Karatsu Kunchi Festival — The Festival Where Hikiyama Floats Cross the Wild Waves

Every November in the castle town of Karatsu, one of Japan's most visually spectacular festivals takes place: Karatsu Kunchi. Fourteen massive hikiyama festival floats — each a lacquered sculptural masterpiece representing legendary creatures, warriors, and mythological scenes — are pulled through the streets by teams of men in festival happi coats, eventually processing to the shore of Karatsu Bay in a roaring, celebratory parade.

Highlights

The hikiyama floats are the festival's soul. Built between 1819 and 1876 using techniques borrowed from Kyoto's Gion Festival, each float is a designated Saga Prefecture Important Cultural Property. The first float — the Red Lion — was created in 1819 and remains in extraordinary condition. Others depict a sea bream, a golden shark, a samurai helmet, and various mythological creatures, all lacquered in brilliant reds, golds, and blacks. The floats are housed year-round in the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall (Hikiyama Tenjiijo) near Karatsu Shrine, making them accessible to visitors outside festival season. The three-day festival (November 2–4) draws over 500,000 visitors. The night parade on November 2nd, with floats lit by lanterns, is the most atmospheric moment.

Getting There & Tips

From Hakata Station, the JR Chikuhi Line or Matsuura Railway reaches Karatsu Station in about 1 hour 15 minutes. During the festival, special trains run frequently. Book accommodation months in advance. Outside festival season, visit the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall (¥500 admission) and combine with Karatsu Castle and the stunning Niji no Matsubara pine beach.

Best Time to Visit

The festival itself (November 2–4) is unmissable if you can plan around it. Karatsu is also lovely in spring for beach scenery and in summer for sea bathing. Visiting outside festival season offers a relaxed encounter with a beautiful castle town.

Practical Information for the Festival

• Dates: 2, 3 (a public holiday) and 4 November each year. In 2026 that is Monday 2, Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 November
• 2 November, Yoi-yamakasa, 19:30-22:10: six floats set off from Oteguchi and process through the old castle town, joined by the remaining eight from their own neighbourhoods, ending at the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall. It is a magical night with all 14 floats lit by lanterns
• 3 November, Otabisho Shinko, 9:30-16:15: at about 5 a.m. the "Kanda Kabukabu Shishi" lion dance is dedicated in the grounds of Karatsu Shrine. The floats are pulled into the Otabisho at Nishi-no-Hama from noon, and pulled back out from 15:00. Hauling the floats across the sand is the greatest spectacle of the festival
• 4 November, Yokujitsusai, 10:00-16:40: the floats line up on Komeyamachi-dori at 12:00 and set off at 14:30, running from Karatsu Shrine through the old castle town to the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall
• Note: all the times above are the departure, passing and arrival times of the first float, the "Aka-jishi" (Red Lion). It takes about 50 minutes for all 14 floats to pass
• Venue: around Karatsu Shrine (3-13 Minami-jonai, Karatsu City), the old castle town (about 8 km from east to west), the Otabisho at Nishi-no-Hama, and the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall
• Municipal paid car parks: Higashi-jonai 194 spaces (24 hours) / the former Takatori Residence 82 spaces (6:00-22:00, exit possible 24 hours) / Minami-jonai 148 spaces (7:30-22:00, exit possible 24 hours) / Zaimokucho 98 spaces (24 hours; as it faces the float route, entry and exit are restricted at certain times)
• Temporary free car parks: Matsuura Riverside Park 1,470 spaces / beside the Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort 300 spaces / the riverbed in front of it 300 spaces / the Matsuura River sports ground 700 spaces (9:00-17:30; on 2 November, 17:00-22:30). On 3 and 4 November the water treatment centre ground (120 spaces) and the Sante car park (150 spaces) also open, and on 3 November only, the Hokamachi Elementary School ground (120 spaces) and the Nagamatsu Elementary School ground (200 spaces)
• Shuttle buses: no shuttle buses run between the car parks and the venue. Plan on walking
• Temporary information desks: 2 November beside Higo-bori (east of the city hall) / 3 November beside Higo-bori and at the Otabisho (the former Taisei Elementary School) / 4 November beside Higo-bori
• Official safety guidance for spectators: the float route is closed to the public. Do not go near the floats or the ropes; do not walk alongside a float or follow directly behind one (the space right behind a float obstructs the steering). Corners are especially dangerous, so leave the route wide open. The haulers run spread right across the road, so do not lean out from the pavement. Sitting down in the road to watch, using selfie sticks, and flying drones over the route or around Karatsu Shrine are all prohibited
• A note on trains: transport IC cards cannot be used on the Karatsu Line (Karatsu to Kubota) or the Chikuhi Line (Yamamoto to Imari). Buy a paper ticket

Note: the parking information above comes from Karatsu City's most recent official guidance (2025). For details of the 2026 traffic restrictions and car parks, check the Karatsu City and Karatsu Tourism Association official websites nearer the time.

(Source: Karatsu City official website; Karatsu Tourism Association)