Cruises to Karatsu
唐津Saga Prefecture, on the north coast of Kyushu facing the Genkai Sea
About KaratsuNo upcoming voyage currently calls at Karatsu
NYK Cruises publish new voyages a few times a year. Tell us when you would like to sail and we will write to you when a call here is scheduled.
About Karatsu
A castle town on a bay, with a pine grove along the shore that was planted to hold the sand and is now a special place of scenic beauty in its own right. The name means the port for China, which is what it was: the crossing to the continent left from this coast, and the pottery the town is known for came back along the same route.
Within reach of the port
Karatsu Kunchi
The autumn festival of Karatsu Shrine, on the second, third and fourth of November. Fourteen lacquered floats are hauled through the old castle town to flute, bell and drum. The oldest is the red lion of Katana-machi, made in 1819; all fourteen survive and are designated by the prefecture. UNESCO inscribed the procession in 2016 as one of the Yama, Hoko and Yatai float festivals of Japan. The floats are kept and shown in the town through the rest of the year.
Karatsu Kunchi (Karatsu City) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Niji no Matsubara
A black pine grove curving for several kilometres along the bay, planted against the wind-blown sand and designated a special place of scenic beauty. A road runs through the middle of it, which is a strange way to see a forest and worth doing anyway.
Karatsu City (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Karatsu Castle
On a headland between the bay and the river mouth, with the pine grove running away from it along the shore. The site is a designated historic site of the city.
The history of Karatsu Kunchi (Karatsu City) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Shore excursions
NYK Cruises run their own guided excursions at each port, booked by guests themselves through My ASUKA PLANS — the booking window opens before departure and depends on your cabin class. They are conducted in Japanese. Going ashore independently is always an option.
Official sources
- Karatsu City (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it