Takeo (武雄市) is a city of 49,000 people (2016) in Saga Prefecture, Japan.

Mifuneyama Garden

Understand

Takeo and its hot springs have existed for over a thousand years.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

Takeo is approximately 28 km (17 mi) west of Saga City and approximately 30 km (19 mi) east of Sasebo.

Takeoonsen Station is an express stop from Hakata or Sasebo.

Get around

Takeo is not completely walkable; buses run from Takeoonsen Station.

See

Look for the 3000-year-old tree hidden in an old sacred grove in a forest near Takeo Shrine, across from the library. This grove is known as a "power spot" and must be seen to be believed.

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  Takeo Shrine
• 
  3000-year-old tree

Do

Takeo Onsen

Do some reading, enjoy a coffee, or update your blog at the Takeo Epochal Library, the first library in the world to have a public-private partnership with a large music store chain. Check out the Starbucks inside!

The Saga Prefecture Science and Space Museum is a 10-minute taxi ride from the station and promises science fun for the whole family.

Don't forget Takeo Onsen, the ancient hot springs. It is within walking distance of the station and the nightclubs, and you can sleep here if you like. There are three hot springs to choose from.

Eat

Eat with the locals at Gyoza Kaikan, 5 minutes from Takeo Station. The gyoza and ramen here are cheap "B-class gourmet," but they're well-known in the area and the atmosphere is always lively.

Drink

Directly to the west of the station is a street of bars and nightclubs. The American hamburger restaurant there closes at midnight.

Go next

• Ureshino
• Arita
• Imari
• Kashima
• Karatsu
• Saga
• Hasami
• Sasebo
• Nagasaki

Routes through Takeo

Nagasaki ← Ureshino ←

W  E

→ Taku → Tosu