Saga Castle, Japanese castle in Saga, Japan
Saga Castle is a flat-plain fortification in Saga, Japan, built on level ground without hillside elevation. Wide water moats circle the grounds, and stone foundations support the few surviving or reconstructed wooden structures inside.
The fortification was established in 1602 under Nabeshima clan rule and served as an administrative seat throughout the Edo period. A major fire in 1726 destroyed large sections, and only partial reconstruction followed.
The castle's name derives from Hizen Province's Saga district, where the Ryūzōji clan's village castle once stood. The gate's name comes from the bronze shachihoko on its roof, cast by metalsmith Taniguchi Seizaemon. The Honmaru Palace's Gozasho room, once Nabeshima Naomasa's living quarters, was moved to Mizugae Ōki Park in 1958 and returned in 2004.
The grounds can be reached on foot from Saga Station in a few minutes, and entry is free without admission fees. Guided tours are offered, though available languages vary depending on the day and season.
The gate's name comes from the bronze shachihoko on its roof, cast by the metalworker Taniguchi Seizaemon, as recorded in the inscription. The gate was rebuilt in 1838 after the 1835 fire that destroyed the Ni-no-maru, and it served as the main gate of the Honmaru.
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