Saga Castle Gate and Turret

The Shachi-no-Mon Gate and Tsuzuki-Yagura (attached turret) of Saga Castle are historic structures designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. Saga Castle was the seat of the Nabeshima clan (357,000 koku), and the Shachi-no-Mon served as the main front gate of the Honmaru. The castle was established in 1838 (Tenpo 9), and the gate’s imposing appearance reflects the power and prestige of the Nabeshima rulers. Around the gate, high stone walls remain as evidence of the castle’s defensive design. The attached Tsuzuki-Yagura, once used as a weapons storehouse, has functional construction features rarely seen in other castles. The gate’s front span is about 11.9 meters, and the height from foundation stone to roof tiles is about 12.5 meters. You can also observe traces of the many fires and disasters the structure endured. For preservation, repairs have been carried out over time, and a major renovation was performed in 1961 (Showa 36), more than 120 years after its construction, leading to its current state. Access: by car, about 20 minutes (about 10 km) from Saga-Yamato IC on the Nagasaki Expressway. By public transportation, about a 30-minute walk from JR Saga Station, or about 15 minutes by bus.