Karatsu and Yobuko day trip: castle, Nanatsugama boats and festival

Karatsu (唐津) and Yobuko (呼子) lie on Saga Prefecture’s northern coast. A day trip can include Karatsu Castle and the Nanatsugama sightseeing boat from Yobuko. If traveling in early November 2026, also check the dates and traffic restrictions for the Karatsu Kunchi festival (唐津くんち). This article follows official Saga Prefecture Tourism Association information. The official page does not provide bus timetables or fares from Karatsu to Yobuko, so they are not included. For more Saga content, see the Arita pottery walk.

Key points

Karatsu Castle: Adults 500 yen, 9:00 to 17:00 (last admission 16:40), closed 29 to 31 December
Nanatsugama sightseeing boat “Ika-maru”: About 40 minutes, adults 2,000 yen; canceled in poor sea conditions
Karatsu Kunchi takes place 2 to 4 November 2026, with traffic restrictions near the procession routes
Karatsu Castle is about 20 minutes on foot from Karatsu Station; separate transport is needed to the Yobuko boat pier

Karatsu Castle

Item	Official information
Hours	9:00 to 17:00 (may vary by season); last admission 16:40
Admission	Adults (15 and older) 500 yen; groups of 20 or more 400 yen per person
Closed	29 to 31 December
Access	About 7 minutes by car or 20 minutes on foot from JR Karatsu Station; paid parking
Inquiries	Karatsu Castle, 0955-72-5697 (official site recommends checking before traveling)

Nanatsugama sightseeing boat “Ika-maru”

Item	Official information
Boarding point	Marine Pal Yobuko (マリンパル呼子), Yobuko-cho, Karatsu City
Hours	9:30 to 16:30; one departure every hour
Duration	About 40 minutes
Fare	Adults (junior high school and older) 2,000 yen; primary school children 1,000 yen; one infant per adult free; discounts for groups of 10 or more
Cancellations	Services canceled in poor sea conditions
Inquiries	Marine Pal Yobuko, 0120-425-194

Getting to Yobuko

Method	Official information
Bus	Take Showa Bus toward Yobuko from Oteguchi Bus Center, and get off at “Yobuko” (official page does not provide frequencies or fares)
Taxi	About 30 minutes from JR Karatsu Station
Driving	About 60 minutes from the Taku IC on the Nagasaki Expressway

Karatsu Kunchi 2026

The Saga Prefecture Tourism Association announces Monday 2 November to Wednesday 4 November 2026.

Date	Event
2 November, 19:00 to 21:30	Yoi-yama: 6 of the 14 hikiyama floats depart from Oteguchi with lanterns; the other 8 join along the way before proceeding to Karatsu Shrine
3 November, 9:30 to 16:30	Otabisho Shinko: Floats and portable shrines travel from Karatsu Shrine to the Nishinohama otabisho; around 12:00 the floats are pulled onto the beach and around 15:00 they are pulled out
4 November, 10:00 to 16:40	Following-day festival: 14 floats take a route similar to the previous day, gathering along Komeyamachi-dori at midday and returning to the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall in the evening

Traffic restrictions: 2 November 18:00 to 23:30; 3 November 7:00 to 18:00; 4 November 8:30 to 18:30. Parking is prohibited along the routes
Official reminders: Many stalls do not accept cashless payments, so carry cash; follow police and float staff instructions, and keep clear of floats, especially at corners
See the Karatsu Tourism Association website for detailed routes and times

The town center is more crowded during the festival. Allow extra transport time if also visiting Yobuko.

How to organize the day

Order	Option
Karatsu Castle first, then Yobuko	Visit the castle before its 17:00 closing; the last sightseeing boat is at 16:30 and requires more time
Yobuko first, then Karatsu Castle	Take the boat first, then return to town; castle last admission is 16:40
During the festival	Prioritize procession routes and traffic restrictions; avoid driving

Checks before departure

Confirm whether sightseeing boats are operating that day (sea conditions)
In early November, avoid or plan around festival traffic restrictions
Check bus times from Karatsu to Yobuko (not given on the official page)

See the Kyushu travel guide for the regional overview.