
This is Wak-San’s guide page. You can check my explanations about the places you visit. And you are shown the file of the English web sites of the sightseeing spots.
DATA Click! Englsih Web Sites
DATA Click! Questions Foreign Visitors to Japan Are Likely to Ask
Itoshima
Itoshima is a city in the suburbs of Fukuoka City. It is rich in nature things, located near the sea and near the mountains. But now it has promoted tourism and opened a lot of fancy shops and restaurants to attract young people.
Sakurai Futamigaura
It is a good sea-view spot in Itoshima. It is famous for the sacred couple rocks. The rock on the right (male rock) is 11.8 m high and the rock on the left (female rock) is 11.2 m high (granodiorite). The rope is hung between the two rocks. And the beach there is also well-known for the sun-set beauty.
Oyster Barbeque Huts.
Itoshima produces good oysters, and there are a lot of oyster huts open only in cold seasons. The huts are simple in construction, with a plastic roof and many tables for grill cooking. The customers will try their hand at grilling the seafood.
Mt. Kagami
The top of the mountain provides a specutacular view of Karatsu Bay and Nijino-matu-bara (pine grove beach).
Sayohime Legend
About 1450 years ago, a young soldier staying at this place fell in love with a daughter of the wealthy family named Sayohime. But he had to sail to Korea Peninsula and leave her. To see him off, she waved her scarf on the top of Mt. Kagami, but she was so sad and depressed that she turned into a rock. This has been changed into a lot of dramas.
Karatsu Castle
Karatsu Castle is said to have been completed by Terasawa Shimamori Hirotaka, a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, over a period of seven years from 1602 (Keicho 7). The present keep was completed in 1966.
Karatsu Kunchi Festival
This is the festival run by Karatsu Shrine for three days in November. Town people draw big festival floats. Each of the 14 district has its own float, which is pulled around Karatsu town to show their pride in the residence area. Floats are blue lion, Turtle and Urashimataro, Red Snapper (tai), shachi (imaginary fish) , samurai helmets.
Nijino-Matsubara
The pine grove stretches along Karatsu Bay like a rainbow arc. The first lord of the Karatsu Domain, Terasawa Shimamori Hirotaka, planted the trees as a windbreak and tidebreak, and it is said that there are about 1 million pine trees stretching about 4.5 km long and 500 m wide. Today, it is one of the three most beautiful pine groves in Japan, along with Miho no Matsubara and Kebi no Matsubara, and is designated as a special place of scenic beauty by the government.
English Web Sites
Itoshima
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/japan-travel-planner/fukuoka/0000031.html
Oyster Barbeque Huts
https://visit-fukuoka-japan.com/todo/spot/oyster_huts/
Mt. Kagami
https://www.japan-kyushu-tourist.com/kagamiyama-mountain-saga/
Karatsu Castle
https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/en/spots/detail/181/
Karatsu Kunchi Festival
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatsu_Kunchi
https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/en/feature/karatsukunchi/
Tea & Space Kikouan基幸庵
https://kikouan.com/cafe/ (Japanese only)
Karatsu Seaside Hotel