Saga Prefecture
When I broadened my search for an Airbnb in Fukuoka, a whole house listing appeared south of Fukuoka city proper. The listing caught my eye as several photos were taken in the fall season when the maple leaves transform into brilliant hues of red, orange and yellow. I thought the cost to rent a house in Japan would be prohibitive, but the rental of this house was actually less expensive than many hotel rooms in Fukuoka. The home was in Arita, a town in Saga Prefecture, which borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the south. The location didn't suit our need for the first night in Japan, but a stay there would fulfill us visiting Saga Prefecture as part of our understanding to visit every prefecture in Japan. I was completely unfamiliar with the prefecture or the town when I booked our stay. When looking at the map around Arita, I saw that the town of Imari was nearby. The town name reminded me of ‘Imari ware,’ a term my mother used for some of her ceramic dishes and pottery. Several ...
