Saga-jinja

Saga Shrine sits in a leafy precinct near Saga Castle, dedicated to the 10th and 11th lords of the Saga Domain, whose forward-thinking leadership helped shape Japan's modernization during the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Old-growth camphor trees line the walking path connecting the shrine to neighboring Matsubara Shrine. The domain's history comes alive through artifacts on display, including records of Japan's first iron-smelting reverberatory furnace, developed here. Each November, the skies above fill with balloons during the Saga Balloon Fiesta, one of Asia's largest. Saga Castle's reconstructed main hall is just across the moat and pairs naturally with a shrine visit.