Sugar King Park
A small park commemorating Matsue Haruji, the 'Sugar King' of the Japanese occupation period. It preserves a sugar-cane steam train and a Japanese shrine, making it a historic stroll in Garapan.
Sugar King Park lies on the south side of Garapan and commemorates Matsue Haruji, the Japanese industrialist who founded the Nan'yo Kohatsu Kaisha company in Saipan in the early 20th century and developed the sugar cane industry. A bronze statue of him stands in the centre of the park. The park displays a steam locomotive that once hauled sugar cane, and on a hillside to one side stands Saiho Katori Shrine, whose torii gates and stone lanterns are well preserved. Next door are the NMI Museum of History and Culture, housed in a former Japanese hospital, and a botanical garden, which can be visited together. Admission is free. It is about a 15 to 20-minute walk from the hotel area of Garapan, making it an easygoing spot to learn about Saipan's history during the Japanese occupation period.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- NMI Museum of History and Culture
- Old Japanese Jail
- Garapan & Street Market
- Micro Beach
- Japanese Lighthouse (Navy Hill)
- American Memorial Park
- Mount Tapochau
- Managaha Island