this mountaintop temple in Kiyama was built in the early 800s giving you the chance to view some of Japan’s oldest architecture including its reed thatched roof which are the leading ladies come mid-November (It’s also become famous for its 50,000-odd azalea bushes which are the main attraction during spring and have led to the temple being nicknamed Tsutsuji Tera or Azalea Temple.) You’ll need to brave a long but the feeling of being inside a picturesque oil painting is worth the effort 3628 Oaza Sonobe, Kiyama-Machi, Miyaki-Gun, Saga. ¥500 entrance fee in autumn (November and December). www.daikouzenji.com    There are several reasons to visit this former residence of Saga businessman Yataro Itami but the mansion and its expansive gardens are probably most well-known for being one of the prefecture’s most exclusive momijigari (autumn leaves viewing) spots it’s only open for nine days at the peak of the fall foliage beauty: from November 15 to 23 (It also opens for a limited time during spring.) The name Kunenan means “Nine-year House,” and refers to the fact that its garden took nine years to build with construction beginning in 1900 and supervised by a Zen Buddhist priest The architecture follows the traditional tea house style while the garden shows off the art of shakkei – a style of gardening that “borrows” scenery from nearby landmarks and incorporates them into the design Stroll amongst the azaleas and maple trees for an elegant autumn afternoon Of course Japan in its entirety is famed for having the freshest but if you want to experience local cuisine at its source it’s best to visit a port town and try their speciality which is famed for its port area called Yobuko Here you should order ikizukuri – live squid that’s so live it squirms on your plate Early risers will enjoy visiting the Yobuko Morning Market where you can opt for dried squid should the live version be a tad too much for you and is considered one of the three biggest fish markets of Japan Known for being one of the best wagyu beef brands in Japan Saga Beef benefits from the prefecture’s mild climate The Japanese Black cows are raised using expert breeding techniques ensuring they do not experience any major stress To taste this deliciously sweet and rich marbled beef a renowned restaurant in central Saga that’s run by Japan Agricultural Cooperatives We stopped by for lunch and ordered thin strips of Saga gyu which we cooked ourselves on the iron plate grill in the center of the table Undoubtedly one of the most succulent beef dishes we’ve ever tasted or take a seat at the teppanyaki counter to watch the chef at work 3-9-16 Otakara, Saga-shi, Saga. kira.saga-ja.jp/en This autumn matsuri is held at Karatsu Shrine and is one of Kyushu’s major festivals dating back about 400 years and attracting 500,000 visitors What makes this festival particularly interesting is its unique hikiyama (giant floats) The first in the series of 14 was made by a woodcarving craftsman in 1819 and is called Akajishi (Red Lion float) The other 13 were all produced over the next 60 years and feature awe-inspiring designs – probably the most unusual one is The Red Snapper which literally looks like a fish and is meant to represent the fish markets from the old days If you can’t make it in time to see the floats being hauled along the street you can still see them on display at the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall (6-33 Nishi-Jonai Held annually at the beginning of November this international hot air balloon competition is the largest of its kind in Asia the event sees around 100 colorful balloons gathering and taking flight before landing several kilometers away from the fiesta grounds which are held twice a day; the official balloons which fly just before the main competition begins; and the Fantasia balloons which are shaped to look like animals and cartoon characters and are inflated every morning although they don’t actually lift off the ground November 1-5, 2017. www.sibf.jp/en