October 18, 2008

• 10/18/2008 - Saga

  Today's "go somewhere" was Saga.  It is the first city to the south of Fukuoka on the map.  It took about 40 minutes to get there by express train from Hakata Station.  We visited a series of shrines, the birthplace of the founder of Waseda University and the Saga Castle grounds.

  

  Our first stop is Saga Shrine.

  

  I liked the layers of roofs.  Let's zoom back out for the bigger picture seen below.

  

  

  Here is a picture from the front.  The pamphlet that one of the girls in the shrine office gave me says that the 10th and 11th heads of the Saga domain, Nabeshima Naomasa and Nabeshima Naohiro are enshrined here because of their great achievements in culture, study and road safety.  Many bring their cars here to be blessed.

  

  

  Above is an alley between Saga Shrine and Matsubara Shrine.

  

  This is Matsubara Shrine, and worship here supposedly brings good fortune, victory and blessings.

  

  The outer gate of Matsubara Shrine is flanked by two large lanterns.

  

  Proceed away from Matsubara Shrine, and to your right you will see a rare porcelain gate.  It had fallen into disrepair, but is now fixed into place with a supportive metal frame.  Turn around 180 degrees to feast your eyes on...

  

  ...the fanciest set of rest rooms I have ever seen! 

  

  Isn't this lamp something out of a Daum catalogue?

  

  This bridge proceeds out from Matsubara Shrine over part of what is probably part of the Saga Castle moat.

  

  This was taken from the previous bridge as we look back towards Matsubara Shrine.

  

  A Shrine Resident

  

  Next stop was a small historical museum that displayed important documents, swords and a set of armor.

  

  Let's take a rest before going in.

  

  This was the scenery if you looked left from where Hubby was sitting.  I wonder if anyone still lives in these former shops.  It looks like they lowered their shutters for the last time years ago!

  

  This was another building we came across on our way to the castle grounds.  See kids, this is what happens when you don't clean your room.  It seems like the castle was not the only place in ruins.  I don't think there were any bodies under the rubble.

  

  Here is a manhole.  Saga is located near the Ariake Sea, home of the mud skipper.

  

  This group of school girls are on their way home.  The building in the background is an old samurai house and an important cultural property in this town, but it is also in need of attention.  I wonder if this town is economically depressed.

  

  On our way to the castle site we stop at the birthplace (1838) of Shigenobu Okuma, founder of Waseda University, sonny B's alma mater.

  

  Here is the house and some of the rooms inside.

  

  kitchen

  

  

  

  

  Next to the house is Okuma Memorial Hall, which documents Okuma's life and tells of his various achievements.

  

  Okuma had served as Foreign Minister in 1889, and lost his right leg in a bombing attack.  His prosthetic leg is on display.  Below is Okuma's cane with a sword hidden inside.  Was this to ward off other would be attackers?

  

  Let's keep walking to the castle.  We pass by a school on the way. 

  

  These are the kids' school uniforms.  The girls wear jumper skirts that cannot be shortened or rolled up at the waist for decency.  The boys wear shorts to make them tough.  My kids had uniforms like these 20 years ago.

  

  Now we are at Saga Castle, and here is the gate.  Go in and turn right.

  

  This is a model of the castle in its former glory.  The areas in white are parts of the castle that have not been restored.  You can see the gate where we entered on the far right.  In the upper right corner you can see a platform where the donjon (destroyed by fire in 1726) used to be, but this has not been reconstructed as of yet.

  

  The front of the Lord's residence.

  

  A closer view

  

  A long hallway extends from the back of the previous building.

  

  Inside the hallway.

  

  See the corner of the wall in the nearest opened door?  That is the donjon platform.

  

  Let's zoom in a bit.

  

  The reconstructed buildings seen from the back.

  • 00:51
  • 5 Comments