Kanzaki (神崎町)
The most important thing in Kanzaki is the excavation site at Yoshinogari. There is more to Kanzaki, though, than mere relics. Towards the mountains, those who seek it will be pleased to find Iyama, a beautiful complex of temples and shrines. It is also home to one of the oldest wooden buildings in Japan. Also in the mountains is the famed Kunen’an Garden that is only open to the public nine days a year in November. For those seeking more physical pleasures, there is Hinokuma Park which is located just below the Nagasaki expressway and just off Route 31. Kanzaki has a very serviceable video store in BU Road. It is located on Route 34 between the town office and Hokka Hokka Tei. Hungry folks will find welcome repast at Sharuman, a coffee shop at the eki-dori intersection. The food, while mostly standard coffee shop fare, comes highly recommended. There are three restaurants that come recommended:
Restaurants
- Yakitori-Torihachi. Good yakitori located in the “heart”; of Kanzaki near the town office. Turn south at the town office, and then turn right at Saga Bank. The restaurant is near the shrine entrance. Most menu items range from 50-300 yen.
- 4 Leaf Clover Pizza. In Kanzaki located on the eki-dori intersection. Carry out and delivery service only. Phone 0952-52-8677.
- The Ramen Centre. Famous throughout Saga and Fukuoka. In Kanzaki on Route 34.
If you happen to be in Kanzaki and are looking for beer, wine, or spirits, there is a big discount liquor store right on the main road, about two blocks down from the station. A very friendly family runs the place and love to talk to foreigners. There is also an everyday item and liquor store attached to Sapie called Ezoe. Sapie is a grocery and miscellaneous store just off of Route 365 near the Water Friends Swimming Club and JA Gas. There is also an over-the-counter pharmacy, one-hour photo, fruit shop and bakery inside. For more shopping, check out the Marukyou grocery store along Route 34 and Maruyu for clothing. If you are the ALT in town or nearby, there is a members-only swimming pool in Water Friends Swimming. There are expensive monthly membership fees in addition to fees per swim session/class. Offers aqua-aerobics and open swimming for adults and children. Located on Route 385 in Kanzaki.
On the web
Chiyoda
Other than the Annie supermarket and the Hangushi Yakitori, we don’t have any information about Chiyoda at the moment. Annie and Hangushi are both located off Route 264.
On the web
Higashisefuri
Another town we don’t a lot of information on. The only information we have is that the town is home to Tom Sawyers Park, a campsite and park located in the mountains, and the Celestial Monument. This is a monument that was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Higashisefuri village.
On the web
Mitsuse
Mitsuse is a beautiful little mountain town that is often frequented by the Saga City ALTs as an escape from the urban sprawl. Usually the main reason for this escape is the Mitsuse Herb Garden. Not only can you buy fresh herbs and plants here but also the restaurant specializes in herb cooking. The pasta dishes are great. Located in Mitsuse on Route 21, one minute from Route 263. Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except Wednesdays. Phone 0952-56-2454.
What most people don’t realize is that this town has a lot more to offer. There is also a large park with a relatively large man-made lake, called 21st Century. South of the herb garden and park along Route 263 is Donguri Mura. Finish your visit to Mitsuse off with a meal at Shinco’s Kitchen and an onsen at Yamabiko Onsen. Shinco’s Kitchen offers great lunches, especially the hot sandwiches and coffee. The owner, Shinco, is a ballet dancin’, English speakin’, gaijin friendly dessert specialist. Open everyday, except Monday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. On Route 263 in Mitsuse, close to the onsen and just past the turn off for Route 21. Look out for the South African flag out front.
On the web
Sefuri
Another town we are lacking information on, Sefuri is a beautiful little mountain town located along Route 21. There are some nice trails for hiking along Jobaru River and also on Mt. Sefuri. Cap the day of hiking off with a stop at the Sefuri Udon Restaurant along Route 21. Look for the waterwheel outside. Open 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily except on Tuesdays. Also, Sefuri is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring time.
On the web
Mitagawa
Aside from a visit to the Yoshinogari excavation site, there isn’t a whole lot to see here. Luckily for the residents, there isn’t a short list of things to do. The town has the usual amenities: shopping, restaurants, karaoke, cake shops and a couple recreation centres. Big Heart Karaoke has huts for its rooms with a nice atmosphere. It has a good selection of English songs and it’s inexpensive; two hours nomihodai for 2000 yen. It’s just off Route 34 in Mitagawa. When you come to the intersection for SATY go the opposite way and there you are. Open 12 p.m.-6 a.m. Phone 0952-52-4698. There is also the Croquette Club. This is a huge place with good food and music. A little more expensive, but easy to find, just look for the big neon lights in katakana. The staff is very friendly. It’s on Route 34 in Mitagawa’s Metabaru section. Open 24 hours. Phone 0952-53-8755.
Mitagawa is also famous for omanju, a type of sweet cake. There are a couple of places you can purchase this cake, such as Nakashima-ya along Route 34 next to Pietro’s and Shugetsu, which also specializes in Nagasaki castella. Shugetsu is just after the Yoshinogari Koen signal on your right hand side along Route 34. To get a proper meal there a number of options in Mitagawa. Here are a few:
Restaurants
- DonTen Restaurant is famous for eel. It is absolutely great. Located on Route 34 across from the Yutoku. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Phone: 0952-52-8840.
- Sushi Daijin. Sushi bar in Mitagawa. On Route 34 next to Joyfull. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Phone 0952-51-1661.
- Daikyu Ramen. Very delicious ramen. The owners are very friendly and helpful. Located on Route 34 in Mitagawa across from Joyfull. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Tuesdays. Take out available. Phone 0952-53-4993.
- Heisei Yakitori. Located at Metabaru in Mitagawa. Going towards Tosu, take a left before the overhead walkway and go straight about 1 km; it’ll be on your left. Nice atmosphere and good food. The couple that run it are young and speak some English. Phone 0952-53-0645.
- Uchidaya Udon. Very delicious dishes. Located in Mitagawa above Pole Position on Route 34. Open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Phone 0955-52-8339.
If you are looking for omiyage, head to Shadei Saradakan. There are all kinds of gifts that you can even order through catalogues. Adjacent to it is a kimono store where you can have kimonos made and buy accessories. If you are going towards Tosu, take a right at the corner of Route 34 and Yoshinogari Koen station. Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 0952-52-2361. There is a video and CD rental store in town called Pole Position. It’s on Route 34 in Mitagawa next to Sun Plaza. Open 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Phone 0952-53-5613.
If you are a fisherman and searching for a place to buy some tackle, then be sure to go to Fishing Nakamura. For your recreation needs and to burn off all those calories you gained from indulging in the town’s cuisine you can head to the Mitagawa Community Pool for some laps. It is an indoor pool next to the town hall. It’s 200 yen for residents and 400 yen for non-residents. Open 1 p.m.-8:40 p.m. everyday except Mondays. Phone 0952-52-1944. There is also the Mitagawa Sun Plaza Bowl Centre located on Route 34 next to Pole Position and the Mitagawa Golf Garden, also located on Route 34 across from Pietro’s.
On the web
Tosu (鳥栖市)
Tosu, home to Saga’s beautiful people, has myriad attractions to offer aside from its residents. From onsens to outlet malls to large shopping centres, you’d be surprised at what you might find in the transport hub of Tosu. For eateries, Joyful Town, Youme Town and Tosu Premium Outlets each have a good selection of restaurants, varying from Kaiten sushi to McDonalds, takoyaki, Baskin Robbins ice cream, ramen, Italian and, of course, Starbucks in the Outlets. Here’s some info on some good spots for food in the Tosu area.
Restaurants
- Blue Café. Located on Route 262, it specializes in ice cream but also serves meals. Amazing selection of ice cream sundaes varying in price from 500-5000 yen.
- Mimitabu. Izakaya located just beside city offices, really good, reasonably priced food and attracts a young crowd.
- Urara. This is a fairly new izakaya with enough wooden tables, tatami space and bar stools to please any tush. The staff is super friendly and the owners even friendlier. Ask for Mama-san when you arrive and you’ll be treated with a shot of genkiness, loads of English and she’ll help you decipher the menu and choose vegetarian dishes. Perfect place for birthday parties. It’s next to Coltrane jazz bar. From Tosu station go straight, then take the first left at the lights. It’s on the left hand side, on the corner.
- Irorian. Black coloured restaurant behind MKs, just off of Route 262. Japanese style food, reasonably priced, but bring a Japanese friend, the menus are really hard to read.
Nightlife
There is a decent night scene in Tosu. There are more than a few places to get jiggy and get a little tipsy. Here
are the notables:
- Coltrane Coltrane. Jazz bar and coffee house near the station in Tosu. Huge collection of jazz on vinyl and live gigs some Saturday nights. Great place to chill out and listen to good music.
- Bar Remix. Beside Urara, trendy bar, with DJs, attracts a young crowd and has hosted one or two ALT parties.
- Applautir. In Tosu’s Honmachi, cool bar, no fluorescent lighting, pool table, good music and it gets a crowd in at the weekend.
- Antennae. Small bar just beside city offices, looks like a prison from the outside. Has a great music collection and the staff are really friendly. It usually has a small crowd. It also serves food (the chef trained in Italy, so the food is really good).
- Booze Brothers. By far the best bar in Tosu. Owned, as the name suggests, by brothers, one a Van Morrison fan the other a Pogues fan. Really friendly staff, delicious food, good music, Guinness on tap, so you can’t go wrong here!
Tired from dancing all night? Then wear out your vocal chords at one of the numerous karaoke bars and booths in Tosu. One of the most popular is located in Youme Town shopping centre. Inexpensive nomihodai, great selection of songs, sing your socks off.
Gyms
There’s a gym in the local sports centre, located just behind Tosu Culture Hall (bunka kaikan), which is across the street from Tosu Library. There are all sorts of sports activities available there, from judo to ping pong and also a very odd 1950s-style gym, full of hydraulic machines and mini trampolines. To become a member you have to sign up for an induction, which involves jumping up and down on an electronic pad to the signal of a flashing light, balancing on one leg with your eyes closed whilst trying to touch your nose and projectile vomiting raw horse chunks up to a distance of three meters while Japanese sushi chefs gather round singing “Auld Lang Syne” in the style of the ’40s crooner of your choice. One of these might be a fib, but the other two aren’t. We felt like we was taking part in selection trials for Romanian cosmonaut training. Plus, it’s only 200 yen a pop.
Or, there’s the very flash and swanky Casa Della Vita. Come down in your sports jacket and silk tee-shirt and swan about like Crockett from Miami Vice, without the handgun or chronic feather cut, but you can dream. It’s free to join and 9000 yen per month, though a good 10 minutes cycle from Tosu city. The manager speaks English and the staff are really nice, making it a good place to practise your Japanese. There’s a decent fitness room, loads of exercise machines, an onsen, massage room and a vets. It’s a real haven.
Swimming Pools
If splashing about in your school pool with your students is not quite your thing, then there are alternatives in Tosu. In Honmachi you will find Best Swimming Club, a little pricey (800 yen per swim) if you’re not a member, but yearly and monthly memberships are available. In addition to this there is Tosu’s outdoor pool. A 50-meter pool, located behind the culture hall in the sports grounds. It’s 200 yen for a 45-minute swim. Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. in the summer period only. There’s also a kids’ water park beside it if you fancy having a go on some of the slides! Ideal for cooling down in the summer time.
Track and Field
Tosu’s running track is located on Route 262, just opposite Fly-Z Recycle shop. Full of joggers every evening, also hosts many Saga track and field events during the year.
Martial Arts
There are various places to attend classes in Tosu, the most popular spot being the sports centre behind the culture hall. Classes include karate, kickboxing, aikido, tae kwon do. Club membership is usually about 4000 yen.
Bowling
The bowling alley is located in Youme Town. Full of Tosu’s youth at the weekend. Consists of about 20 lanes. They also serve food and drink, reasonably priced.
Festivals
Every season there is another event or activity to look forward to in Tosu. There are a number of festivals that originated in Tosu and continue to be celebrated by its citizens. Weather permitting, the townsfolk flock to Tashiro Park and Azumaya picnic area to escape the congestion of the city. Also, a trip to Ochozu Falls is worth doing on a beautiful day. If the weather is poor, then head to the internet café located in Youme Town. It is a 24-hour internet café. You must be a member, but membership is free. The rates are good and it offers a free bar of coffee, tea and soft drinks and serves delicious pancakes.
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