How long are you ashore in Karatsu?

For a 4.5-hour call or longer · 2 hr 30 min door to door

The castle and the Takatori residence

Any call of 4.5 hours or more; not on a Monday unless it is a holiday, nor the day after a Monday holiday (the residence is closed)

Fits a 4.5-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Taxi from the East Port Quay to Karatsu Castle (3.7 km, about 10 min, about ¥1,800, our estimate)

   No shuttle is published and waiting taxis are not confirmed: ask the ship to book one. Ask for the Maizuru Park lift (¥100) to skip the steps

2. +0:15
   Karatsu Castle: the museum and the 5th-floor lookout

   09:00–17:00, last entry 16:40, adult ¥500

3. +1:15
   Walk down to the Kyu-Takatori residence (1.1 km, about 15 min, our estimate)
4. +1:30
   Kyu-Takatori residence: the Noh stage and the Western wing

   09:30–17:00, last entry 16:30; adult ¥520, from 1 Apr 2027 ¥800 for visitors from outside Karatsu; closed Mondays

5. +2:10
   Taxi back to the quay (3.3 km, about 10 min, about ¥1,600, our estimate)

   Ask the residence desk to call one

6. +2:25
   Back at the gangway

Running late? A Monday? The residence is closed: walk about 20 minutes from the castle to Karatsu Jinja (free) and on to the Former Karatsu Bank (free, 09:00–18:00), then take the taxi back from there.

Transport spend: two taxis, about ¥1,800 there and ¥1,600 back (our estimates). Castle ¥500, Takatori residence ¥520 (¥800 from 1 Apr 2027 for visitors from outside Karatsu). Full route, map and photos

For a 6-hour call or longer · 4 hr door to door

The castle town: castle, floats, a Meiji house and the bank

A 12:00–18:00 Star Seeker call: off at 12:30, back by 16:30, with no time to spare. The walks between the four places take 10 to 15 minutes each (OSM routing, our estimates); the bank is only if you are ahead

Fits a 6-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Taxi to Karatsu Castle (about 10 min, about ¥1,800, our estimate)
2. +0:15
   Karatsu Castle and the lookout

   Last entry 16:40

3. +1:10
   Walk to the Kyu-Takatori residence (1.1 km, about 15 min)

   Closed Mondays; last entry 16:30

4. +1:25
   Kyu-Takatori residence

   Adult ¥520; from 1 Apr 2027 ¥800 for visitors from outside Karatsu

5. +2:05
   Walk to Karatsu Jinja (600 m, about 9 min)

   Free; the home of the Kunchi festival

6. +2:30
   Walk to the float hall at Arpino, by JR Karatsu Station (800 m, about 15 min, our estimate)

   From 25 Sep 2027 the floats are in the new hall beside Karatsu Jinja instead: no walk

7. +2:45
   The 14 Kunchi floats

   Arpino 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:40, ¥310; new hall 09:00–21:00, ¥1,000

8. +3:25
   If you are ahead, walk to the Former Karatsu Bank (500 m, about 8 min)

   Free, 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:40

9. +3:45
   Taxi back to the quay from Arpino or the bank (about 10 min, about ¥1,800, our estimate)

   Ask the desk to call one

10. +4:00
    Back at the gangway

Running late? Drop the bank, and on a Monday drop the Takatori residence (closed). The castle, the shrine and the floats alone take about 2.5 hours with the taxis.

Transport spend: two taxis, about ¥1,800 each way (our estimates). Castle ¥500, Takatori ¥520 (¥800 from 1 Apr 2027 for visitors from outside Karatsu), float hall ¥310 (¥1,000 at the new hall from 25 Sep 2027); shrine and bank free. Full route, map and photos

For a 7-hour call or longer · 5 hr door to door

Yobuko: morning market, Nanatsugama by boat and squid

An 08:00–15:00 call: Star Seeker on 27 March, 6 May, 11 and 31 October 2027. Off at 08:30, back by 13:30, an hour before a 14:30 all-aboard

Fits a 7-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Walk from the quay to Nishi-Karatsu-ekimae (1.7 km, about 25 min, our estimate)

   That leaves two minutes for the 08:55: a taxi to the station (about ¥1,100, our estimate) makes it safe, or take the 09:45 and drop the boat

2. +0:25
   Showa bus, Yobuko line, to Yobuko (08:55 → 09:20)

   About hourly; carry coins

3. +0:50
   Yobuko morning market, 1 min from the stop

   07:30–12:00; stalls set their own hours

4. +1:50
   Walk to Marine Pal Yobuko (about 500 m, 7 min, our estimate)
5. +2:00
   Ika-maru to the Nanatsugama sea caves (10:30 sailing, 40 min)

   Adult ¥2,200. Rough seas cancel it; December–March has closing days

6. +2:40
   Walk to Kawataro (about 1.2 km, about 20 min, our estimate)
7. +3:00
   Squid ikizukuri lunch at Kawataro

   Opens 11:00 on weekdays, 10:00 at weekends and holidays; no bookings as a rule; cash only; squid may not come in when the sea is rough

8. +3:45
   Walk back to the Yobuko bus stop (about 20 min)
9. +4:05
   Showa bus Yobuko → Nishi-Karatsu-ekimae (12:35 → 13:00)

   The next bus is an hour later: do not miss this one

10. +4:30
    Walk back to the East Port Quay (about 25 min)
11. +4:55
    Back at the gangway (about 13:25)

Running late? Bad sea or a late start? Skip the boat and eat earlier: the market and lunch alone fit the 11:35 bus back. A taxi each way (about 30 min, ¥6,300, our estimate) saves about 40 minutes in total.

Transport spend: Showa bus there and back (fare not printed on the timetable) or two taxis, about ¥6,300 each way (our estimate). Ika-maru ¥2,200. Full route, map and photos

Rainy day · 3 hr door to door

Floats, the bank and a Meiji house, all under a roof

A wet day on any call of 5 hours or more; three indoor sights 8 to 12 minutes’ walk apart

Fits a 5-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Taxi to the float hall at Arpino, by JR Karatsu Station (4.0 km, about 10 min, about ¥1,800, our estimate)

   From 25 Sep 2027 go to the new hall beside Karatsu Jinja instead

2. +0:15
   The 14 Kunchi floats

   09:00–17:00, last entry 16:40

3. +1:00
   Walk to the Former Karatsu Bank (about 8 min, our estimate)

   Free, 09:00–18:00

4. +1:40
   Walk to the Kyu-Takatori residence (about 15 min, our estimate)

   Closed Mondays

5. +1:55
   Kyu-Takatori residence

   09:30–17:00, last entry 16:30; ¥520, from 1 Apr 2027 ¥800 for visitors from outside Karatsu

6. +2:40
   Taxi back to the quay (3.3 km, about 10 min, about ¥1,600, our estimate)

   Ask the desk to call one

7. +2:55
   Back at the gangway

Running late? A Monday? Swap the Takatori residence for the castle keep’s museum, about 15 minutes’ walk further on (09:00–17:00, ¥500).

Transport spend: two taxis, about ¥1,800 there and ¥1,600 back (our estimates). Float hall ¥310 (¥1,000 at the new hall from 25 Sep 2027), Takatori ¥520 (¥800 from 1 Apr 2027 for visitors from outside Karatsu), bank free. Full route, map and photos