Saku (佐久)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Pleasant sightseeing weather and cherry blossoms at historic sites make spring especially attractive.
• summer: Fruit-picking, outdoor activities, mountain recreation, and late-night astronomy suit summer visits.
• autumn: Cool, clear weather favors walking and stargazing, while soba harvesting and autumn scenery enrich the season.
• winter: Skiing at PARADA and production of traditional freeze-dried tofu provide distinctive winter experiences.

What's There

• architecture: Former Nakagomi School is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and an early Meiji-period pseudo-Western wooden school building.
• art: Saku Municipal Museum of Modern Art presents Japanese modern and contemporary art collections.
• castle: Tatsuoka Castle is a rare star-shaped castle site with historical interpretation and a nearby viewpoint.
• cherry blossoms: Cherry blossoms frame Former Nakagomi School and other historic sites in spring.
• culture: Museums, traditional foods, historic buildings, and astronomy facilities provide varied cultural experiences.
• festival: Saku hosts seasonal local events, including winter shrine festivals and autumn walking events.
• food: Regional specialties include carp cuisine, Shinshu soba, miso, freeze-dried tofu, and seasonal fruit.
• garden: Hirao Mountain Park and surrounding recreation areas provide landscaped outdoor spaces and leisure facilities.
• hiking: Mountain parks, castle viewpoints, and countryside cultural routes support walking and light hiking.
• history: Historic attractions include Tatsuoka Castle, Former Nakagomi School, and archaeological and regional-history museums.
• mountain: Saku lies in a highland basin with mountain scenery and mountain recreation around Hirao.
• museum: The city offers modern-art, history, cultural, and astronomy museums and educational facilities.
• nature: Clear skies, rural landscapes, agricultural areas, and highland surroundings support nature-oriented visits.
• park: Komaba Park surrounds the Municipal Museum of Modern Art, while Hirao Mountain Park offers recreation.
• sake: Saku is a recognized sake-producing area with multiple local breweries using clean water, rice, and a cold climate.
• views: Tatsuoka Castle viewpoints, Hirao Mountain, and exceptionally clear highland skies offer scenic and astronomical views.
• snow: Saku Ski Garden PARADA provides winter skiing, making snow activities a distinctive seasonal attraction.
• farm: Saku promotes locally grown buckwheat, soybeans, fruits, rice, and agricultural direct-sales experiences.

Specialties

• Saku Carp (佐久鯉): Saku Carp is a regional brand raised in the cold, clear waters associated with the Chikuma River basin. It is traditionally served in dishes such as sashimi-style carp, carp miso soup, simmered carp, and grilled carp.
• Local Sake (地酒): Saku is a major sake-producing area supported by high-quality rice, a cold climate, and clean water. The city government identifies 11 local breweries in the city.
• Shinshu Soba (信州そば): Buckwheat is cultivated in several parts of Saku, particularly in mountainous fields and rice-growing areas. The crop is used locally and is part of the wider Shinshu soba tradition.
• Miso (味噌): Miso is one of Saku’s officially promoted local specialties, and the city is associated with the historic temple of Anyoji, regarded locally as a birthplace of Shinshu miso. It is used in regional foods and sold as a local product.
• Yajima Shimi-dofu (矢島凍み豆腐): Yajima Shimi-dofu is a traditional freeze-dried tofu made in the Yajima area during winter. The city lists it among Saku’s specialty products and notes its connection with local farm households.
• Fruits (果物): Saku promotes seasonal fruit as a local specialty and offers fruit-picking experiences. The area’s agricultural products are also sold through local direct-marketing outlets.