Chokokan Museum, Saga

Chokokan Museum was founded by Nabeshima Naomitsu, son of Nabeshima Naohiro, the last daimyō of Saga Domain in Hizen Province, and stands as Saga Prefecture's first museum, established in 1927. The museum stores and exhibits historical materials and works of art which came to the Nabeshima family in Saga and was registered as an important cultural property in Japan. Located at the edge of the northern moat of Saga Castle, Chokokan tells the history of the Nabeshima family alongside Saga Shrine and Matsubara Shrine.

The museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts spanning the 400-year history of the Nabeshima clan, who ruled the powerful Saga Domain from the early Edo period until the Meiji Restoration. Saga Han was the 8th largest domain in Japan, excluding those governed by Tokugawa family members, and was ruled by the Nabeshima Family through eleven generations. The collection comprises samurai armor, ceremonial objects, historical documents, and artworks that illustrate the domain's significant role in Japanese history, particularly during the modernization period when Saga became a center of Western learning and technology.

Visitors can explore rotating exhibitions featuring treasures from the Nabeshima family collection, including rare textiles, ceramics, and calligraphy. The museum is particularly renowned during the annual Saga Castle Town Hina Matsuri festival, when two large hina-kazari displays measuring 6 and 5 meters in length welcome visitors, featuring approximately 500 dolls and accessories that were actually displayed in the house of Marquis Nabeshima. These dolls wear clothes made of Saga Nishiki, a type of textile unique to the region, showcasing local craftsmanship techniques.

The museum is located in the new building of the 1st floor of the Saga Prefectural Office at 1-1-59 Jonai, Saga city. Saga city is accessible via JR Saga Station on the Nagasaki Main Line, approximately 1 hour by train from Fukuoka. From Saga Station, the museum is within walking distance of the historic castle area. The museum offers free admission and provides an authentic glimpse into the legacy of one of Japan's most influential feudal families. Nearby attractions include Saga Shrine, Saga Castle Hommaru History Museum, and the scenic Matsubara area along the former Nagasaki Kaido road.