Saga Prefecture has long ranked low among domestic tourist destinations in Japan, but local officials and residents believe this is all down to a bad rap that is quite unearned.
The prefecture in northwestern Kyushu, they argue, suffers because it lacks a signature image to stick in people's minds, but nevertheless has a plethora of attractions.
While Japanese tend to associate each prefecture with a famous place or specialty food, "for Saga, nothing much comes to mind," concedes Koji Nakashima, section head of the Saga prefectural government.