[Saga Prefecture] A medieval castle in the land of Ko-Imari! "Arita Porcelain Park"

Saga Prefecture is criticized on the street for having nothing. But in Saga Prefecture, there is a palace that looks just like an old German castle, full of exotic atmosphere. This is "Arita Porcelain Park". Arita ware is a representative Japanese ceramic art known since ancient times as Ko-Imari and Kakiemon. It was once widely exported to Europe through trade with China and Nanban. It was said that it had the same value as gold and jewels at the time, and gave birth to passionate collectors. One of these world-class collectors was King Augustus, who was the king of Poland and a German aristocrat. It is said that his palace is Zuinger Castle. Meissen, a high-end German porcelain that originates from Arita ware. Zuinger Castle was built in Arita City because Arita Town and Meissen City signed a sister city agreement in 1979. It seems that you could visit the pottery museum inside the palace in the past, but it is now closed. The exterior is free to visit. The exterior can only be visited on weekdays, but the Baroque garden in the backyard can be entered at any time. There are also studios in the area where you can experience pottery, and there are various Arita ware pottery objects, making it a very fun pottery theme park. However, it cannot be denied that it feels a little deserted, perhaps due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were more foreigners than I expected, but it feels like a hidden gem, perhaps because it is still not well known. If you want to experience the exotic atmosphere and history of Arita ware, I highly recommend it. #tripdomestictravel #sagaprefecture #greatview #oldcastle #themepark