The hidden gem in south Saga city
Located in the south of Saga city and about half an hour from the airport, lies an overlooked museum. A museum covering the naval history of Saga and its once important dockyard. The Sano Tsunetami Memorial Museum also covers the life of the founder of the Japanese Red Cross. After months of hearing the naval museum being mentioned as a stop on my usual bus route home, I decided to take a trip there on a lazy weekend to see what it was all about. As a lover of history and being a history major, I would often take history days back at home to visit a museum, stately home, castle, or battlefield. I grew up with access to both English Heritage and National Trust locations on my weekends.
The museum is located next to the river dividing Saga and Fukuoka, providing access to the sea. It was quiet, and the entry fee was very reasonable at 500 yen. The first thing you will notice about the museum, and perhaps not expect from an off-the-beaten-track museum in an unvisited prefecture, is the English. And not just titles or words. All exhibits had English, which was at a very good level. Usually, in more rural locations or even larger cities, I have found most aquariums, castles, and museums at most provide only one word in English or Latin at aquariums. Sadly, one word alone does not convey history or explain to visitors the importance of what they are looking at. But this museum is not the same.
The museum was so quiet that there were moments when there were no other visitors, we had the whole museum to ourselves. The museum is laid out in an interactive style where there are small videos explaining the advancements as time passed and the museum travels through history, starting early and ending with the red cross exhibit. Essentially, it walks its visitors through time. Visitors can learn about the birth of the dry docks, some of the first found in Japan, and learn about the years where Saga and Fukuoka were entrusted with the defense of Dejima in Nagasaki.
Visitors will need to time their visit with the buses that run once an hour if they do not have a car, but the museum certainly took up about two hours of my day, and I felt like I had learned a lot. There are a good collection of artifacts and information, and there are museum maps and guides in English. Outside the museum, the dry docks are now being renovated and built into a new area that promises to be better for visitors. I am hoping I can see this, as I would like to see the actual dry dock area and get an idea on the scale.
Overall, this museum would certainly provide some entertainment and educational opportunities for a morning. It is perfect for both local and English speakers. It is worth checking out if time permits.
