title: Yoshinogari, Saga
text: # Yoshinogari, Saga
  
  Yoshinogari (吉野ヶ里町, Yoshinogari-chō) is a town located in Kanzaki District, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is the result of a merger between the town of Mitagawa, and the village of Higashisefuri, both from Kanzaki District, on March 1, 2006. As of March 1, 2017, the town has an estimated population of 16,117.
  
  ## Geography
  
  Yoshinogari is located in the northern part of Saga Prefecture. It is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of Saga City and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Fukuoka. Yoshinogari is very narrow north to south. The southern part contains the northern end of the Chikushi Plains (part of the Saga Plains), and north of the Nagasaki Expressway is the southern end of the Sefuri Mountains.
  
  ### Adjoining municipalities
  
  * Saga Prefecture
     * Kamimine
     * Kanzaki
     * Miyaki
  * Fukuoka Prefecture
     * Fukuoka City, Sawara Ward
     * Nakagawa
  
  ## History
  
  In 1986, the remains of a Yayoi period moat-encircled village were discovered on Yoshinogari Hill at the site of a planned factory housing complex. The area was named the Yoshinogari site and the town name originates from here.
  
  * April 1, 1889 - The modern system of municipalities is established, and the town area consists of Mitagawa Village and Higashi-Sefuri Village.
  * April 1, 1965 - Mitagawa Village becomes Mitagawa Town.
  * March 1, 2006 - Mitagawa Town and Higashi-Sefuri village merge to form Yoshinogari Town.
  
  ## Education
  
  ### Junior high schools
  
  * Mitagawa Junior High School
  * Higashi-Sefuri Junior High School
  
  ### Elementary schools
  
  * Mitagawa Elementary School
  * Higashi-Sefuri Elementary School
  
  ## Transportation
  
  ### Air
  
  The closest airports are Saga Airport and Fukuoka Airport.
  
  ### Rail
  
  * JR Kyushu
     * Nagasaki Main Line
        * Yoshinogari-kōen Station
  
  ### Road
  
  * Expressways: Nagasaki Expressway (Higashi-Sefuri Interchange)
  * National Highways: Route 34 and Route 385.
  * Prefectural Roads: Saga Prefectural Route 31, and Route 46
  