English Official Site about Karatsu: Karatsu https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/en/

Mt. Kagami

Mt. Kagami stands at 284 meters high and offers a stunning view of Karatsu City, Rainbow Pine Grove, and even Iki Island across the sea. The mountain’s name originates from a legend in which Empress Jingu offered a mirror (kagami in Japanese) at its summit.

Sayohime Story

Around 1450 years ago, a young soldier stationed at this location fell in love with Sayohime, the daughter of a wealthy family. However, he had to leave for the Korean Peninsula. To bid him farewell, Sayohime waved her scarf from the top of Mt. Kagami. Overcome with sadness and depression, she eventually turned into a rock.

Niji-no-matsubara, Rainbow Pine Grove

Niji-no-Matsubara is a 360-year-old pine forest located in Karatsu, Saga. It spans a width of 400 to 700 meters, stretches about 4 kilometers in length, and covers a total area of 240 hectares. It is renowned as one of Japan’s three most beautiful pine groves, alongside Miho-no-Matsubara and Kehi-no-Matsubara.

The forest was originally planted by the feudal lord Terazawa Hirotaka to protect against the strong winds and tides of Karatsu Bay. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and is listed among the 100 most beautiful places in Japan.

More about Pine, Click here.

Eight Wonders about Niji-No-Matsubara

1. Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Cicadas: While passing through the pine grove on his way to Nagoya Castle, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was annoyed by the noisy cicadas and shouted, “Shut up!” Miraculously, they stopped singing.

2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Seascape: On another occasion, Toyotomi Hideyoshi wanted to see the sea but the pine trees obstructed his view. He commanded, “Get down!” and stared at them. Since then, the “Stared Pines” have never grown tall.

3. Spear-Propped Pine: One particular pine tree is known as the “Spear-Propped Pine” because Toyotomi Hideyoshi once propped his spear against it.

4. Black Pine Trees: All the pine trees in Niji-No-Matsubara are Black Pine.

5. Fresh Water Well: Despite being near the sea, there is a well in the grove that springs up fresh water.

6. Geographical Alignment: If you draw a line connecting the east edge of Taka Island and the west edge of Kashiwa Island, it will pass through the center of Niji-No-Matsubara.

7. Princess Suwa’s Prayer: Princess Suwa, enshrined in Suwa Shrine in Hamazaki town, once prayed to rid the area of snakes. Since then, there have been no snakes in the grove.

8. Neagari Matsu: In the Sen-nin-bara sand hill, south of Niji-no-Matsubara near the mouth of the Matsuura River, there is a line of Neagari Matsu, pine trees with part of their roots above the ground.