Cherry blossoms in Kanzaki

It’s cherry blossom season! There are great places to go all over Saga and northern Kyushu — too many to list! If you don’t know where to go, ask a co-worker or a fellow JET for recommendations. 🙂

40th Kawakamikyo Spring Festival

• Details: See hundreds of carp streamers over the river
• When: March 17 to May 31
• Where: Kawakamikyo, Yamato-cho, Saga City
• Boat rides: 300 yen for a 15 minute boat ride. Saturdays and Sunday from 10:00 am. Cancelled in the event of bad weather or strong winds.

• When: March 31 and April 1, 9:00 to 16:00
• Where: Ureshino Tea Exchange Center (うれしのちゃ交流館) Chaoshiru (チャオシル), Ureshino

Hizen Bakumatsu-Meiji Restoration Expo

• Details: Various museums and pavilions will be set up. Some are free, some are charged. 1000 yen discount set tickets and 3000 yen free passes are available. See the website for details.
• When: March 17, 2018 to January 14, 2019
• Where: All over Saga City, branch museums in Karatsu and Tosu
• Link

Sakura Chill Bar in Saga

• Details: A follow-up of the event in Tokyo. Drink Saga Sake or Ureshino tea and snack on snacks made in Saga. The sakura pool is expected to be very popular, so time here is limited to 10 minutes.
• When: April 1 to 22, Monday to Thursday 14:30 to 19:00, Fridays and Saturdays 14:30 to 21:00, Sundays 12:00 to 19:00 (last order is 30 minutes before closing)
• Where: Jonai Square (the new cafe opened on the first floor of Saga TV), Saga City

Okawachiyama Porcelain Festival

• When: April 1 to 5, 8:30 to 17:00
• Where: Okawachiyama kiln area, Imari

Kounoji Temple Rhododendron Festival

• When: April 1 to 20, 9:00 to 17:00
• Where: Kounoji Temple, Takeo

Kagami Shrine Spring Festival

• When: April 1. Shinto ritual at 11:00, market from 10:00 to 16:00, end of Hina Matsuri ceremony at 14:00 on March 31
• Where: All over Saga City, branch museums in Karatsu and Tosu

Japanese Rally Championship: Tour de Kyushu 2018 in Karatsu

• When: April 6, 7, and 8
• Where: Karatsu, near the boat racing area
• Link

Live Performance by Folk Singer Nobuyasu Okabayashi

• When: April 15, doors open at 16:30, performance at 17:00
• Where: Saga City Higashi Yoka Cultural Hall
• Cost: 4000 yen
• Link

Uchiage Bamboo Shoot Picking

• When: April 15, 9:00 to 14:30
• Where: Old Uchiage Middle School, Chinzei, Karatsu
• Cost: 1000 yen each

Taku Confucian Temple Spring Ceremony

• When: April 18, 10:30 to 11:30
• Where: Taku Confucian Temple, Taku

Wagokoro Brothers Concert

• When: April 25, doors open at 18:30, performance at 19:00, and April 26, doors open at 19:00, performance at 19:30
• Where: April 25 at Ouchi Exchange and Cultural Center Sarai (相知交流文化センターサライ）, April 26 at DJ & Darts Bar JOOK, Karatsu
• Cost: April 25: 3000 yen in advance, 3500 at the door. April 26: 2500 yen in advance (includes one drink), 3000 yen at the door (includes one drink)

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