Part of the ancient Hizen Province, Ogi is a city located in the centre of the prefecture ー rather close to Saga city itself. The north of the city is mountainous, containing part of the Tenzan Mountains, whilst further south is mostly low-lying land heading out towards the Ariake sea. At the mouth of the Rokkaku River, the tidal range is within the largest in Japan – a maximum of 6 metres during spring tides.

Whilst no ALTs reside in Ogi, one Saga-City ALT will go to Ogi SHS (as either a base or visit school).

Ogi has a beautiful park that is very popular during cherry blossom season, castle ruins, and is known as the city in Japan with the highest consumption rate of yokan!

Places of Interest

• Ogi Park ー a ten minute walk away from Ogi Train Station, this beautiful scenic park is a very popular spot during cherry blossom viewing season. At this time you can also enjoy various food stalls and music displays
• Kiyomizu Falls ー a relatively easy walk with a scenic view, you can view old temples and Buddhist statues along this sacred Tendai site whilst walking up into the falls. The view is especially beautiful in the autumn!
• Eriyama Rice Terraces / Amaryllises ー the Eriyama settlement of 600 terraced rice fields is an incredibly famous sight within Saga prefecture. In the autumn, the green plains are contrasted with the brilliant red of blooming spider lillies, creating an incredibly photogenic landscape. There is a special shuttle bus during September, including the farmer’s market and scarecrow festival, but otherwise you will need to travel via car.
• Mount Tenzan　ー standing almost in the center of the prefecture, you can enjoy around 4.5km of trekking up on this traill.
• Suga-jinja Shrine ー most famous for its 153 distinct steps to ascend up to the main temple, Suga shrine has an observatory at the top of the summit. In the spring, this platform is a delightful cherry-blossom viewing spot!

Local Events and Traditions

• Hanami ー Ogi Park is an incredibly popular spot during Sakura season. You can enjoy a beautiful walk and the various food stalls lining the entrance to the park. If you want to enjoy a Hanami picnic, you’ll have to reserve a spot in advance!
• Ogi City Summer Festival
• Scarecrow Festival ー held in September, you can take the shuttle bus that heads up to the Eriyama Higanbana Matsuri to view both the scarecrow festival and farmer’s market.

Getting Around

Via the Karatsu JR line, you can access Ogi within 20 minutes from Saga Station. While Ogi park is a short walk from the station, other areas in Ogi will be better accessed by bus or even via car, especially the scenic fields and waterfalls.