BokenJapanSights in Karatsu, Saga
Karatsu · Saga · 39 places
See
Genkai Undersea Observatory
Undersea tower opened in 1974, 86 m off Cape Hado.
Nanatsugama Caves
Seven sea caves carved into basalt cliffs; a national natural monument.
Kankyo Geijutsu no Mori
Maple forest on Mount Sakurei, planted over 40 years; leaves reflect on lacquered tables in its villa.
Cape Hado
Small cape on the Higashimatsuura Peninsula; known for grilled turban shells.
Niji no Matsubara
4.5 km pine grove along Karatsu Bay, one of Japan's three great pine groves.
Karatsu Castle
Castle built 1602–1608 by the first lord of Karatsu, Terazawa Hirotaka, on Mitsushima Hill.
Mount Kagami
284 m peak with views over Niji no Matsubara, Karatsu Bay and, on clear days, Iki Island; a 4 km winding road leads to the top.
Hikiyama Exhibition Hall
Year-round display of the Karatsu Kunchi festival floats.
Tashima Shrine
Said to be Hizen's oldest shrine, on Kabe Island; dedicated to three sea goddesses.
Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum & Castle Ruins
Hideyoshi's base for the 1592–1598 invasions of Korea, ringed by more than 150 camp sites.
Suginohara Pasture
Pasture at the north tip of Kabe Island with a white lighthouse and cattle grazing 9:00–17:00.
Mikaeri Falls
Waterfall in Ochi, one of Japan's 100 best, with cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
Takashima Hoto Shrine
Shrine on Takashima, 10 minutes by boat from Karatsu, popular for wishes and lottery luck.
Iroha Islands
About 48 islands in Imari Bay, Genkai Quasi-National Park.
Kaze no Mieru Oka Park
Hilltop park on Kabe Island, across the Yobuko Bridge, with wide views over the Genkai Sea.
Former Takatori Residence
Coal baron Takatori Koreyoshi's seaside house on a 2,300-tsubo site.
Kannon Falls
45 m waterfall in Nanayama, nicknamed the "male falls" for its power.
Yobuko Bridge
Bridge linking Yobuko with Kabe Island; symbol of the old whaling port.
Kashibaru Wetlands
One of Kyushu's richest wetland habitats, at 590 m and designated a prefectural nature conservation area.
Karatsu Shrine
Shrine said to date from the Nara period; its autumn festival is Karatsu Kunchi (2–4 November).
Bougain Forest
Hilltop greenhouse with about 1,000 bougainvilleas.
Matsurokan
Museum of finds from the Nabatake site, among Japan's oldest rice-growing sites.
Tategami Rock
Two 30 m basalt pillars on the coast, also called the "Meoto-iwa".
Nakazato Taroemon Pottery & Ochawan Kiln Memorial
Kiln with about 430 years of history; gallery and a nationally designated old kiln.
Warabino Rice Terraces
Fan-shaped terraces with stone walls up to 8.5 m, said to be Japan's tallest.
Nakao Family Residence (Whaling Master)
Home of an Edo-period whaling family, with whaling exhibits.
Former Karatsu Bank (Tatsuno Kingo Memorial)
Bank building completed in 1912, linked to Karatsu-born architect Tatsuno Kingo.
Former Oshima Residence
Former house of Oshima Kotaro, who helped modernise Karatsu.
Tojinmachi Ochawan Kiln Site
Karatsu domain official kiln from 1734, making "Kenjo Karatsu" for the shogun.
Oura Rice Terraces
Rice terraces facing the Iroha Islands.
Nakano Tochi Kiln
Karatsu-ware kiln.
Karatsu Modern Library
Library with an art hall on the first floor.
Botan to Midori no Oka
Japanese garden with 2,000 peonies and 30,000 herbaceous peonies.
Great Rhododendron of Shiki
Rhododendron about 200 years old and 5 m tall; blooms in mid-April.
Kiriki Peonies
Ming-dynasty peonies said to have been replanted by retainers of the Hata clan after Kishidake Castle fell about 400 years ago.
Kishidake Castle Ruins
Mountain-top ruins of the Hata clan's castle, on the Kitahata–Ochi border.
Koyo no Mori Park
Riverside park with about 10,000 fireflies in early summer and the Kishidake old kiln site.
Obiyaura
Cove on Kakara Island said in the Nihon Shoki to be the birthplace of Baekje's King Muryeong.
Kotaku-ji Cycad
Cycad linked to Hideyoshi's consort Lady Hirosawa.