Saga and Nagasaki: two historic prefectures in west Kyushu that served from ancient times as Japan’s portal to the wider world until the modern age.
With the ebb and flow of the ages – Chinese merchants, Korean potters, Portuguese missionaries, Dutch traders and English adventurers made their way here seeking the patronage of samurai warlords and to find their fortunes.
These include most famously: William Adams, the first Englishman to arrive in Japan and whose extraordinary life story is the source of the Shogun novel and Hollywood TV series; Thomas Glover, a Scottish wheeler-dealer, who played a role in the demise of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 1860s; Zheng Chenggong, a Ming dynasty general revered in China who was born here; Takamori Saigo, who is one of Japan’s most lionised historic figures, plotted revolution here; and Frenchman Jacques Mayol, the world’s greatest free-diver and inspiration for the hit film The Big Blue directed by Luc Besson, first learnt to swim here.
Saga and Nagasaki are also celebrated for highly-prized porcelain, green tea, beautifying onsen hot spring waters, internationally inspired and distinctive cuisine, and Madame Butterfly. Nagasaki, which was founded by the Portuguese, is one of Japan’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities despite the destruction wrought on it in 1945.
This fully-guided journey follows gentle paths, some aside the sea and others in beautifully rural countryside, through historic and elegant coastal towns, to the source of Japan’s porcelain in once secretive villages, onto onsen hot spring havens, and into inspiring Nagasaki City. Throughout we are enveloped in Japan’s warm hospitality, satiate ourselves on wonderful regional cuisine including the freshest seafood and seasonal produce, and luxuriate in onsen baths.
Best time to visit
West Kyushu has something to offer in all of its four seasons (five, if you’re including Japan’s unofficial rainy season in early June to mid-July). While the cherry blossoms draw crowds from late March to early April, visiting later in the season, from April through June, offers warmer, more stable walking conditions, along with vibrant greenery and seasonal flowers unique to the region. Autumn is equally appealing, with late October through mid-November showcasing Karatsu’s spectacular fall foliage. The city’s hilly streets, historic gardens, and surrounding countryside make for especially picturesque walks, though the peak colours can vary depending on the specific areas you explore. Saga and Nagasaki remain wonderful winter destinations — especially in the Unzen region, where you can witness snowy white mountains at the foot of Mt. Unzen and relax in its soothing hot springs.
Top tip: Japan is intriguing wherever you may find yourself but the nation’s greatest attraction is the Japanese themselves. They are inquisitive and warmly welcoming people so finding time to mix and mingle with them is a heart-warming and life affirming experience.
How to book
Explore the cosmopolitan prefectures of Saga and Nagasaki, which were long at the epicentre of Japan’s international trade, cultural exchange and overseas religious influence, on an easy walking tour. Walk Japan offers a 10-day, 9-night fully guided tour starting in Fukuoka, finishing in Kumamoto, with departures available year-round from £3321pp based on double occupancy and includes accommodation, excursions including guide and transport. Excludes international flights.
This article was written by Walk Japan and published on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Costs correct at the time of publication.
Visit Walk Japan at the Cheltenham Travel Festival taking place on Saturday 21st February 2026.
