2025 Karatsu Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

✒️ Convenient access from Fukuoka City! ✒️ Enjoy a luxurious all-inclusive stay✨ Some might think Karatsu is far, but many people commute to Fukuoka City from there, making it surprisingly accessible✨ Think of it like commuting from Kanagawa or Chiba to Tokyo🤔 Located in Karatsu, the Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort greets you with an impressive ceiling painting of Karatsu Kunchi as soon as you step inside! This time, I experienced their all-inclusive plan, which includes dinner, breakfast, drinks and snacks at the lounge, access to the large public bath, and activity experiences🥹 From the room, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Karatsu City🩵 The large public bath also has a sauna, and after your bath, you can relax in the relaxation lounge with a drink🧖 For dinner, you can savor local delicacies from Saga and Karatsu, such as "Saga Beef Yaki-Shabu" and "Squid Pressed Crackers," giving you a full travel experience. Saga is known for its delicious seafood, so make sure to indulge😋 The lounge available to guests also offers alcohol, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy some adult time! 📍 Address: 4-9-20 Higashi-Karatsu, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture ⏰ Check-in: 15:00 / Check-out: 11:00

The first impression of "Karatsu Castle" is that it is small, cute and very exquisite! Before reaching the city gate, you can see Karatsu Castle on the hill in the distance. This castle was first built more than 400 years ago (i.e. in the early Edo period) by the famous Japanese general "Toyotomi Hideyoshi"✨ I really like the scenery from the castle tower. The beautiful scenery of the sea and islands makes people feel relaxed and happy. It is different from ordinary castles on land. If you come to Saga, don’t forget to take a walk here and feel the history🥰 #100WAYS TO TRAVEL #Karatsu Castle #SAGA Viewing Light

After reading Sanada Taiheiki, I was curious about Nagoya Castle, so I visited there. At first, I thought it wouldn't be a great place, but that's not the case. more I walked around, the more I thought how amazing it was. I think that by building a huge fortress in a place like this, this government would not last long, and it makes sense that it would soon fall. Since I noticed it, the generals at the time must have noticed it too. view is great and peaceful #songkran2024#mytravelhacks#cherryblossom2024#historicallandmarks#localguides#familytrip#trip#instatravel#goodfoods#langkawi#foodphotography#chinatown#ipoh#temples#siemreap#familyfun#คาเฟ่ห้ามพลาด#edinburgh

Kitahama Beach is a beach with fine sand under a clear blue sky. 🛟 It's early June and the beach and beach huts aren't open yet, but the sea is as beautiful as the ocean in Okinawa. ✨ The winter oyster huts have closed and the beach hasn't opened yet, so there were no people and we had the place to ourselves! It's a bit like a bay, so even though there was wind, the sea was calm and the water was very clean. ✨ There was a private shower room behind the beach hut, which was available for a fee, and it was a beach hut that was quite well equipped. The beach is also shallow, making it perfect for playing in the water with small children. 👌 5-12 Minatomachi, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, 847-0133 Parking available #Karatsu #Beach #Beach hut #Kitahama Beach #Saga Prefecture #Sea

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩*⋆✈Saga𓂃 𓈒𓏸Yobuko Morning Market, Yobuko Town, Karatsu City I went to the morning market in Yobuko Town, which has a history of 300 years and is said to be one of the three major morning markets in Japan. The market is open every day except New Year's Day, and it starts at 7:30, which is a slow time for a morning market, and gets busy around 9:00. Local seafood, seasonal vegetables, and squid gourmet food, which is a specialty of Yobuko, are available. Unfortunately, we couldn't eat live squid this time because of a poor catch, but we enjoyed grilled squid and squid shumai. 🦑 moc-coffee yobuko, located at the entrance of the street, is a cute cafe with a white base. ✔︎Lemon granita ✔︎Matcha latte It was extremely hot, so the cool granita brought me back to life. 🍋w The eat-in area is a little away from the shops. There were sweets and some food too 🙆🏻‍♀️ There's free parking on the north side of Asaichi-dori, so I recommend it 🚗 They also sell overnight dried fish and souvenirs It's about a 40-minute drive from Karatsushi Station! 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄𓊆𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒𓊇From the Karatsu City Tourism Association website 7:30-12:00 ︎𓊆𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𓊇 From the official website Yobuko Morning Market Street, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 #solotravel #trip #saga #sagatourism #sagatrip #karatsucity #yobukomorningmarket #yobuko #morningmarket #girlstrip #kyushutrip

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩*⋆✈Saga𓂃 𓈒𓏸Karatsu City Nanatsugama After passing through Nanatsugama Garden, Nanatsugama, a designated national natural monument, spreads out before us. A scenic spot created by the erosion of basalt by the waves of the Genkai Sea. The rock surface is lined up in a regular pattern like columns, the same as Tojinbo in Fukui. The cliff has been deeply carved by erosion, and as the name suggests, there are seven caves. You can feel the magnificent power and threat of nature. The largest sea cave is 3m wide and 110m deep. Depending on the wave conditions, you can enter by boat. The road to get there was somehow photogenic, with a sense of nature 🥺 Apparently there is a lot of silver grass on the feet ☺️ It's less than a 10-minute walk from the parking lot. There were also people who seemed to be on a sightseeing tour. 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄︎𓊆𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𓊇 Yakataishi, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 #Saga trip #Saga #Saga sightseeing #breathtaking views #breathtaking views spots #winter trip #solo trip #trip #domestic trip

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩*⋆✈Saga𓂃 𓈒𓏸Karatsu City Environmental Art Forest Reflections reminiscent of Kyoto's Rurikoin Temple The reflections on the lacquer table at Fuyu Sanso are fantastic and breathtakingly beautiful... In autumn, the autumn leaves are said to be spectacular🍁 This is a private forest of about 10 hectares located on the southwest slope of Sakureyama in Iki-cho, Karatsu City. The founder lost his child to an unknown disease and came to the idea that "What humans ultimately need is clean air, and it is the forest that creates it." "If we plant trees and purify the water and air, the soil, rivers, and seas will become more energetic and protect us." This is how he took his first step towards forest creation. You can also take a stroll through the maple forest, so I would like to go again. The short course takes 15 minutes, and the long course takes 30 minutes. The facility's mascot cat? But they were so friendly and cute 🥺 Be careful, there is no signal on the mountain! ​𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄𓊆𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑒𓊇 Official website Adults ¥700 𓊆𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒𓊇 Official website 9:00-16:00 𓊆𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𓊇 From the official website: 667 Hirano, Ikimachi, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 #wintertrip #solotravel #trip #saga #sagaprefecture #sagatourism #karatsucity #karatsu #reflection

Yobuko Morning Market in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture is one of the three biggest morning markets in Japan, with around 50 stalls lined up on both sides of a 200m road. Yobuko is famous for squid, and you can find overnight dried squid, squid crackers, and other seafood caught in the Genkai Sea. You can enjoy the morning market while listening to the lively voices and interacting with the saleswomen. 📌Yobuko Morning Market 📌Yobuko Morning Market Street, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture 📌Because it is a morning market, the opening hours are generally from 7:30 to 12:00 📌Famousness ★★★☆☆ #Domestic travel #Saga Prefecture #Saga #Karatsu City #Morning market #Yobuko morning market #Yobuko

Address－Saga Karatsu Castle Environment/Facilities - Maizuru Park, Castle Tower Features - Cherry Blossom Viewing Time Price per person: 500 yen Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Transportation Tips - JR Local attractions - Hoto Shrine Kyushu Fukumang Tour Itinerary - Saga Karatsu Castle Tower is surrounded by cherry blossoms and is particularly beautiful under the sun. It's worth spending 500 yen to go to the top floor to have a 360-degree bird's eye view of the entire Karatsu city😀 When the wind blows, the cherry blossom petals fall like snow, making you feel like you are in a fairyland😉It is so beautiful

#HotSpring The hot spring here is made by pumping up seawater, and the hot spring is highly concentrated Shioyu♨ Even when bathing in the open-air bath while feeling the slightly cold autumn wind, your body will warm up and you will start to sweat😆 This time, I booked a lunch and bath set here through Trip.com😙 The lunch of Imari beef shabu-shabu and sashimi was also delicious😋 The view from the large bath and open-air bath at Shioyu, as well as the main lobby and terrace where the lunch was held, was also amazing🎉 1613 Hamasaki, Hamatama-cho, Karatsu-shi, Saga-ken, 849-5131 #HotSpringLunch #Shioyu #Karatsu #SagaTrip #DayTripHotSpring

Karatsu Castle, located in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, is one of the 100 scenic spots in Japan💘 Tangtsu Castle is also a rare famous city in Japan that can overlook the sea🥹 If it is the peak cherry blossom season, you can also see the cherry blossoms reflecting the city, is a very famous cherry blossom viewing hotspot🌸🌸🌸 We have missed the cherry blossom season in June, but Tangtsu Castle is still honored as my favorite ancient city👍🏻👍🏻 Tangjin Castle 1~4 floors could not visit due to maintenance that day, we went directly to the observation deck on the top floor! The incomparable sea view in front of me, coupled with the gentle breeze, immediately swept away all the distracting thoughts in my heart☺️ We also spent an hour here before we could leave! Because looking out from every direction, it's just as beautiful 🥹 Although Tangzu is not a tourist hotspot in Kyushu, it is highly recommended to visit! #Japan Attractions

The Oura rice terraces in Saga Prefecture are terraces that stretch out towards Imari Bay, where Iroha Island and other islands are located, and are said to have been so beautiful that Kobo Daishi threw away his brush. They have also been selected as one of the "100 Best Rice Terraces in Japan." It is said that there are more than 1,000 fields, and the beauty of each season changes depending on the growth of the rice. At this time of year, the rice is in its harvested state, giving it a real autumn feel. 📌Visited on October 23rd #AutumnTrip #Saga #RiceTerraces #Outdoors #BreathtakingView

Huzi must eat raw flower branch cuisine, originally thought to eat Kawataro, but we arrived too early and not yet open, so we had to eat Huzi Wanfang instead! Ordered the raw flower branch dish for two (2860yen)🐙 and two sashimi dishes (2500yen)🍣. Let's talk about the raw flower branch cuisine 🐙, actually I knew the raw flower branch sashimi has no taste, but came to try it 🙂 Be sure to eat fresh! The palate will be more bouncy! Compared to the sashimi with raw flower branches, the squid tempura is very surprising! 😍 The restaurant will take all the leftovers to the tempura, no waste 👍🏻 The tempura is super thin and crispy, the cooked flower branches are more prominent, add a little pepper and salt super delicious, one bite at a time, good 😋😋😋 As for the sashimi set, it's just as cheap 🍣, the whole plate of sashimi is for one person! There are 7 kinds of sashimi in total 😱 Each one is fresh and plump 🤗 satisfying 🎀 Both sets come with bean curd soup, pickles and Kuko's famous squid siu-mai🍱 PS. Huzi Wanfang our shop has a seating area below sea level, you can dine while enjoying the fish swimming back and forth, unfortunately my place is not a self-drive tour, so the shop is not so convenient 😅 #Japan Attractions

To access the race from Hakata Station, take the subway Kuko Line bound for Nishi Karatsu for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, or take a 5-minute free bus from the north exit of Higashi Karatsu Station. The main building of Karatsu Boat Race is probably the most beautiful of the 24 racecourses in Japan. There are also music and cooking studios, as well as facilities for bouldering. There is also a wide variety of gourmet food, so although it is only open for breakfast, you could spend the whole day there.

#QuintessaCampaign Environmental Art Forest Environmental Art Forest in Saga It is very well maintained and is spectacular in autumn. It is said to be beautiful not only in autumn but also in the season of fresh greenery. I have only been there in autumn, so I would like to go there in early spring someday.

"Manbo", which floats on the sea of ​​Yobuko Tonoura, is a restaurant where you can eat squid🦑 dishes, with a large fish tank itself as the store😆 The inside is raised and you can eat various seafood dishes, but the best thing is squid😆✨ When you eat sashimi, the squid that was alive just a moment ago is transparent and its freshness stands out😋 The squid tentacles are made into freshly fried squid tempura, which is sweet, plump and absolutely delicious🎶 In addition to squid, there is a wide variety of other seafood dishes, so it's fun to order different menus and share them✨ 1946-1 Tonoura, Yobuko-cho, Karatsu-shi, Saga Prefecture (Parking is on land) #gourmet trip #gourmet #seafood #seafood #Yobuko #Karatsu #squid #delicious food tour #gourmet trip

The stone steps of Karatsu Castle where Yuuri trained. The symbol of the town of Karatsu, it is also known as Maizuru Castle. This is actually where the baseball team members of a nearby school used to train. Nagahama Ramen where the coach went to eat I went to [Ganso Nagahama-ya] in Fukuoka, not a food stall. The menu only has ramen and toppings. When you open the door to the store, the staff will ask you in a fairly loud voice how firm the noodles are and how much oil they have. [Noodle firmness] Raw, firm, normal, soft [Amount of oil] Sticky, normal, none [Green onion] Large green onion, green onion mori If you plan to visit, make sure you decide what to order before you go. It's a popular store, so if you hesitate, people will line up behind you. Niji no Matsubara Beach This is the location of the scene where the two of them take a shower in the ending. There are showers scattered along the beach, so you can take a shower for free after swimming. The sacred sites in Karatsu are quite far apart, so if you want to visit them in one day, I recommend taking a taxi or renting a car. I caught a taxi on the street, but it seems that almost all the taxi drivers in Karatsu are watching Yuri!!! on ICE (apparently it's a work order?) They efficiently guided me around the sacred sites, and even took me to a shop that the original author visited and left an autographed autograph card, even though it's not listed on the pilgrimage map. #Karatsu #Anime #Secret summer resort #Japan Genki Project 2021 #Summer trip

Nanatsugama in Saga Prefecture. There is a cave formed by the waves eroding the cliffs, and you can visit it by boat. When I went, the sea was rough, so the boats didn't go out and I could only see it from land. On a fine day, the color of the sea is beautiful, so I'd like to go again. Nanatsugama, Yakataishi, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture #Seaside scenery #Summer trip

[Karatsu, Saga] You can eat Karatsu's famous squid at Karatsu Chaya. Located in a corner of a ryokan, this shop serves fresh squid and other seafood! Enjoy Karatsu seafood while looking out at the sea 🌊 #Saga #Gourmet #Seaside scenery #Summer trip #Breathtaking scenery #Gourmet trip

I came here because I really wanted my friend to try the delicious seafood of Saga. (Especially the squid from Saga is delicious 🥺) The moment I entered the private room, I got excited by the ocean that spread out before me. This time I ordered a tuna bowl! The tuna was soaked in soy sauce and it didn't smell fishy at all, and it was very delicious. My friend ordered a squid bowl, and he was happy, saying, "It's the first time I've ever had squid sashimi that was so chewy and fresh!" ☺️ Address: 4-3 Higashijonai, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, 847-0016 Average price per person: (Lunch) 2,000 to 3,000 yen #JapanGenkiProject2021 #SummerShortTrip#BreathtakingView

Camping is one of the things I wanted to try at least once in my life. I went to a campsite in Saga to try it out. All the necessary equipment can be rented, so even beginners can feel at ease. (You can also purchase BBQ ingredients 🙆‍♀️) If you are a beginner camper, be sure to arrive at the campsite early! It takes a surprisingly long time to start a fire and set up a tent 🤦🏼‍♀️ And the best thing about Hatomasaki Campsite is the beautiful sunset. Watching the sunset with friends was the best ☺️ It was a lot of fun to struggle to start a fire, talk while BBQing, and fight bugs, and experience things I don't usually do. Address: 7324 Nagoya, Chinzei-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, 847-0401 Price: (for 1 night and 2 days in a regular section) Auto site: 4,400 yen General site: 2,200 yen #JapanGenkiProject2021 #SummerShortTrip#AmazingView

Rainbow Pine Grove Rainbow Pine Grove, which stretches along the shores of Karatsu Bay, is a special national scenic spot and is one of Japan's three largest pine groves, along with Miho no Matsubara and Kehi no Matsubara. It is about 4.5 km long and 0.5 km wide, and is home to a colony of about 1 million black pines. There are a few playground equipment here and there. #supporttourism #Saga #supporttourism #amazingnature

Jonai Bridge and Funinyumon Park Jonai Bridge is located at the confluence of the Machida River and Matsuura River, which run north and south through downtown Karatsu. It is the only bicycle and footbridge in Karatsu. The area around the bridge is also well maintained, so it's a great place to relax. #supporttourism #Saga #Karatsu #supporttourism

Karatsu Castle About a 20-minute walk from Karatsu Station. It is said that Hideyoshi Toyotomi's vassal, Shimanokami Hirotaka Terazawa, spent seven years building the castle starting in 1602. The current castle tower was completed in 1966 and renovated in 2017. Also known as Maizuru Castle, it is a famous spot for cherry blossoms and wisteria, but when I went, the wisteria trellis was not visible because the trees were recovering. #supporttourism #Saga #castletour #historicalsite #supporttourism #greatview

●Name Kawataro Yobuko Store ●Access Approx. 30 minutes by car from JR Karatsu Station Approx. 90 minutes by car from JR Hakata Station on the highway Approx. 90 minutes by car from JR Saga Station on the highway ●Points You can eat Yobuko squid in Fukuoka Hakata, but... I still want to go to Yobuko🚙 Kawataro was founded in 1973 and is known as the birthplace of "live squid sashimi" In the tank in the center of the store are squid🦑 The live squid is quickly cooked to a crisp, transparent texture, and the deliciousness and sweetness are irresistible There is a parking lot for about 50 cars, and there is a waiting time... You can also enjoy the sea‼ ️ You can also carefully consider your shopping at the market next door‼ ️ #Tourism support #Saga #Yobuko #Seaside scenery #Tourism support

[Saga Prefecture: Karatsu City] Karatsu has a lot to see😊 Karatsu Castle, also known as Maizuru Castle🏯 Next to the castle is the Rainbow Pine Grove, a special national scenic spot and one of Japan's three largest pine groves🌿 The pine forest stretches for 4km and is well worth seeing! And speaking of Karatsu, we can't forget the live Yobuko squid🦑 We recommend the underwater restaurant Manbo🌊, which is located in the sea. After enjoying the crystal clear squid sashimi, you can enjoy the remaining squid as tentacle tempura, a service that gives you two in one🍴 #Saga #Seaside scenery #Karatsu City #Underwater restaurant #Amazing view #Gourmet trip

A scenic spot created by erosion over many years of exposure to the rough waves of the Genkai Sea. ⛴ As the name suggests, there are seven caves lined up, making you feel the wonder of nature. You can walk to see it from above, or get up close and personal on a pleasure boat! #Saga Prefecture #Karatsu City #Nanatsugama #Seaside scenery #Breathtaking pleasure boat #Couple trip #Amazing nature #A trip to enjoy spring

Nice sunset after rains