is a city

Cities of Japan

||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...

 located in Saga Prefecture

Saga Prefecture

is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...

 on the island of Kyūshū

Kyushu

is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....

, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese

Japanese language

is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...

 word roots 唐 kara (China, or continental East Asia in general), and 津 tsu (port), signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea. The central area of Karatsu, which does not include the former cities and villages of Higashimatsuura District, has a population of 78,386.

Geography

Due to its proximity to mainland Asia, Karatsu has long been known as a stopover to Korea

Korea

Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

 and China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

.

• Mountain
  Mountain
  Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
  
  s: Mt. Sakurei (887.1 m), Mt. Hachiman (763.6 m), Mt. Tonbo (535 m)

Adjoining municipalities

• Saga Prefecture
  Saga Prefecture
  is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
  
  
  • Genkai
    Genkai, Saga
    is a town located in Higashimatsuura District, Saga, Japan. It has an area of 36.00 km² and as of February 1, 2009 has a population of 6,496. It is currently the only municipality in Higashimatsuura District...
    
    
  • Imari
    Imari, Saga
    is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Imari is most notable because of Imari porcelain, which is the European collectors' name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita, Saga Prefecture. The porcelain was exported from the port of Imari specifically for...
    
    
  • Saga
    Saga, Saga
    is the capital of Saga Prefecture, located on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.Saga was the capital of Saga Domain in the Edo period, and largest city of former Hizen Province....
    
    
  • Takeo
    Takeo, Saga
    is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.-Geography:Takeo is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture. It is approximately west of Saga City and approximately east of Sasebo. Takeo has a complex topography including mountains, mountain basins and riverside...
    
    
  • Taku
    Taku, Saga
    is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.The city was founded on May 1, 1954 through the merger of several towns and villages.-Elementary Schools:*Hokubu Elementary School*Midori-ga-Oka Elementary School*Tobu Elementary School...
    
    
• Fukuoka Prefecture
  Fukuoka Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
  
  
  • Itoshima
    Itoshima, Fukuoka
    is a city located in the western area of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city was formed on January 1, 2010, following the merger of the city of Maebaru with the two towns of Shima and Nijo....
    
    

History

Under ritsuryō

Ritsuryo

is the historical law system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism in Japan. The political system in accord to Ritsuryō is called "Ritsuryō-sei"...

, the current city area was part of the Hizen province

Hizen Province

was an old province of Japan in the area of Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Higo Province. Hizen bordered on the provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo. The province was included in Saikaidō...

. In 1591, on the coast of the northern part of the city (formerly the town of Chinzei), Nagoya Castle was constructed. The following year, it became the location from which the Imjin War was launched by Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...

. In the middle of 1593, Terasawa Hirotaka created the Karatsu domain and began governing it. In 1602, replacing Nagoya Castle, Karatsu Castle

Karatsu Castle

is a Japanese castle located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is a hirayama-jō, a castle built on a plains rather than a hill or mountain. At the end of the Edo period, Karatsu castle was home to the Ogasawara clan, daimyo of Karatsu Domain...

 was constructed in what is now the heart of Karatsu. The tower of Karatsu Castle was built in 1966 .

• 1889-04-01 - The modern municipal system
  Municipalities of Japan
  Japan has three levels of government: national, prefectural, and municipal. The nation is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture consists of numerous municipalities. There are four types of municipalities in Japan: cities, towns, villages and special wards...
  
   is established. The current city region is occupied by 1 town
  Towns of Japan
  A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
  
  , Karatsu, and 19 villages
  Villages of Japan
  A is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
  
  : Hamasaki, Irino, Kagami, Karatsu, Kirigo, Kitahata, Kuri, Kyūragi, Minato, Mitsushima, Nagoya, Nanayama, Ōchi, Ōmura, Onizuka, Sashi, Uchiage, and Yobuko.
• 1896-07-28 - Ōmura is renamed Tamashima.
• 1922-07-01 - Hamasaki gains town status.
• 1922-11-01 - Nagoya changes the kanji
  Kanji
  Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
  
   of its name.
• 1924-01-01 - Mitsushima is incorporated into Karatsu Town.
• 1928-08-01 - Yobuko gains town status.
• 1931-02-01 - Karatsu Village is incorporated into Karatsu Town.
• 1932-01-01 - Karatsu Town gains city status.
• 1935-09-01 - Sashi and Ōchi both gain town status.
• 1941-11-03 - Sashi is incorporated into Karatsu.
• 1952-05-03 - Kyūragi gains town status.
• 1954-11-01 - Kagami, Kuri, Minato and Onizuka are all incorporated into Karatsu.
• 1956-09-30 - Hamasaki and Tamashima merge to form the town of Hamasaki-Tamashima, and Nagoya and Uchiage merge to form the town of Chinzei.
• 1958-11-01 - Kirigo is incorporated into Karatsu and Irino, and Irino gains town status and is renamed Hizen.
• 1966-11-01 - Hamasaki-Tamashima is renamed Hamatama.
• 2005-01-01 - Karatsu merges with Chinzei, Hamatama, Hizen, Kitahata, Kyūragi, Ōchi and Yobuko and retains the name Karatsu.
• 2006-01-01 - Nanayama is incorporated into Karatsu.

Culture and tourism

The graceful Karatsu Castle

Karatsu Castle

is a Japanese castle located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is a hirayama-jō, a castle built on a plains rather than a hill or mountain. At the end of the Edo period, Karatsu castle was home to the Ogasawara clan, daimyo of Karatsu Domain...

 stands watch over this castle

Castle

A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...

 town.

Karatsu is famous for its Karatsu Kunchi

Karatsu Kunchi

Karatsu Kunchi is a Japanese festival that takes place annually in the city of Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, on Japan's island of Kyūshū.- About :...

 festival, which runs annually from November 2 to November 4 and is visited by approximately 500,000 visitors from all over Japan. The festival consists of 14 hikiyama (floats made of many layers of paper mache) being carried around the city's narrow streets to calls of "Enya!". Some hikiyama members say "Yoisa!". Regularly during Karatsu Kunchi, people in this town open their homes to friends and strangers to eat and drink; the primary focus is enjoying food, beer, and shochu, and having lively conversation.

In between Karatsu Station

Karatsu Station

is a train station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Karatsu and Chikuhi lines. It is the main station of Karatsu City.-Environs:*Karatsu Castle*Maizuru Park*Hikiyama Exhibition Hall*Showa Bus Ōteguchi Bus Center...

 (唐津駅) and the main bus centre (大手口バスセンター) is a 170 metre arcade containing many small shops that specialize in Karatsu Kunchi omiyage, and the Korean-influenced local pottery which are called "Karatsu Yaki" since they refer to Japanese ceramic wares of Korean origin. The actual date of production of the 'Karatsu Yaki' is believed to have begun being produced sometime "during the first half of the 16th century in the late Muromachi period."

Yobuko

The former town of Yobuko

Yobuko, Saga

was a town located in the Higashimatsuura District of Saga, Japan.On January 1, 2005 Yobuko, along with the towns of Chinzei, Hamatama, Hizen, Kyūragi and Ōchi, and the village of Kitahata, all from Higashimatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Karatsu.As of 2003, the town had an...

 merged with Karatsu on January 1, 2005.

Yobuko is famed for its fresh squid, Ika (烏賊) (いか） in Japanese, which is offered sashimi

Sashimi

Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy. It consists of very fresh raw meat, most commonly fish, sliced into thin pieces.-Origin:The word sashimi means "pierced body", i.e...

 style, or it can be eaten while the squid is still alive. Yobuko also attracts local tourists, who come to see the Yobuko Big Bridge (呼子大橋).

Yobuko has a festival known as Yobuko Tsunahiki (呼子大綱引), or the Yobuko Tug of War, which takes place annually on the first Saturday and Sunday of June. The event involves a big tug-o-war between two factions in the town, the fishermen and farmers, and local legend says that if the hills faction wins, there will be a good harvest that year; and if the sea faction wins, there will be a good fishing harvest that year.

Beaches

Hamatama

Hamatama, Saga

was a town located in Higashimatsuura District, Saga, Japan.On January 1, 2005 Hamatama, along with the towns of Chinzei, Hizen, Kyūragi, Ōchi and Yobuko, and the village of Kitahata, all from Higashimatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Karatsu.As of 2003, the town had an...

 is one of the nicest beaches in Saga Prefecture

Saga Prefecture

is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...

. It is located close to central Karatsu and can be accessed by the JR Chikuhi Line

Chikuhi Line

The is a railway line in Japan running from Meinohama Station in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture to Karatsu Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, and from Yamamoto Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture to Imari Station in Imari City, Saga Prefecture....

.

Sister cities

Reihoku, Kumamoto

Reihoku, Kumamoto

is a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan., the town has an estimated population of 9,154 and a density of 136.5 persons per km². The total area is 67.06 km².-External links:*...

, Japan Yangzhou

Yangzhou

Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...

, China Yeosu

Yeosu

Yeosu is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Old Yeosu City, which was founded in 1949, Yeocheon City, founded in 1986, and Yeocheon County were merged into a new city in 1998....

, South Korea

South Korea

The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

 Seogwipo

Seogwipo

Seogwipo is a city in Jeju Province, South Korea with a pre-2008 estimated population of 155,000 inhabitants. In July, 2006, Seogwipo city was expanded to include the entire southern half of Jeju island. In 2002, it was one of the host cities for the FIFA World Cup.-Climate:-External links:*...

, South Korea

Prefectural Senior High schools

• Karatsu Commercial High School
• Karatsu Higashi High School
• Karatsu Minami High School
• Karatsu Nishi High School
• Karatsu Seisho High School
• Karatsu Technical High School
• Kyūragi High School

Municipal Junior High schools and Elementary schools

• Junior High Schools: 25
• Elementary Schools: 44

Rail

• JR Kyūshū
  • Karatsu Line
    Karatsu Line
    The is a regional railway line in Saga Prefecture, Japan running from Kubota Station in Saga to Nishi-Karatsu Station in Karatsu. It was originally constructed to carry coal from the Karatsu coal field to the Port of Karatsu.-Route data:*Operators and distances...
    
    
    • Kyūragi Station
      Kyūragi Station
      is a railway station on the Karatsu Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:It is an above ground station with a single track, two platforms and a foot bridge connecting them.- Adjacent stations :-Environs:*National Route 203*Karatsu City Hall Kyūragi...
      
       - Iwaya Station
      Iwaya Station (Saga)
      is a railway station on the Karatsu Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
      
       - Ōchi Station
      Ōchi Station
      is a railway station on the Karatsu Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:It is an above ground station with a single track, two platforms and a foot bridge connecting them.- Adjacent stations :-Environs:*Ōchi Post office*Karatsu City Hall Ōchi...
      
       - Honmutabe Station
      Honmutabe Station
      is a railway station on the Karatsu Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station with a ticket machine and a bathroom.- Adjacent stations :...
      
       - Yamamoto Station
      Yamamoto Station (Saga)
      is a train station in Saga, Saga Prefecture. It is operated by JR Kyushu.-Layout:It is an above ground station with three tracks, two platforms and a foot bridge connecting them...
      
       - Onizuka Station
      Onizuka Station
      is a railway station on the Karatsu Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform two tracks. It is an unmanned station with a ticket machine and a bathroom....
      
       - Karatsu Station
      Karatsu Station
      is a train station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Karatsu and Chikuhi lines. It is the main station of Karatsu City.-Environs:*Karatsu Castle*Maizuru Park*Hikiyama Exhibition Hall*Showa Bus Ōteguchi Bus Center...
      
       - Nishi-Karatsu Station
      Nishi-Karatsu Station
      is a train station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Kyushu Railway Company .This station is a terminal station of the Karatsu Line, including trains from the Chikuhi Line.- Adjacent stations :-Environs:...
      
      
  • Chikuhi Line
    Chikuhi Line
    The is a railway line in Japan running from Meinohama Station in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture to Karatsu Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, and from Yamamoto Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture to Imari Station in Imari City, Saga Prefecture....
    
     (connected with the Fukuoka City Subway
    Fukuoka City Subway
    The serves Fukuoka, Japan. It consists of three subway lines, the Kūkō, or Airport Line, the Hakozaki Line and the Nanakuma Line).The lines are operated by the . Unlike most other public operators in Japan, the company only operates subways without any bus lines....
    
     Kūkō Line)
    • (from Fukuoka
      Fukuoka, Fukuoka
      is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
      
      ) Hamasaki Station
      Hamasaki Station
      is a train station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Chikuhi line.-Adjacent stations:...
      
       - Nijinomatsubara Station
      Nijinomatsubara Station
      is a train station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Chikuhi line.-Adjacent stations:...
      
       - Higashi-Karatsu Station
      Higashi-Karatsu Station
      is a train station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Chikuhi line.-Environs:*Karatsu Higashi Police Station*Karatsu Business College*Karatsu Royal Hotel...
      
       - Watada Station
      Watada Station
      is a train station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Chikuhi line.-Layout:It is an elevated station with a single side platform...
      
       - Karatsu Station
      Karatsu Station
      is a train station in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Karatsu and Chikuhi lines. It is the main station of Karatsu City.-Environs:*Karatsu Castle*Maizuru Park*Hikiyama Exhibition Hall*Showa Bus Ōteguchi Bus Center...
      
      
    • (to Imari
      Imari, Saga
      is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Imari is most notable because of Imari porcelain, which is the European collectors' name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita, Saga Prefecture. The porcelain was exported from the port of Imari specifically for...
      
      ) Honmutabe Station
      Honmutabe Station
      is a railway station on the Karatsu Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station with a ticket machine and a bathroom.- Adjacent stations :...
      
       - Hizen-Kubo Station
      Hizen-Kubo Station
      is a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station with a bathroom....
      
       - Nishi-Ōchi Station
      Nishi-Ōchi Station
      is a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station.- Adjacent stations :...
      
       - Sari Station
      Sari Station
      is a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station with a bathroom....
      
      

Road

• Expressways
  Expressways of Japan
  The expressways of Japan make up a large network of freeway-standard toll roads.- History :Following World War II, Japan's economic revival led to a massive increase in personal automobile use...
  
  :
  • Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway

• National highways
  National highways of Japan
  Japan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
  
  :
  • Route 202
    Route 202 (Japan)
    National Route 202 is a national highway of Japan connecting Hakata-ku, Fukuoka and Nagasaki, Nagasaki in Japan, with a total length of 199.6 km ....
    
    
  • Route 203
    Route 203 (Japan)
    National Route 203 is a national highway of Japan connecting Karatsu, Saga and Saga, Saga in Japan, with a total length of 47.3 km ....
    
    
  • Route 204
    Route 204 (Japan)
    National Route 204 is a national highway of Japan connecting Karatsu, Saga and Sasebo, Nagasaki in Japan, with a total length of 157 km ....
    
    
  • Route 323
    Route 323 (Japan)
    National Route 323 is a national highway of Japan connecting Saga, Saga and Karatsu, Saga in Japan, with a total length of 46.8 km ....
    
    
  • Route 382
    Route 382 (Japan)
    National Route 382 is a national highway of Japan connecting Tsushima, Nagasaki and Karatsu, Saga in Japan, with a total length of 125.2 km ....
    
    

• Major Prefectural roads:
  • Karatsu-Yobiko Route 23
  • Imari-Hatagawachi-Kyūragi Route 32
  • Karatsu-Hizen Route 33
  • Kyūragi-Fuji Route 37
  • Ōchi-Yamauchi Route 38
  • Hamatama-Ōchi Route 40
  • Hizen-Yobiko Route 47
  • Karatsu-Kitahata Route 50
  • Yamamoto-Hatatsu Route 52

External links

• Official website in Japanese
• Official website in English