Karatsu ー
唐津
The combined cultures of China and Korea:
Karatsu City is in the north of Saga Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan. It is the Gate of interchange with China and Korea and the unique culture of combination between Japan and the mainland was created, so a lot of historic heritages remain here. Moreover, the shoreline is scenic and there are a lot fishing ports of the small inlets, so some tourists come here just for delicious seafood ingredients.
＊A common admission ticket for the following three spots is sold at 1000 yen.
Hikiyama Exhibition, the Former Takatori Residence, Karatsu Castle.
Access and Getting Around
By train
1 hour10 minutes from Saga Station with 1 train per hour.
By bus
1 hour from Hakata Station in Fukuoka with 1 bus per 10 to 60 minutes; 1 hour 30 minutes from Fukuoka Airport with 1 bus per 30 to 60 minutes.
By car
1 hour from Hakata Station. 47 km from Saga Station
Features
-Festivals
Kunchi is a kind of autumn festival which is held in the north of Kyushu.The Karatsu Kunchi Festival is held by Karatsu Shrine in fall.14 floats which are built by using a technique of traditional lacquer craftsmanship know as “Ikkanbari”are pulled around old castle town vigorously but gracefully with the sound of the bells,the beat of the drums, and the lilt of bamboo flutes.“Ikkanbari”is a techn...
-Culture -Historic Sites
Hikiyama Exhibition exhibits all festival cars.Even if visitors cannot come in the festival season, real wonderful festival cars are displayed, so it is strongly recommended.Visitors can also appreciate the video of the festival. There is Karatsu Shrine in front of the building....
-Historic Sites
The Former Takatori Residence is a house of a person called Koreyoshi Takatori who became rich as a mine owner.Two big buildings are constructed on the very large site along the southwest shore of Karatsu-jo Castle.With the Noh Stage in the grand hall, the buildings were constructed uniquely upon Japanese-stylewith the western style into it.Visitors are surprised at the gorgeous internal design of...
-Historic Sites
Though the Castle Tower in the current Karatsu Castle was rebuilt, the prospects from a castle tower are superb viewsbecause it was built on the hill along the seashore.The views seen on the Castle Tower is quite splendid.It is a small castle, but the sea and the scene of the castle are beautiful....
-Specific Nature
It is a wide road bordered with pines along Karatsu Bay where trees were plantedas a windbreak and a prevention of erosion of sand in the 17th century,but it is a beautiful tourist spot now. One million black pines last 5 km endlessly.It is good to walk in pines, Also it is great to look from Karatsu Castle and Kagamiyama observatory....
-Specific Nature
It is an observatory of 284 meters high, where Nijinomatsubara and Karatsu can be seen.As it is high, the prospects seen on it are splendid on fine days....
-Sea View
Yobuko is a fishing port town located in the north of Karatsu and facing the Sea of Japan.Many tourists come to see the shore beauty where the saw-tooth coastline spreads out.Tourists may enjoy not only fresh sea food but also many sightseeing spots here.So it is recommended that itinerary should include Yobuko, not just Karatsu....
-Specific Nature
Because there are seven sea caves which are made from the cliff of the columnar eroded by waves,it is named seven sea caves. Some caves are even 100 meters in depth, which makes the wonderful shore beauty....
-Sea View
Yobuko-ohashi Bridge is a 728 meters long suspension bridgewhich connects Yobuko with Kabe Island on the opposite shore.A guide board of the promenade stands next to the bridgeand below the bridge, an orange promenade stretches to the Bentenjima Island.It is comfortable to relish the sea wind while walking on the promenade of 200 meters high from sea.The view of the sea from the Bentenjima Island ...
-Sea View
The Park to see the wind: It is an observatory on the Kabe Island.To see the Yobuko-ohashi Bridge, the rend Bentenjima Island promenade, from above, inlet-formedYobuko Port and the Sea of Japan panoramically is really enjoyable....
-Food
The market is located in a narrow lane called ‘Morning Market Street’ near the Yobuko Port.The lane is 200 meters long, there are 70 outdoor shops.The market is opened from 7:30am to 12 at noon every morning,the goods sold hereare mainly seafood which is transacted not at predetermined prices but by negotiating.The communication for negotiating is pleasant....
-Sea View
It is a cape in the northernmost of Yobuko, and once was introduced in a sightseeing magazine as a spot of the setting sun. The Sea of Japan and islands make exquisite contrast.The approach to a flat grassy plain-formed promenade is very good.There are many restaurants of fried shellfish nearby, which attract tourists who like shellfish.There is an in-the-sea observatory, too.Though bus services a...
Accommodation around Karatsu
