It's not just the culture and history that captivate visitors—Yamaguchi Yoshiyoshi: Letting travelers fall in love with Saga through its food

▲ Governor Yamaguchi Yoshiyoshi of Saga Prefecture and local tourism industry representatives traveled to Taiwan to hold a tourism promotion event, aiming to help Taiwanese visitors better understand the charm of Saga. (Photo / Reporter Li Zi Yi, the same applies below)

Reporter Li Zi Yi / Taipei Reporting

Taiwanese people love traveling to Japan, with many visiting both Tokyo and Osaka. Targeting the Taiwanese market, Yamaguchi Yoshiyoshi, Governor of Saga Prefecture, along with local tourism industry representatives, held a tourism promotion event in Taipei on the 24th. They introduced Saga—a place rich in history, deep culture, and delicious food—to more Taiwanese. Governor Yamaguchi recommends that first-time visitors must try the incredibly tasty Saga beef and Nagasaki squid, which are so addictive they might just turn you into a fan of Saga.

This is Governor Yamaguchi’s seventh visit to Taiwan. He feels that Taiwan is a very warm and friendly country, and everyone seems nice—similar to the people of Saga. He believes food plays an important role and can serve as a means of cultural exchange, adding that he particularly loves Taiwanese cilantro and Chinese chives.

Governor Yamaguchi feels that people from Saga and Taiwan are equally warm and hospitable, and hopes that both sides can become good friends through such exchanges. When talking about what makes Saga different from other cities, he also mentioned a key characteristic of the people of Saga—they are “very warm”—and visitors may even make great friends here. “The people” are one of the most attractive aspects of Saga.

▲ Arita-yaki pottery, which is quite popular in Europe and America, is intricately crafted and a must-buy souvenir in Saga.

Saga’s traditions, long history, and culture are sources of pride for locals. Governor Yamaguchi, who has a special fondness for old places, highly recommends the “Okawauchiyama” area, a small town historically known for its ceramics. His favorite hot spring spot is the Kogyu Onsen, both offering a classic old-Japan atmosphere.

Speaking of Saga’s cuisine, Governor Yamaguchi is also very proud. He believes that first-time visitors to Saga must try Saga beef and Nagasaki squid. In fact, many Hong Kong tourists specifically come to Saga for these two dishes, which is why he strongly recommends them to first-time visitors. He suggests starting with food to get to know and love Saga, then diving deeper into exploring Arita-yaki, while shoppers can head to Tosu PREMIUM OUTLETS. Through various experiences, they may eventually become fans of Saga.

▲ Wearing a kimono and visiting old streets or shrines in Saga is also a classic experience.

Since taking office in 2015, Governor Yamaguchi has promoted tourism in innovative ways—for example, inviting celebrities to create promotional short videos or collaborating with game software and anime. Last year, the number of tourists increased significantly. For overseas tourism promotion, his goals differ from others’—he hopes to enhance exchanges with Taiwan, not just in tourism but also by increasing interaction frequency, including in areas such as sports. Currently, the largest groups of international tourists to Saga are from South Korea, Taiwan, and China, respectively. In recent years, influenced by TV dramas and movies, the number of Thai tourists visiting Saga has also grown considerably.

As for the best season to visit Saga, Governor Yamaguchi personally believes all four seasons are ideal. Many people enjoy coming in autumn to see hot air balloons and the Karatsu Temple Festival, but spring is also great, with fewer tourists, allowing visitors to fully enjoy Saga’s history and culture while wearing a kimono.