Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Kyūshū Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Karatsu is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese word roots 唐 kara, and 津 tsu, signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea. The wider area of Karatsu includes the former cities and villages of Higashimatsuura District.

On January 1, 2005, the towns of Chinzei, Hamatama, Hizen, Kyūragi, Ōchi, Yobuko and the village of Kitahata (all from Higashimatsuura District) were merged into Karatsu.

On January 1, 2006, the village of Nanayama (from Higashimatsuura District) was merged into Karatsu.

Geography Due to its proximity to mainland Asia, Karatsu has long been known as a stopover to Korea and China. • Mountains: Mt. Sakurei (887.1 m), Mt. Hachiman (763.6 m), Mt. Tonbo (535 m) • Natural Parks: Hachimandake Prefectural Natural Park, Sefuri-Kitayama Prefectural Natural Park, Tenzan Prefectural Natural Park

Adjoining municipalities • Saga Prefecture ◦ Genkai ◦ Imari ◦ Saga ◦ Takeo ◦ Taku • Fukuoka Prefecture ◦ Itoshima.

Culture and tourism The graceful Karatsu Castle stands watch over this castle town.

Karatsu is famous for its Karatsu Kunchi festival, which runs annually from November 2 to November 4 and is visited by approximately 500,000 visitors from all over Japan. The festival consists of 14 hikiyama (floats made of many layers of paper mache) being carried around the city's narrow streets to calls of "Enya!". Some hikiyama members say "Yoisa!". This accompaniment is one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. Regularly during Karatsu Kunchi, people in this town open their homes to friends and strangers to eat and drink; the primary focus is enjoying food, beer, and shochu, and having lively conversation.

In between Karatsu Station (唐津駅) and the main bus centre (大手口バスセンター) is a 170-metre arcade containing many small shops that specialize in Karatsu Kunchi omiyage, and the Korean-influenced local pottery which are called "Karatsu ware" since they refer to Japanese ceramic wares of Korean origin. The actual date of production of the 'Karatsu Yaki' is believed to have begun being produced sometime "during the first half of the 16th century in the late Muromachi period".

Museums in Karatsu include Kawamura Art Museum, Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum, and Matsurokan, and shrines, Kagami Jinja.

Yobuko The former town of Yobuko merged with Karatsu on January 1, 2005.

Yobuko is famed for its fresh squid, Ika (烏賊) (いか） in Japanese, which is offered sashimi style, or it can be eaten while the squid is still alive. Yobuko also attracts local tourists, who come to see the Yobuko Big Bridge (呼子大橋).

Yobuko has a festival known as Yobuko Tsunahiki (呼子大綱引), or the Yobuko Tug of War, which takes place annually on the first Saturday and Sunday of June. The event involves a big tug-o-war between two factions in the town, the fishermen and farmers, and local legend says that if the hills faction wins, there will be a good harvest that year; and if the sea faction wins, there will be a good fishing harvest that year.

Beaches Hamatama is one of the nicest beaches in Saga Prefecture. It is located close to central Karatsu and can be accessed by the JR Chikuhi Line.

Transport: Air The closest airports are Saga Airport and Fukuoka Airport.

Transport: Rail • JR Kyūshū ◦ Karatsu Line

▪ Kyūragi Station - Iwaya Station - Ōchi Station - Honmutabe Station - Yamamoto Station - Onizuka Station - Karatsu Station - Nishi-Karatsu Station ◦ Chikuhi Line (connected with the Fukuoka City Subway Kūkō Line)

▪ (from Fukuoka) Hamasaki Station - Nijinomatsubara Station - Higashi-Karatsu Station - Watada Station - Karatsu Station

▪ (to Imari) Honmutabe Station - Hizen-Kubo Station - Nishi-Ōchi Station - Sari Station.

Transport: Road • Expressways: ◦ Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway • National highways: ◦ Route 202 ◦ Route 203 ◦ Route 204 ◦ Route 323 ◦ Route 382 • Major Prefectural roads: ◦ Karatsu-Yobiko Route 23 ◦ Imari-Hatagawachi-Kyūragi Route 32 ◦ Karatsu-Hizen Route 33 ◦ Kyūragi-Fuji Route 37 ◦ Ōchi-Yamauchi Route 38 ◦ Hamatama-Ōchi Route 40 ◦ Hizen-Yobiko Route 47 ◦ Karatsu-Kitahata Route 50 ◦ Yamamoto-Hatatsu Route 52.