Sponsored by Saga Prefectural Tourism Federation
Karatsu is a city in Saga prefecture, facing the Genkai sea. The city is known for Karatsu castle, Karatsu ceramics, pine forests and the famous Nanatsugama caves, sculpted by the waves. In this article, I would like to talk about Mount Kagami where you can admire the beautiful view of the Karatsu bay. At the peak, there is even a nice shrine to visit.
Kagamiyama Park in Karatsu
Mount Kagami in Karatsu rises 284 meters above sea level. It is known as a place to observe spectacular views of Karatsu city, as well as the famous Niji-no-Matsubara beach at Karatsu Bay. On a clear day, you can even see Iki island in Nagasaki Prefecture! To reach the summit, just follow the path for about 5 km. The park at the top is beautiful and features a wide pond. In May, the azaleas must be in full bloom, so it would be a beautiful time to visit. Different trails lead to the park’s various places of interest.
The beautiful pond in Kagamiyama park
The map of Kagamiyama park
Kagamiyama Shrine
At the top, there is a pretty shrine with beautiful red torii gates, and beautiful statues dedicated to Inari.
The torii which lead to Kagamiyama shrine
An another torii which also leads to the shrine
The main shrine
The inari statue
The red torii of this shrine
The Kagamiyama Observatory
Only a 5-minute walk from the shrine, you should definitely go to the observatory. From here, you can see the whole of Karatsu city – Karatsu castle and all the islands in the bay and the famous landscape of Niji no Matsubara beach, where Jacques Mayol often visited. There are also beautiful 360-year-old pine forest along Niji no Matsubara.
How to Get There
- By car: the easiest way. From Karatsu station, it takes about 20 minutes (9.0km). At the top, there is the parking lot for free.
- By bus: Take the Showa bus bound for Hirota at the Karatsu Oteguchi Bus Center and get off at Kagamiyama Iriguchi stop. (¥310/17minutes)
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