Nestled ten kilometres north of Saga City is the town of Yoshinogari, part of the ancient Hizen Province. The villages of Mitagawa and Higashi-Sefuri, established around the Meiji Restoration, later raised to town status, were merged into Yoshinogari in 2006.

The town is named after the remains of a Yayoi period village, encircled by a moat, discovered in 1986 on a site intended for housing complex construction. The Yoshinogari Historical Park and its ruins predate many of the cultural staples you might expect from Japan (Kabuki, tea ceremonies, samurai) and is an archeological site of immense historical importance.

Places of Interest

• Yoshinogari Historical Park – Since excavations began in 1986, Yoshinogari Historical Park has been acknowledged as a site of major archeological significance. Dating has uncovered features around the site that date back to 400 B.C, and the site is one of the largest Yayoi sites in Japan. As well as the site itself, and the exhibition room, the park hosts Yayoi reconstructions and workshops on ancient techniques that employ fire and stone. You can access it in about 15 minutes from Yoshinogari-Koen Train Station.

Local Events and Traditions

• Hikari no Kibiki (Light Echoes) — an illumination event open each weekend until December 15th that transforms the Yoshinogari Koen archaeological site with 6000 bright lanterns
• Yoshinogari Stamp Rally ー organized by the Society of International Student Support in Saga, this event is aimed at International Students and requires advanced registration. Attendees are divided into 20 groups along with local Japanese residents. Each group completes a questionnaire and stamps each section in the park to learn about the ancient culture of the area.

Getting Around

Yoshinogari Koen Station is equidistant between Saga and Shin-Tosu Stations, taking around 15 minutes. Beyond the confines of the station, it is best to get around Yoshinogari via car if you want to travel further out.