A walkathon and a ceramic festival in the spring, Kunchi and folk performing arts in the fall – Karatsu is filled with traditional festivities and unique events!
Kunchi is a Shinto ceremonial festival held all around northern Kyushu during fall. Karatsu City, too, features many Kunchi events during this time of the year. The annual Haguma Procession replicating the daimyo’s alternate-year journey to Edo goes through Ouchi Town. This Ouchi Kunchi display of spectacular tricks and skills is something you don’t want to miss - the performers would toss long spears of Haguma decorated with feathers back and forth one another.
In adjacent Kyuragi Town hosting Motoyama Kunchi, only children participate in the parade with traditional music and rhythm. Such is the attraction of Kunchi festivities varying in style depending on the culture and heritage of each respective region.
Folk performing art Furyu is an event expressing gratitude for another year of plenty. The dance performance is ordinarily conducted with a flute and a drum in the background, but it can vary depending on the region and their preference for style.
There are total of five different Furyu performances passed down through the years; namely, the samurai-family style, sacred Shinto duty of “Hirose Furyu” and “Hoshiryo Furyu” with the main performer wildly dancing around with a large set of horns on his head.
Expressing gratitude toward another year of prosperity, health, and fertility in the region is the Gion Festivals of Karatsu. In particular, Hamasaki Gion Festival held at Suwa Shrine every summer boasts over 250 years of history. Omagiri performed during this event is something you would not want to miss. Men in traditional undergarments will try to maneuver and navigate through the streets of the city one of the largest yamakasa floats in the country, which measures 5 meters in height and 5 ton in weight. Also ongoing this season is Kodomo Gion with a giant float crossing the ocean as well as many other Gion related festivities throughout the city.
This event was launched in 2012 by utilizing vacant commercial zones within the city in order to provide the public with a hands-on opportunity to witness the beauty of Karatsu ware created with over 40 years of history and tradition. Along with the exhibition and sale, it will feature a gourmet event put together by the creators of Karatsu ware and restaurant/café owners in the region, a symposium on this particular earthenware, and many other unique events.
Selected for the 500 Most Beautiful and Walkable Roads of Japan, this walkathon event is one of the largest in the entire Saga Prefecture.
This two-day event featuring 5 to 44 kilometer courses successfully brought in close to 1,900 participants from all over the country in 2015.
The roadside sceneries include renowned locations and scenic beauties such as Nijinomatsubara, Karatsu Castle, Mt. Kagami mentioned in the legendary tale of Matsura Sayohime, and Mikaeri Falls with Kyushu’s longest drop.
* Prior reservations required.
