Karatsu

What to know

Karatsu (唐津) is a coastal city in Saga Prefecture on Kyushu, about 50 kilometers west of Fukuoka. Historically, it was a key port for ships traveling to Korea and China, being one of the closest Japanese cities to the Korean Peninsula.

Today, Karatsu is famous for its castle, the annual Karatsu Kunchi festival (November 2–4), and local pottery. Additional attractions lie on the nearby rural Higashi Matsuura Peninsula, including scenic coastlines and the ruins of a massive castle used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi for his late-1500s invasion attempt of Korea.

Fukuoka and Karatsu are linked by direct trains on the JR Chikuhi Line from Meinohama Station. Some Fukuoka subway trains run directly from Fukuoka Airport via Hakata, Tenjin, and Meinohama to Karatsu. The one-way trip from Hakata Station to Karatsu Station takes about 90 minutes and costs 1,290 yen. The Japan Rail Pass is valid between Meinohama and Karatsu but not on the subway section east of Meinohama; pass holders pay an extra 300 yen from Hakata Station.

Central Karatsu has two railway stations: Karatsu Station (larger and more central) and Nishi-Karatsu Station. The city's bus hub is Karatsu Bus Center, also known as Oteguchi (大手口) bus stop, a five-minute walk north of Karatsu Station. Many bus lines also stop at Nishi-Karatsu Station.

While the Karatsu-yaki Gallery and Karatsu Hikiyama Exhibition Hall are within walking distance of Karatsu Station, buses serve more distant sights except for Mount Kagamiyama, which requires a taxi or rental car.

One or two buses per hour connect Karatsu Bus Center with Yobuko (30 minutes, 760 yen one way), site of the morning market and departure point for Nanatsugama cruises. From Yobuko, buses run to Nagoya Castle Ruins (about 10 minutes, 200 yen one way, one bus every 1–2 hours; get off at Nagoyajō Hakubutsukan Iriguchi). A few direct buses run between Karatsu Bus Center and Nagoya Castle Ruins but are infrequent. All buses between Karatsu and the peninsula also stop at Nishi-Karatsu Station.