There wasn’t a suitable hotel in central Karatsu, so I had no choice but to book one a little outside the city center. When I made the reservation, I only thought that this “moderate distance” would be inconvenient for me.
But in fact, that “moderate distance” gave me the time to walk along the riverside. And it also gave me the beautiful scenery of the wide and refreshing Matsuura (松浦) River.
It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the hotel to downtown along the riverside path.
If you want to get there faster, you can check the bus schedule and take a bus, or call a taxi to the hotel entrance.
But travelers rarely need to rush that much. So I found myself walking more often than not. It was simply too pleasant a path.
Upstream, the Matsuura River is not such a large river. But by the time it reaches Karatsu, it becomes impressively wide and then meets Genkai-nada at Karatsu Bay.
And right at the point where the river meets the sea, Karatsu Castle looks down from high above.
As you walk along the riverside, you can also see the ferry terminal for the regular boat to Takashima (高島) floating in Karatsu Bay.
I visited Takashima because there is said to be a shrine there that brings good luck in winning the lottery. I will write about that story soon as well.
When I think of Karatsu after the trip, the first thing that comes to mind is Karatsu Castle.
No matter where you stand in the city, you can see it. Partly because there are not many tall buildings, and partly because Karatsu Castle occupies such a distinctive position.
The next thing that comes to mind is the Matsuura River. I don’t think it’s common to see a river this wide and this clear.
(Of course, an even larger river flows through Seoul, where I live.)
Being able to see these two together is exactly what walking along the Matsuura River offers.
As you walk along the river, you can see Karatsu Castle from different positions and at different times of day. And each time, you find yourself thinking, “This really is the representative image of Karatsu.”
Karatsu Castle is said to have been built using materials left over from Nagoya Castle (名護屋城), which Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) constructed in preparation for the Imjin War.
At the time of its original construction, there was no tenshu (main keep), and the one we see today was built in 1966.
In that sense, it can be considered a relatively recent structure used as a tourism resource.
No matter when it was built, the tenshu of Karatsu Castle rising above the Matsuura River today is undeniably a striking sight.
After drinking in the city, I usually took a taxi back to the hotel.
But one night, I wanted to see the riverside at night, so I slowly walked all the way back.
It wasn’t dazzling, but the quiet night scenery along the Matsuura River was truly beautiful.
Whether on a sunny day or on a quiet night when the wind gently blows, walking along the Matsuura River remains one of the good memories from this Karatsu trip.
I was disappointed that I couldn’t book a hotel in the city center. But in return, I was given a wonderful walking path.
Travel really is something where you never know what will happen.
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