While planning my trip to Saga, I stumbled upon an intriguing spot—Arita Porcelain Park.
This facility was created with support from local volunteers to showcase the charm of Arita, a town famous for its pottery.
Standing proudly at the center is a palace modeled after the Zwinger Palace in Dresden, Germany.
The scale is truly impressive. When I first saw it, I couldn’t believe such a palace existed here in Saga!
Saga is full of sights like Ureshino Onsen, the Yoshinogari ruins, and squid from Yobuko. But this Arita Porcelain Park is definitely another place worth stopping by. It’s also incredibly photogenic!
Access & Basic Info for Arita Porcelain Park
Arita is located in western Saga Prefecture, surrounded by other renowned pottery towns like Imari and Hasami.
Arita Porcelain Park sits close to the Nagasaki border within Arita.
It’s about 25 minutes by car from Ureshino Onsen, 30 minutes from Takeo Onsen, an hour from Saga City, and roughly 90 minutes from Fukuoka City.
Because there are no nearby train or bus lines, it’s pretty tough to access without a car.
【Basic Info for Arita Porcelain Park】
| Name | Arita Porcelain Park |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0955-41-0030 |
| Address | 340-28 Toyaotsu, Arita Town, Nishimatsuura District, Saga Prefecture |
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 (may vary during New Year holidays) *As of Dec 2022, the palace interior is closed due to COVID-19. |
| Admission | Grounds: Free Palace interior: Adults ¥600, teens ¥300, kids free |
| Closed | Open year-round |
| Web | Official: Arita Porcelain Park |
A Grand German Palace in Saga’s Arita Porcelain Park
From our hotel in Ureshino Onsen, it took about 25 minutes by car to reach Arita Porcelain Park.
Surrounding the parking lot were European-style houses you’d never see elsewhere in Japan. (Turns out these are eateries that were closed due to COVID.)
There was also an impressive building that looked like a museum. Wait… this is still Saga, right?
Aside from a group of students on what seemed like a field trip, the place was pretty empty. Looking toward the back, we saw a spectacular building come into view.
What on earth is that…?!
It’s a replica of Germany’s Zwinger Palace. I don’t know how it compares to the real thing, but it’s incredible just as it is.
The sculptures and decorations are so intricate and detailed—there’s a lot to take in. Who would have thought you’d find such lavish European architecture in Saga?
Apparently, it was originally built by a well-known pottery company during Japan’s bubble economy. Now it’s run by Munemasa Shuzo, famous for products like Non-noko shochu.
No wonder their shop was playing the Non-noko jingle on repeat.
Inside the palace there’s supposed to be an exhibit on the history of Arita ware, but as of Dec 2022 it was closed due to COVID. Too bad.
By the way, the exhibit has an admission fee (¥600 for adults), but the palace and gardens featured here are completely free to enter.
Palace Views Across a European Garden—Perfect for Photos
Past the palace entrance lies a vast garden. Though a bit brown in winter, the grand European-style grounds are something you’d never see in Japan.
In the middle of the garden is a fountain bubbling out of what’s likely an Arita-ware urn. The view of the palace beyond it is picture-perfect.
I couldn’t stop taking photos. It’s the perfect spot for memorable Saga vacation pictures. Show your friends or family and they’ll probably say, “Wait, that’s in Saga?!”
Note: wedding, commercial, or cosplay photo shoots require a paid permit, so check with Arita Porcelain Park directly.
The grounds are free for casual snapshots. However, any commercial, wedding, or costume photography requires a paid permit. Bringing in equipment or shooting without permission is strictly prohibited.
Arita Porcelain Park
Shift your angle a bit and you’ll catch power lines—suddenly, very Japan.
Still, views of the palace across the garden are stunning. In spring or summer, with flowers and greenery, it must be even more beautiful.
We were lucky to have nice weather, so the blue sky made a great contrast.
If you showed just this photo, probably only 1 out of 100 people would guess it’s Saga.
Since it wasn’t crowded, we took tons of family photos. Totally satisfied.
The Palace at Saga’s Arita Porcelain Park Was Incredible
I’m originally from Nagasaki and now live in Fukuoka, but I had no idea such a grand palace was right next door in Saga.
It deserves way more visitors—what a hidden gem!
The shop also sells pottery, sake, and other Saga souvenirs, so you can browse after checking out the palace.
If you live nearby or are traveling around northern Kyushu, definitely stop by. It’s a fun experience.
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