Karatsu (Karatsu City, Saga Pref.)

Continuing on since the end of the 16th century, the Karatsu Kunchi Festival is an annual autumn festival associated with Karatsu Shrine, in which 14 floats take part in the parade around the city. The festival is very popular, with 600,000 tourists coming to see the event every year.

Held for 3 days every year from Nov. 2 through Nov. 4

Hikiyama:

Floats used to carry portable shrines during festival parades

Stretching along the shore like a rainbow (niji in Japanese), there are about one million pine trees in this forest, which has been designated as a national scenic beauty spot. Volunteers conduct cleaning programs as a natural environment preservation measure, and the spot functions as refreshing walking course supporting the concept of "health tourism."

It is said that this porcelain, famous nationwide and representative of the tradition craft products of Karatsu City, was transmitted to Japan from the Chinese mainland more than 400 years ago. Now, there are participation-type porcelain-making programs held at the kilns, with direct instructions from the porcelain makers (reservations required).