Saga City Announces June Supplementary Budget Focused on Childcare Support, University Development, and Experiential Tourism

On June 1, Saga City announced the supplementary budget proposal to be submitted to the June regular session of the city council.

The supplementary budget includes initiatives such as:

Establishing a new childcare support system

Urban development around the planned Saga Prefectural University (provisional name)

Promoting inbound tourism through enhanced experiential tourism

The total budget after the revision amounts to 119.617 billion yen.

Key Points of the June Supplementary Budget

Saga City’s June supplementary budget involves a reduction of approximately 180 million yen in the general account, bringing the revised total budget to approximately 119.617 billion yen.

Utilizing grants such as the Regional Future Delivery Fund and tourism promotion subsidies, the city will launch new initiatives in childcare, urban development, and tourism.

Saga City will continue to proactively leverage national programs to advance city planning with citizens’ well-being as the top priority.

Sharing Kindness: A Mutual Childcare Support System Begins

Unable to pick up your child due to sudden overtime work? Need someone to watch your child briefly while you visit the doctor? Want to give away or receive hand-me-downs?

There are moments in parenting when just a little help from someone else can make life easier. Saga City will begin building a system that enables residents to support each other freely and comfortably within the community.

The project budget is 20.8 million yen. The initiative will proceed in three steps:

Identify and train local connectors as “coordinators”

Including experienced parents and childcare veterans, coordinators will be trained through workshops to foster community relationships.

Host in-person exchange events for parents and supporters

Rather than relying on strangers, the city will cultivate trustworthy connections through face-to-face interactions.

Use digital tools to easily connect those who “need help” with those who “can help”

Smoothly facilitate everyday mutual support, including transportation, temporary childcare, sharing hand-me-downs, and casual social exchanges.

Together with citizens, Saga City aims to create a warm community where people feel it’s okay not to bear everything alone—where they can comfortably rely on others and be relied upon.

Toward the Opening of the Prefectural University (Provisional Name): Creating a Campus Area People Want to Walk and Gather In

In preparation for the opening of the Saga Prefectural University (provisional name) scheduled for Reiwa 11 (2029), the city will develop the urban space around the campus.

The project budget is 66.2 million yen.

The target area connects JR Saga Station and SAGA Sunrise Park.

This area will be developed into a space that “invites walking” and “encourages gathering.”

Along surrounding roads, pedestrian zones will be enhanced. Color paving on curbs will make walking areas more visible to drivers, creating safer and more comfortable streets for pedestrians.

Adjacent Ozuki Park will also be renovated.

The city will upgrade rest areas, open plazas, and playground equipment to create a natural gathering place for students, young people, and local residents.

By integrating road and park improvements, the city aims to create new scenery and vibrancy in the area.

From Watching to Experiencing Balloons: Promoting Saga’s Unique Tourism to the World

Saga offers unique attractions such as hot air balloons, traditional crafts, and food culture—experiences found nowhere else.

In Reiwa 7 (2025), Saga City recorded approximately 98,000 inbound overnight visitors, the highest number in its history. To ensure this trend continues beyond a temporary peak, the city will further enhance experiential tourism to increase the intrinsic value of time spent in Saga.

The project budget is 41.3 million yen. This initiative will refine Saga’s tourism offerings in three key directions:

Strengthening experiential tourism centered on hot air balloons

The iconic hot air balloons of Saga will evolve from “something to watch” to “something to experience.” The flight simulator at the Balloon Museum will be upgraded with multilingual support and high-definition visuals to deliver a more realistic and immersive experience.

Developing tourism content based on traditional crafts and food culture

The city will expand experiences that allow visitors to feel local culture, human connections, and regional stories, aiming to increase visitor stays and spending.

Improving reception infrastructure

Enhancing multilingual support and information dissemination for international audiences to ensure foreign tourists can comfortably explore Saga City.

Saga City aims to become not just a destination people visit, but a city where visitors create lasting memories.