Saga Shrine

Saga Shrine (Saga Jinja), built in 1933 (Showa 8), is the only shrine in Saga Prefecture with the former status of “Bekkkaku Kanpeisha” (a special rank among state-supported shrines). It enshrines Nabeshima Naomasa (10th lord of the Saga domain) and Nabeshima Naohiro (11th lord). Adjacent Matsubara Shrine enshrines the domain founder Nabeshima Naoshige and the first lord Katsushige; visiting both shrines together is popular. They are also two of the “Hassha-mairi” (Eight Shrine Pilgrimage). It is said that if you visit all eight—Matsune Shrine, Saga Kojin Shrine, Matsubara Ebisu Shrine, Matsubara Inari Shrine, Matsubara Kappa Shrine, and Matsubara Yagisha in addition to these two—you will achieve great success. To honor the achievements of Lord Naomasa, who contributed to Japan’s modernization at the end of the Edo period, the “Cannon Salute Ritual (Kanon-ho Shukuho Shinji)” is performed every New Year’s at exactly midnight, drawing many visitors from inside and outside the prefecture. Access: by public transportation, about a 15-minute walk from JR Saga Station (JR Nagasaki Main Line / JR Karatsu Line). By taxi, about 7 minutes from Saga Station. By bus, take a Saga City bus from “Saga Station” bus stop to “Saga Jinja” bus stop (about 7 minutes). From Saga Airport, it is about 20 minutes by bus. By car, about 20 minutes from Saga-Yamato IC (Nagasaki Expressway).