Karatsu and Yobuko are home to tourist attractions such as Kumano Shrine, Suwa Shrine, and Karatsu Castle; tourist events such as Karatsu Kunchi, Kyushu Fireworks Festival, and Aichi-Kunchi; and local delicacies such as fish cakes, salted squid, and pickled wasabi.
Karatsu has a beautiful coastline of white sand and green pine trees stretching for about 5 km. Among them, Niji-no-Matsubara, where about one million black pine trees, some more than 200 years old and some younger, have been planted, is considered one of the three most beautiful pine groves in Japan.
Karatsu Castle, located on a hill overlooking a white beach stretching from east to west that looks like wings, is also known as "Maizuru Castle" because it looks like a crane. The Hikiyama Exhibition Hall, where visitors can view the floats representing the grand festival "Karatsu Kunchi" held every year from November 2 to 4, is also a popular spot.
The area is also known as a production center of Karatsu-yaki pottery, and there are various famous kilns in the area. Ryuta Kiln," whose dishes are highly favored by professionals, and "Nakazato Tarouemon Pottery," whose current owner is the 14th generation of the family, both exhibit and sell their wares.
Although both of these kilns are famous for their high-end products, some of them can be used in daily life, and you may come across unexpected bargains. It is also recommended to stop by the Hodo Shrine, which is reputed to be a good place to win the lottery.
Yobuko is also known for the Yobuko morning market, one of the three largest morning markets in Japan. The market is held every morning from 7:30 a.m. except on New Year's Day, and the sight of fresh seafood and mountain products all gathered in one place is spectacular.
Nearby are Nanatsugama, a series of seven caves formed by the erosion of basalt by rough seas, and other wondrous sights. At high tide, visitors can enter the caves on the small boat "Ika-maru.
At Cape Hato on the verdant Higashimatsuura Peninsula, there is an underwater observatory where visitors can enjoy the view of the Genkai Sea. In summer, the beaches are open and the area becomes even more crowded.
After a day at sea, fresh seafood is waiting for you. Squid is one of the area's representative specialties, and in fact, squid also has its own season, with squid, squid, squid, squid, squid, squid, squid, etc. available in each season.
There is a wide variety of live fish restaurants, some of which have fish tanks, so you can enjoy a full meal of freshly caught, freshly prepared fish.
Uniquely, a tree decorated with dried squid, cast nets, and vacuum-packed dried sea bass and horse mackerels appears at Christmas time. Each customer can take one dried fish home with him or her, a nice Christmas present.
Nanatsugama is a mysterious scenic spot created by nature and designated as a national natural monument. This place is a sea-eroded cave (cavern) formed by the erosion of basalt by rough waves known as Genkainada. The cliffs have been deeply gouged, and as the name suggests, seven caves are lined up in a row, reminding us of the wonders of nature. The regular columnar arrangement of rock surfaces...»
Karatsu Castle" (Maizuru Castle), located in Maizuru Park, is a symbol of the city of Karatsu and a beautiful sight to behold when looking up from Maizuru Bridge. The view from the castle tower is also magnificent, offering a magnificent view of the scenic "Matsuura Lagoon" of Niji-no-Matsubara and Kagamiyama. The castle was built in 1608, seven years after the first lord of the Karatsu domain, ...»
Niji-no-Matsubara is a pine grove that stretches along the seashore of Karatsu Bay and has been designated as a special scenic beauty spot by the government. Together with Miho no Matsubara and Kebi no Matsubara, it is one of the three most beautiful pine groves in Japan. It has also been selected as one of the 100 best white sand and green pine trees in Japan, one of the 100 best beaches in Japa...»
Kagamiyama is a 284-meter-high mountain. From the observatory at the top of the mountain, visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of Karatsu Bay and Niji-no-matsubara. During the daytime, visitors can fully enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. The beauty of the crystal clear sea and lush green islands unique to Saga is breathtaking. In particular, Niji-no-Matsubara, which can be viewed from this ob...»
With a 100-meter drop, Mikaeri Waterfall is known as the highest waterfall in Kyushu. It has been selected as one of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan. The waterfall is located on the left Ikisa River, a tributary of the Matsuura River. On the right bank of the waterfall, there are Fudo-son, Juichimen-kannon, and Jizo-son, and just downstream, there are Shibukubashi Bridge and Ajisai Bridge. The a...»
Matsuura Pickle is bones taken from the bridge of the nose, and cartilage of whale, chopped up finely, boiled up to remove the fat and pickled in sweetle seasoned sake lees (the leftover flakes of rice from sake production). It is a specialty of the seaside town of Yobuko. Although a pickle, it was considered difficult to keep for long without destroying the delicate fragrance of the sake lees. Ho...»
Over 20 to 30 thousand of these local favorites are sold every day. Cod flesh is made into a paste and minced onions, carrots and curry powder are added. It is then breaded and deep fried. It goes well with rice of course, but it’s deep curry flavor makes it a hit with a cold glass of beer too. The Karatsu city manufacturer of this dish ahs been doing it for over 2 generations. 1 piece 80 yen, and...»
Restaurants in Yobuko feature squid heavily. Squid relies so much on freshness, and it can’t even last a day after being fished out of the sea. Due to this, squid would often be left over. Just because they couldn’t be sold as it was, there was absolutely no reason to throw away perfectly good squid. Chefs got together to develop a new recipe. The squid dumpling was born!...»
Yobuko is known for its squid catch. However, it is not because it is so abundant. Yobuko is famous for managing to develop technologies to sell the delicate and easy-to-spoil squid raw to its customers. The city is also where the salted squid recipe originates from. Salted squid is used across many restaurants in town and the variety (and flavors and consistencies…) of the salted squid vary wildl...»
The Yobuko morning market is known as one of Japan’s top morning markets. A 2oo meter stretch of market place is filled with the freshest catch from the sea and vegetables from the fields. Famous as a snack items served here is the whale cutlet. Fat is trimmed off whale flesh and combined with white fleshed fish to form a paste. After this, it is portioned, breaded in flour and deep fried. The jui...»
Eaten since days of yore as a good source of protein. The city of Karatsu has a history of doing well owing to whaling back in the Edo and Meiji eras. Former whaling stations remain standing in the city, and people still sing songs about whalers. This heritage can be seen in the local cuisine too which features whales in the form of sashimi, deep fried and ‘yamato’ stew. There is also the fast foo...»
The Yobuko orning market is very famous and known as one of Japan’s top 3 morning markets. This recipe was developed for the ‘National Morning Market Summit’ held here in 2002. The patty consists of minced squid while the buns consists of squid and flour, resulting in a chewy sweetness. Try this specialty!...»
At the Hamatama-cho area of Karatsu city, this soup would be made by all the villagers at times of celebration or mourning. Ingredients used tend to maintain their shape even after long cooking, and the name ‘dabu’ comes from referring to the sound of plenty of things sloshing around in water. The ingredients in the soup are cut into squares for celebrations, and into triangles when mourning. Each...»
This is a masterpiece of experienced chefs, a sashimi dish of kensaki-ika (caught during March to September) and aori-ika (caught during December to March) served alive. It takes only 30 seconds for the chefs to cut up a squid and serve it. Since ikidukuri is quickly prepared and served as soon as it is done, the squid still looks transparent and fresh compared with the usual one which looks white...»