SAGA - Donguri Village, an interactive tourist attraction in Saga city that has welcomed visitors for nearly four decades, is expected to close as early as autumn 2027 because of aging facilities and a decline in visitor numbers.
Mitsuse Luber Farm Donguri Village, located in the Mitsuse district of Saga city, opened in 1988 as a hands-on leisure facility modeled on southern France.
The attraction became a popular tourist destination in the Mitsuse area, offering visitors opportunities to interact with animals including horses and goats and take part in farming activities.
According to the social welfare corporation that manages Donguri Village, the facility attracted about 500,000 visitors annually during its early years.
Visitor numbers subsequently declined, and the facility is now open only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The operator said the combination of falling attendance and the aging of the facilities led to the decision to close Donguri Village as early as autumn 2027.
The organization explained its closure plan to the local residents' association on August 10.
One visitor who had previously come to Donguri Village while at university said the news prompted a change of plans to make another visit. "It's disappointing. It feels lonely to think that a place where people could interact like this will disappear," the visitor said.
No decisions have yet been made on how the site will be used after the closure.
