The Saga Balloon Museum is the first ever hot air balloon museum in Japan.
Each year in autumn, Saga City hosts one of Asia’s largest hot air balloon festivals, the Saga International Balloon Fiesta, where over 100 hot air balloons come together to bring smiles to the faces of the roughly 900,000 spectators from Japan and abroad. (2023)
In recent years, Saga City has become famous for its hot air balloons, and the Saga Balloon Museum is one of the city’s most popular sightseeing attractions.
Inside the museum you will find various hands-on exhibits where you can immerse yourself in the fascinating world of hot air balloons.
The first thing you’ll notice as you step foot inside the museum is an impressive, colorful full-size hot air balloon replica that stretches all the way up to the ceiling.
Here you can learn about the structure and principles of how hot air balloons fly, and even hop inside a hot air balloon basket for a simulated flight through the sky.
The museum also houses a collection of photos and images of the many balloons from the International Balloon Fiesta in past years. On the first floor, the Super Hi-Vision Theater presents a colorful display of the many balloons on a large 280-inch screen. Enjoy the realistic, powerful images as you embark on your journey through the sky.
The museum also has a flight simulator where you can experience what it feels like to be a hot air balloon pilot. Get inside a real hot air balloon basket and try your hand at steering the balloon using a burner in this realistic flight simulation experience.
You can also visit the exhibition space, where you’ll learn about the history and inner workings of the hot air balloon, the first vehicle ever to make mankind’s wish to “fly like a bird” come true.
You can also learn about the history of the Saga International Balloon Fiesta, domestic and international competitions, hot air ballooning as a sport, and more.
The Saga Balloon Museum offers the opportunity to not only learn about hot air balloons, but also to experience a realistic hot air balloon flight simulation and learn about hot air ballooning techniques. So the next time you’re in Saga, be sure to visit the museum and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of hot air balloons.
And if the timing’s right, don’t miss the famous Saga International Balloon Fiesta as well!

Saga Balloon Museum
Location: 2-27, Matsubara 2-chome, Saga-shi, Saga 840-0831
phone number: 0952-40-7114
Hours: 10:00-17:00 (admission by 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday), year-end and New Year holidays (December 31 – January 1)*The museum is not closed during the Saga Castle Doll Festival and summer vacation.　　https://www.sagabai.com/balloon-museum/main/

Cover photograph provided by　佐賀県観光連盟