Karatsu Castle
唐津城
A castle on the shore of Karatsu Bay known as the 'Dancing Crane Castle', its keep overlooking the Nijinomatsubara pine grove and the bay. A classic day trip west of Fukuoka.
Karatsu Castle stands on Mitsushima Hill in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. Terazawa Hirotaka built it in 1608, and it is nicknamed 'Mai-zuru-jō' (Dancing Crane Castle) because the coastlines on either side spread out like a crane's wings. The current keep was rebuilt in 1966 and houses a local history museum. Its top floor offers views over Karatsu Bay, Hōtō Island and the Nijinomatsubara, one of Japan's three great pine groves, with about a million black pines stretching roughly 4.5 km. The keep is open around 9:00 to 17:00, admission is about 500 yen, and there is an elevator at the foot of the hill for an extra fee. Getting there: take the Fukuoka Airport Line through-service onto the JR Chikuhi Line to Karatsu Station, about 1 hour 20 minutes, then walk about 20 minutes. For a day trip, combine it with the Nijinomatsubara, Karatsu Shrine and the Yobuko Morning Market for squid sashimi.
Opening hours
09:00–17:00; closed December 29–31
Nearby sights
- Yobuko Morning Market
- Itoshima
- Nokonoshima Island
- Fukuoka Tower
- Fukuoka City Museum
- Seaside Momochi Beach Park
- Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka
- Ohori Park