Experience the unique charms of Saga in a whole new way through the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen and scenic local train lines. This itinerary is filled with memorable adventures, from savoring local sake and tea to discovering traditional pottery and relaxing in hot springs.
Duration: 2 days with 1 overnight stay
Transportation: Train, Walking, Bus, Car
Day 1:
Hizen-Hamashuku/Sakagura-dori
A historic sake town with traditional streetscapes.
Kashima City is one of Saga Prefecture’s top sake-producing areas, and within it lies Hizen Hamashuku which flourished as a center for brewing things like sake and soy sauce from the Edo to Showa periods. Sakagura-dori, a 600-meter-long street in Hizen Hamashuku, features white-walled buildings, historic sake breweries, and old samurai residences. Visitors can enjoy a relaxed self-guided walk through the street or join a guided tour led by local volunteers. Brewery tours and sake tastings are also available.
Kashima City Official Travel Guide
Hizen Hamashuku Travel Guides
To truly understand the history and culture of Hizen Hamashuku, go on a guided tour.
Discover the valuable historical gems of this area, designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, with the help of an expert travel guide. Take in the nostalgic charm as you photograph the retro station building, white-walled streets, and thatched-roof townhouses. Note that advanced reservation is required.
Find more information here
Yutoku Inari Shrine
Receive blessings at one of Japan’s three most revered Inari shrines.
Recognized as one of Japan’s three major Inari shrines alongside Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Kasama Inari in Ibaraki, this revered site is affectionately called “Yutoku-san” by locals. Its vivid vermilion structures stand out beautifully against the backdrop of seasonal foliage, making it a favorite spot for photographers throughout the year.
Find more information here
©Saga Prefecture Tourism Federation
Lunch: Yutoku Monzen Shopping Street
A lively 400-meter shopping street lines the approach to the shrine, home to over 30 shops selling items like souvenirs and offering a variety of dining options. The most popular souvenir is the “Inari yokan” – a sweet red bean jelly sold in a paper tube, which you push up and cut with string into your preferred portion size.
Kashima City Official Guide
Hizen Yoshida Pottery Hall
Find the perfect pottery to suit your style.
Hizen Yoshida Pottery Hall is the heart of Yoshida Saraya, the town’s ceramic district, where signature works from local kilns are displayed and sold. Visitors can participate in hands-on experiences, such as painting and hand-forming pottery. Surrounding the hall are six unique kilns, each offering tours and the chance to shop for their original creations.
Accommodation: Ureshino Onsen
Turn your skin silky smooth by soaking in beautifying hot springs.
Famous across Japan as one of the three top hot springs for beautiful skin, the waters of Ureshino Onsen contain sodium-rich bicarbonate and have a silky-smooth texture that leaves the skin feeling soft and refreshed. Furthermore, they are believed to offer health benefits both through soaking and drinking. Visitors can also relax in the free foot baths available throughout the area.
Ureshino Onsen Information Bureau
Day 2:
Toyotama-hime Shrine
Get up early to make wishes to the goddess of beautiful skin.
The deity enshrined here, Toyotama-hime, is worshipped as the goddess of beautiful skin and glowing complexion. Her divine messenger, Namazu-sama – the catfish deity – has long attracted worshippers hoping to heal a variety of skin conditions. A sign on-site explains the proper way to pray: start with two bows, followed by two claps, then one final bow. Offer your prayers for beautiful skin, and complete the ritual by pouring sacred water over the Namazu-sama statue. May your wishes come true!
Ureshino Tea Exchange Center “Chaoshiru”
Your gateway to understanding Ureshino tea!
This one-of-a-kind center invites visitors to enjoy expertly brewed cups of Ureshino tea as well as explore the rich history and production methods behind it. In addition to the tea lounge, guests can take part in a variety of tea-themed activities, such as unique tea-dyeing workshops that use Ureshino’s hot spring water and hands-on tea brewing classes.
©Saga Prefecture Tourism Federation
Lunch: Ureshino Onsen Yudofu
Beauty starts from within.
This beloved local specialty is prepared using Ureshino hot spring water. The unique mineral composition of the thermal waters reacts with the tofu, creating an incredibly smooth, silky texture that melts in your mouth.
Explore Ureshino and Kashima
Take a break from the everyday and set off on a refreshing two-day escape that soothes both body and mind. In this enchanting part of western Kyushu, healing experiences and new discoveries await. Follow this itinerary and create unforgettable memories of your own!
