Established in 1927, this is Saga City's first museum.
Registered as a national tangible cultural property in 1997.
The museum displays items passed down from the Nabeshima family of the Saga Domain.
It hosts various exhibitions and concerts annually.
Located in Saga City, Saga Prefecture, the Chokokan Museum is a historical museum showcasing arts and crafts and historical documents handed down by the Nabeshima family, the former feudal lords of the Saga domain. Built in 1927, it's notable for being one of the first fully-fledged reinforced concrete buildings in Saga Prefecture.
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM (last entry at 3:40 PM)
Closed: Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday falls on a national holiday)
Fee: 300 yen (free for junior high school students and younger)
Parking is available in the paid parking lot in front of the museum. Up to 1 hour is 100 yen, up to 15 hours is 400 yen, and 24 hours is 600 yen.
I visited on a Sunday at 10am.
I wasn't sure where to park so I parked in the Saga Shrine car park and came here after praying.
The building itself has a heavy build that evokes history.
I noticed an apricot leaf crest on a bench outside.
Admission is 300 yen. That's cheap.
The exhibits included items related to the Nabeshima family.
The many bonbonnières lined up were cute.
There was also a wakizashi (pen name Rakuyo) by Horikawa Kunihiro, but the lighting made it a little hard to see the base of the sword.
Chokokan Museum showcases the 400-year history of the Nabeshima clan who ruled Saga Domain. The collection includes samurai armor, ceremonial objects, historical documents, artworks, rare textiles, ceramics, and calligraphy. During the annual Saga Castle Town Hina Matsuri festival, visitors can view spectacular hina doll displays featuring approximately 500 dolls dressed in traditional Saga Nishiki textiles, with displays measuring 6 and 5 meters in length.
Admission to Chokokan Museum is free. The museum is located within the Saga Prefectural Office building and typically follows standard government office hours, though specific opening times may vary. It's recommended to check current hours before visiting, as they may be subject to change during holidays or special events.
The museum is located at 1-1-59 Jonai, Saga City, within the Saga Prefectural Office building. Take the train to JR Saga Station on the Nagasaki Main Line (approximately 1 hour from Fukuoka). From Saga Station, the museum is within walking distance in the historic castle area near the northern moat of former Saga Castle.
Yes, Chokokan Museum is located in Saga's historic castle district alongside several related attractions. Nearby sites include Saga Shrine, Saga Castle Hommaru History Museum, and Matsubara Shrine. The area also features the scenic Matsubara district along the former Nagasaki Kaido road, making it easy to explore multiple historical sites in one visit to this culturally rich area of Saga City.
