唐津城
Karatsu Castle
Overview
Karatsu Castle was built in 1602 by Terazawa Hirotaka, a senior Toyotomi retainer who received 123,000 koku for his role in the Korean campaigns. The castle sits on Mitsushima Hill overlooking Karatsu Bay, earning the nickname 'Maizuru Castle' (Dancing Crane Castle) for its silhouette when viewed from the sea. Karatsu was the staging point for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's continental invasions; the nearby ruins of Nagoya Castle (not to be confused with the Nagoya in Aichi) are among the largest castle remains in Japan. Karatsu is also famous for Karatsu-yaki pottery, introduced by Korean potters brought back from the campaigns, which is prized as one of the finest tea ceramics ('first Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu').
Connection to Swords
Karatsu was the staging port for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Korean invasions (1592–1598), making it a gathering place for the finest swords in Japan as daimyō assembled their forces before crossing the sea. The military campaigns brought Korean metalworking and ceramic techniques to Kyushu, influencing both Karatsu-yaki pottery and local craft traditions. The Karatsu Castle keep museum displays swords, armor, and vestments associated with successive Karatsu domain lords. The nearby Nagoya Castle Museum (Genkai Town) exhibits swords and weapons related to the Korean campaigns, placing Karatsu at the intersection of Japanese sword culture and continental exchange.
Highlights
- Karatsu Castle keep (panoramic view of Karatsu Bay and Nijino Matsubara)
- Nijino Matsubara — one of Japan's three great pine forests (Special Natural Monument)
- Nagoya Castle ruins (Genkai Town) — Japan's largest castle ruin from Hideyoshi's Korean invasion staging base
- Nagoya Castle Museum (Korean-campaign weapons and ceramics)
- Karatsu Kunchi Festival (November, Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property)
- Karatsu-yaki pottery kilns
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.
Nearby Castles
熊本城
Special Historic SiteKumamoto Castle
Lord: Katō Kiyomasa
首里城
UNESCO World Heritage Site (castle ruins)Shuri Castle
Lord: Kings of Ryūkyū (Shō dynasty)
小倉城（勝山城）
Kitakyushu City Historic SiteKokura Castle (Katsuyama Castle)
Lord: Hosokawa Tadaoki / Ogasawara Tadazane
福岡城（舞鶴城）
National Historic SiteFukuoka Castle (Maizuru Castle)
Lord: Kuroda Nagamasa
佐賀城
National Historic SiteSaga Castle
Lord: Nabeshima Naoshige / Nabeshima Katsushige
島原城
Nagasaki Prefectural Historic SiteShimabara Castle
Lord: Matsukura Shigemasa
飫肥城
National Historic SiteObi Castle
Lord: Itō Suketake
延岡城
National Historic SiteNobeoka Castle
Lord: Arima Naozumi
岡城
National Historic SiteOka Castle
Lord: Nakagawa Hidenari
人吉城
National Historic SiteHitoyoshi Castle
Lord: Sagara clan
中津城
Oita Prefecture Designated Historic SiteNakatsu Castle
Lord: Kuroda Yoshitaka (Kanbei)
鹿児島城（鶴丸城）
National Historic SiteKagoshima Castle (Tsurumaru Castle)
Lord: Shimazu Iehisa (first domain lord) / Shimazu clan
平戸城
Prefectural Historic SiteHirado Castle
Lord: Matsuura Shigenobu / Matsuura clan
八代城（麦島城）
National Historic SiteYatsushiro Castle (Mugishima Castle)
Lord: Kato Masakata / Hosokawa clan (Matsui clan as castle governors)
臼杵城
National Historic SiteUsuki Castle
Lord: Ōtomo Sōrin / Ōta Kazuyoshi / Inaba clan
柳川城
National Historic SiteYanagawa Castle
Lord: Kamachi clan / Tachibana Muneshige
久留米城（篠山城）
National Historic SiteKurume Castle (Sasayama Castle)
Lord: Tanaka Yoshimasa / Arima Toyouji (first lord of Kurume domain)
原城
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site (component of 'Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region'); National Historic SiteHara Castle
Lord: Arima Harunobu (original lord) / Amakusa Shirō (rebel leader in the Shimabara Rebellion)