English Official Site about Karatsu: Karatsu https://www.karatsu-kankou.jp/en/
Mt. Kagami
Rising 284 meters above Karatsu, Mount Kagami offers a breathtaking panoramic view that encompasses Karatsu City, the famous Rainbow Pine Grove, and on clear days, even Iki Island across the sea. The mountain’s name, which means “mirror,” comes from a legend that Empress Jingū once offered a sacred mirror at its summit.
Sayohime Story
Around 1,450 years ago, a young soldier stationed in the area fell in love with Sayohime, the daughter of a local wealthy family. When he was called away to the Korean Peninsula, the two were forced to part. Each day, Sayohime climbed Mount Kagami and waved her scarf as a farewell gesture toward the distant sea. Eventually, overwhelmed by sorrow and longing, she was transformed into a stone—a rock that still stands today as a testament to her enduring love and grief.
Niji-no-matsubara, Rainbow Pine Grove
Niji-no-Matsubara is a 360-year-old pine forest in Karatsu, Saga, spanning approximately 4 kilometers in length and 400–700 meters in width, with a total area of 240 hectares. It is celebrated as one of Japan’s Three Great Pine Groves, alongside Miho-no-Matsubara in Shizuoka and Kehi-no-Matsubara in Fukui.
The grove was originally planted by the domain lord Terazawa Hirotaka to serve as a natural windbreak and tidal barrier for Karatsu Bay. Today, it is a popular scenic destination and has been designated as one of the 100 Most Beautiful Places in Japan.
The Eight Wonders of Niji-no-Matsubara
1. Hideyoshi and the Cicadas: As Toyotomi Hideyoshi passed through the grove, he was annoyed by the sound of cicadas and shouted, “Be silent!” Legend says they stopped chirping immediately.
2. Hideyoshi and the View: When the pine trees blocked his view of the sea, Hideyoshi commanded them to “Get down!” The pines he stared at are said to have stopped growing tall and are known as the “Scolded Pines.”
3. The Spear-Propped Pine: A specific pine tree is named for the legend that Hideyoshi once leaned his spear against it.
4. Uniform Black Pines: The entire grove consists exclusively of Japanese black pine trees (Pinus thunbergii).
5. The Freshwater Well: A well within the grove provides fresh water, despite its proximity to the sea.
6. Perfect Alignment: A straight line drawn between the eastern tip of Taka Island and the western tip of Kashiwa Island passes directly through the center of the pine grove.
7. The Snake-Free Grove: After Princess Suwa of the nearby Suwa Shrine prayed for the area to be rid of snakes, none have been seen in the grove.
8. The Raised-Root Pines: South of the main grove, near the mouth of the Matsuura River, a line of “Neagari Matsu” pines grow with their roots partially exposed above the sand.