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Karatsu Castle’s white keep behind a cherry tree in full bloom, under a blue sky

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Where does Mitsui Ocean Sakura dock in Karatsu?

In port Sun, 4 Jul 2027, 09:00–18:00 (9 h in port).

Photo: mahlervv / CC BY 3.0

Karatsu in one glance

Karatsu Castle, Karatsu

Karatsu Castle

about 2h · Taxi from the East Port Quay, 3.7 km, about 10 min and ¥1,800 each way (our estimate)The 14 Kunchi floats, Karatsu

The 14 Kunchi floats

about 1.5h · Taxi about 10 min to Arpino by JR Karatsu Station, about ¥1,800 (our estimate). From 25 Sep 2027 the new hall is beside Karatsu JinjaKyu-Takatori residence, Karatsu

Kyu-Takatori residence

The seaside house of Takatori Koreyoshi, who made his money in coal, built in the late Meiji era and now an Important Cultural Property.about 1.5h · Taxi about 10 min, about ¥1,600 (our estimate); about 15 min on foot from the castle
Cut to the 4 Jul call

What fits your 7 hours

Off the ship and back

The berth, the way into town and back in Karatsu

On your own

More of Karatsu within 7 hours

Each one is a round trip from the gangway that fits the usable hours of this call.

All ten, ranked
Karatsu Jinja, Karatsu

Karatsu Jinja

about 1h · Taxi about 8 min, about ¥1,600 (our estimate); about 20 min on foot from the castle · needs a 3-hour callFormer Karatsu Bank, Karatsu

Former Karatsu Bank

about 1h · Taxi about 10 min (our estimate) · needs a 3-hour callKaratsu Bay and the arc of Niji-no-Matsubara, seen from Maizuru Park

Niji-no-Matsubara and Karatsu Burger

about 2h · Taxi 11 km, about 20 min and ¥4,400 each way (our estimate) · needs a 4-hour callKaratsu ware, Karatsu

Karatsu ware

Stoneware fired around Karatsu since the early Edo period, from everyday dishes to tea bowls, and long valued for tea.about 1.5h · Taxi about 10 min to the Machida district by JR Karatsu Station (our estimate) · needs a 3.5-hour call
Days that fit Mitsui Ocean Sakura’s call

7 hours ashore: the days that fit

Cut to the 4 Jul call. The half hour to get off and the hour before all-aboard are already kept free.

Rainy-day plan

Swipe sideways for the other days →

Karatsu Castle, Karatsu

Needs a 4.5-hour callabout 2.5h

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)

  1. 0:00Taxi from the East Port Quay to Karatsu Castle (3.7 km, about 10 min, about ¥1,800, our estimate)
  2. 0:15Karatsu Castle: the museum and the 5th-floor lookout
  3. 1:15Walk down to the Kyu-Takatori residence (1.1 km, about 15 min, our estimate)
  4. 1:30Kyu-Takatori residence: the Noh stage and the Western wing
  5. + 2 more stops on the full route

Two taxis, about ¥1,800 there and ¥1,600 back (our estimates)

Open in Google Maps, in 2 parts

  1. 1Your ship → Karatsu Castletrain or bus
  2. 2Karatsu Castle → Kyu-Takatori residence → Your shipon foot
Follow this route
Karatsu Jinja, KaratsuThe 14 Kunchi floats, KaratsuFormer Karatsu Bank, Karatsu

Needs a 6-hour callabout 4h

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

  1. 0:00Taxi to Karatsu Castle (about 10 min, about ¥1,800, our estimate)
  2. 0:15Karatsu Castle and the lookout
  3. 1:10Walk to the Kyu-Takatori residence (1.1 km, about 15 min)
  4. 1:25Kyu-Takatori residence
  5. + 6 more stops on the full route

Two taxis, about ¥1,800 each way (our estimates)

Open in Google Maps, in 3 parts

  1. 1Your ship → Karatsu Castletrain or bus
  2. 2Karatsu Castle → Kyu-Takatori residence → Karatsu Jinja → Hikiyama Exhibition Hall at Arpino → Former Karatsu Bankon foot
  3. 3Former Karatsu Bank → Back to the shiptrain or bus
Follow this route
Yobuko morning market, Karatsu

Needs a 7-hour callabout 5h

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

  1. 0:00Walk from the quay to Nishi-Karatsu-ekimae (1.7 km, about 25 min, our estimate)
  2. 0:25Showa bus, Yobuko line, to Yobuko (08:55 → 09:20)
  3. 0:50Yobuko morning market, 1 min from the stop
  4. 1:50Walk to Marine Pal Yobuko (about 500 m, 7 min, our estimate)
  5. + 7 more stops on the full route

Showa bus there and back (fare not printed on the timetable) or two taxis, about ¥6,300 each way (our estimate)

Open in Google Maps, in 4 parts

  1. 1Your ship → Yobuko morning markettrain or bus
  2. 2Yobuko morning market → Nanatsugama sea cavestrain or bus
  3. 3Nanatsugama sea caves → Kawataro Yobukotrain or bus
  4. 4Kawataro Yobuko → Back to the shiptrain or bus
Follow this route
Your 4 Jul call on one page

Mitsui Ocean Sakura in Karatsu: the day sheet

Sun, 4 Jul 2027, 09:00–18:00 (9 h in port), at East Port Quay (expected; 2027 berth not yet published). Off the ship from 09:30, back at the gangway by 16:30. Print it or save it before you lose the ship's Wi-Fi.

First Japanese port: immigration on the day

Mitsui Ocean Sakura arrives from Jeju, so Karatsu is where you enter Japan

Japan checks every foreign passenger in person at the first Japanese port, before anyone goes ashore: a passport check and fingerprints. No official time is published for it, so plan the start of the day around the queue.

Before any tourLeave the first hours freeThe only official figure is from Hakata in 2015: ships of 1,000+ passengers took about 85 minutes once the cruise permit was in use. If you book a guide, say this is your ship’s first Japanese port and agree a start time with margin.
Landing permitCarry it ashore all dayForeign passengers on approved ships usually enter on a Cruise Landing Permission (船舶観光上陸許可) and receive a landing permit. The law requires holders to carry it at all times instead of the passport; passengers landed normally carry their passport.
CustomsLeave fruit and meat on boardMost fruit, vegetables and meat products may not be brought into Japan; the penalty can be up to three years’ imprisonment or a ¥3 million fine. Declaration forms are given out on board: follow your cruise line’s instructions.

Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Immigration Control Act, Art. 14-2 and 23), Japan Customs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Checked 25 October 2026. Our guide to the first Japanese port

At the pier, before you set off

The terminalNo cruise terminal is listed.
Cash and ATMsOur sources list no ATM or exchange at the quay. Carry yen for buses (fares are not printed on the timetable), the Nanatsugama boat (¥2,200) and the morning market.
Wi-Fi and dataNo port Wi-Fi is published. Buy an eSIM before sailing.
Steps and slopesThe castle has a lift from Maizuru Park, ¥100 one way, free for 70 and over. The Former Karatsu Bank has a ramp, a lift and an accessible toilet.
Weather ashore · a usual July day in Karatsu
30° / 24°C86° / 74°F

Rain on about 13 days in 30 — the rain-day plan is worth a look

Hot: water, a hat and breaks in the shade

The forecast for Sun 4 Jul appears here from Mon 28 Jun.

Normals 2010–2020: Japan Meteorological Agency, Karatsu station · The official figures →

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Every Mitsui Ocean Sakura call at Karatsu

1 call listed, Jul 2027. The pattern, and the plan for each kind of day

Every upcoming call keeps the same hours, 09:00–18:00: plan one day and repeat it.

Sun 4 Jul202709:00–18:00~7 hEast Port Quay (expected)Half day

Usable hours follow the one rule: off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, all-aboard 30 minutes before departure, back at the gangway an hour before that. Overnight calls count the longest stretch ashore between 08:00 and 21:00 (the night is not touring time). Dates and times from the cruise line’s published itinerary; the port has not listed these calls yet; the daily programme has the final word.

The half day · 1 call

Sun 4 Jul

09:00–18:00 · about 7 usable hours · gangway by 16:30

About 7 usable hours, back at the gangway by 16:30: one district or one sight with lunch, or a half-day guided tour that starts at the pier.

No guided day on this site fits these calls and is open on them; the timed plans below are the day.

Quick answers

Mitsui Ocean Sakura at Karatsu

Where does Mitsui Ocean Sakura dock in Karatsu?

Mitsui Ocean Sakura docks at East Port Quay (expected) in Karatsu — Karatsu Castle 4.1 km, about 55 min round the harbour; JR Nishi-Karatsu Station 1.7 km, about 25 min; Karatsu Jinja 3.2 km, about 45 min — our estimates on OSM routing. Berths can be reassigned on busy days; the daily programme has the final word.

How long is Mitsui Ocean Sakura in Karatsu?

Sun, 4 Jul 2027: 09:00–18:00 (9 h in port). Off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, all-aboard 30 minutes before departure, back at the gangway an hour before that: plan for about 7 usable hours on the call of Sun, 4 Jul 2027, back at the gangway by 16:30.

What can you do in Karatsu with 7 hours from Mitsui Ocean Sakura?

3 of the port's timed days fit the call of Sun, 4 Jul 2027: The castle and the Takatori residence (about 2.5h), The castle town: castle, floats, a Meiji house and the bank (about 4h), Yobuko: morning market, Nanatsugama by boat and squid (about 5h).

What is the weather like in Karatsu in July?

On a usual July day Karatsu reaches about 30 °C (86 °F), with a low of about 24 °C (74 °F); rain (1 mm or more) falls on about 13 days in 30. These are the Japan Meteorological Agency's 2010–2020 normals for Karatsu. From 7 days before the call, this page shows the forecast for the day itself.

Checked · Researched, not yet visited · Takumi Yamada

Dates and times from the cruise line’s published itinerary; the port has not listed these calls yet. Schedules change; your ship's daily programme has the final word.