, 130°18′E
Symbols
Tree Ginkgo
Flower Camellia sasanqua
Symbol of Saga
Flag
Saga Government Office
Address 〒840-8501
1-1 Sakaemachi, Saga-shi, Saga-ken
Phone number 0952-24-3151
Official website: City of Saga

Saga (佐賀市 Saga-shi?) is the capital of Saga Prefecture, located on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.

Every fall Saga holds the "Saga International Balloon Fiesta" in the dry riverbed of the Kase River. A quarter of the visitors are from Saga. The number of all visitors was about 15 million in 2005. Balloonists from many countries enter this event.

On October 1, 2005, the city merged with the towns of Morodomi, Yamato and Fuji (all from Saga District) and the village of Mitsuse from Kanzaki District to form the new city of Saga. With this creation, the city became neighbors with the city of Fukuoka in Fukuoka Prefecture. On October 1, 2007 the towns of Higashiyoka, Kawasoe, and Kubota were incorporated into Saga, further expanding its borders. Although it is the capital of Saga Prefecture, it can be said to be within the Fukuoka metropolitan area.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Saga city center
Saga city center
Saga city office
Saga city office

Saga City is located in the southeast portion of Saga Prefecture. After the 2005 merger the city became very long north to south. It now borders the Ariake Sea to the south and Fukuoka Prefecture to the southeast and north. The northern half of the city contains the Sefuri Mountains.

[edit] Climate

The annual average precipitation ranges from about 1800 mm (71 in) in the city center to about 2400 mm (94 in) in Mitsuse. The annual average temperature ranges from about 13 °C (55 °F) in Mitsuse to 17 °C (63 °F) in the city center.

[edit] Adjoining municipalities

[edit] History

[edit] Municipal timeline

[edit] Saga Castle

Standing out from many cultural assets is the plains castle within the city, Saga Castle. It is one of the rare castles in Japan surrounded by a wall rather than built on one. First built between 1591 to 1593, there was a fire in 1726. Renovated in 1728, there was yet another fire in 1835. Naomasa Nabeshima of the Nabeshima clan renovated it within two years and moved in. In 1874 it was a court building and a prefectural office. 1883 saw it become a junior school. The buildings were eventually replaced by modern school buildings. The castle is divided into two main buildings, Honmaru and Ni no Maru.

[edit] Education

[edit] Universities

National
Private
  • Saga Junior College
  • Saga Women's Junior College

[edit] Senior High Schools

Prefectural
Private
  • Hokuryo High School
  • Kōgakukan High School
  • Saga Gakuen High School
  • Saga Ryukoku
  • Saga Seiwa High School
  • Saga Girls' High School

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Air

There is one airport inside the city of Saga, Saga Airport, located in the former town of Kawasoe. Before the opening of Saga Airport, Fukuoka Airport was the nearest airport. However, many people in Saga still use Fukuoka Airport due its greater number of routes and flights offered. There is an express bus which connects the two airports.

[edit] Rail

The south exit of Saga Station
The south exit of Saga Station

[edit] Road

  • Expressways
    • Nagasaki Expressway
      • Interchanges: Saga Yamato Interchange
      • Other facilities: Kinryū Service Area

[edit] Attractions

Kakurintei Tea House located in the grounds of Kono Koen is a very quaint and picturesque Japanese tea house overlooking a pond.

Saga Castle (Also called the Saga Castle Historical Museum) is the largest reconstruction of a wooden building in Japan, with a total floor space of 2500 square meters and the historical atmosphere of the Saga Castle main keep.

[edit] Famous People from Saga

  • Shigeo Shingo, a Japanese industrial engineer who distinguished himself as one of the world’s leading experts on manufacturing practices.
  • Hidenori Chiwata, a singer whose song カサブタ (Kasabuta / "Scab") was used as a theme song in the anime Zatch Bell!.
  • Hanawa, Japanese singer and comedian. He released a CD about Saga city and he became famous.

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Shadow picture of Saga Prefecture Saga Prefecture
Flag of Saga Prefecture
Cities
Imari | Kanzaki | Karatsu | Kashima | Ogi | Saga (capital) | Takeo | Taku | Tosu | Ureshino
Districts and Towns
Fujitsu:  Tara Higashimatsuura:  Genkai Kanzaki:  Yoshinogari
Kishima:  Kōhoku | Ōmachi | Shiroishi Miyaki:  Kamimine | Kiyama | Miyaki Nishimatsuura:  Arita
  edit