Karatsu Castle Travel Guide: Stunning Views of the Sea and Pine Forests

Terazawa Hirotaka, a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, became the lord of the Karatsu Domain (present-day Karatsu City).
In 1602, Terazawa Hirotaka began construction of Karatsu Castle.
To build the castle, work first began to merge the mouths of the Matsuura River and the Kanda River into a single channel and repair the wetland area that had experienced flooding.
After the Korean campaigns were canceled, building materials from Nagoya Castle, which had been abandoned, were relocated here.
It’s believed the materials were transported by sea route from Hado Cape.
Karatsu Castle was completed in 1608.
After the Terazawa clan, the first lords, died out, five daimyo families—the Ōkubo, Matsudaira, Doi, Mizuno, and Ogasawara—served as castle lords.
In 1871, the castle was abolished and developed into Maizuru Park.
In 1966, the keep was built as a tourist facility.
In 1989, the Higo Moat and stone walls were restored; in 1992, the Toki-no-Taiko drum; and in 1993, the Tatsumi Yagura turret in the Sannomaru was reconstructed.
Then, in 2017, it was selected as one of the “Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles.”

By train, the ride from Fukuoka Airport to JR Higo Line “Karatsu Station” takes Approx. 80 minutes.
After boarding, it changes to the JR Hisen Line Rapid after passing Meinohama Station, but it runs direct to Karatsu Station, so no transfer is needed.
The bus ride takes Approx. 1 hour 50 minutes and departs from the north side of the domestic terminal.
It takes time to reach Karatsu Castle after getting off at the station or bus stop, so don’t forget to stay hydrated in summer.

Interestingly, there are no records in documents that a keep ever existed, and it doesn’t appear in old maps either.
The current keep is a five-story reinforced-concrete structure built in 1966.
The 27 m-tall keep serves as a local history museum.
Its white plaster walls and the red railing on the top floor are beautiful, and the exterior is worth a close look too.

The beautiful pale-purple wisteria trellis is located halfway up the plaza where the keep stands. Its total area is 500 m².
With over 50,000 blossoms, it’s a natural monument of Karatsu City and is over 100 years old.
It reaches its peak from around mid-April to early May, showing a delicate, lovely look.
The flower clusters are over 1 m long, and the balance is just right for photos with the keep.

The keep is illuminated from sunset to 10:00pm.
The time changes by season, but the dreamy sight of it glowing at night is truly special.
Unlike the castle under the sun, it gives off a solemn atmosphere.
Even from afar, it looks beautifully mysterious.

In the grounds, you can enjoy Approx. 220 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino and mountain cherry blossoms.
They’re at their best from late March to early April.
They bloom from the entrance and around the keep, welcoming visitors.
The wisteria season is different, but the way they complement Karatsu Castle is graceful.
The illuminated keep and cherry blossoms shine with an otherworldly glow.

Jōnai Bridge is a pedestrian bridge Approx. 100 m long that spans the mouth of the Matsuura River and serves as the entrance to Karatsu Castle.
Made with Karatsu stone, granite, and wood, it’s a charming bridge with a gentle arch.
Its lighting uses two-lamp hanging lantern-style sodium lamps.
You can also take rich, atmospheric photos with the keep in the background.

A pine grove that stretches along Karatsu Bay in a rainbow-like arc, designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
It began in the early 17th century, when Terazawa Hirotaka, the first lord of the Karatsu Domain, planted it as a windbreak and coastal protection forest. Today it spans Approx. 4.5 km long and Approx. 500 m wide, with around 1 million Japanese black pines growing in clusters.
It’s now counted as one of Japan’s three great pine groves, along with Miho no Matsubara and Kehi no Matsubara.
After a walk through the grove with a forest-bathing feel, head to the nearby viewpoint “Kagamiyama Observatory,” about 5 km to the south. You can enjoy a spectacular panorama of blue sky and sea, plus the green pine grove.

Standing along the coast near Karatsu Castle, the Former Takatori Residence was the home of Takatori Koreyoshi, who owned coal mines such as the Kishima coal mine and was known as the “Coal King of Hizen.”
Built in 1905 as both a residence and a guesthouse, it sits on a spacious property of Approx. 2,300 tsubo, with two large buildings side by side: a grand hall wing and a living quarters wing.
While based on Japanese style, the buildings incorporate Western-style rooms as well, showcasing features typical of modern Japanese-style architecture of the time.
At the same time, in keeping with Koreyoshi’s love of Noh theater, a bold and distinctive touch is the wooden-floored Noh stage set in the grand hall.