Karatsu Kunchi

Autumn festivals are held annually in every region in Japan. One such festival is Karatsu Kunchi, which is held every year from November 2nd to 4th in Saga Prefecture’s Karatsu City.

Karatsu Kunchi is held at Karatsu Shrine and is for giving thanks for a good autumn harvest. During the festival, magnificent floats called Hikiyama that weigh approx. two to five tons are paraded in Karatsu City’s old castle town.

The 14 Hikiyama floats are finished with Japanese paper, lacquer, and gold leaf and come in various shapes, including lions, the Red Snapper, the Flying Dragon, and the Boat of Seven Treasures. Their daring figures attract the festival audience.

This festival has been designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Culture Property by the Japanese government. In 2016, it was registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

The JASDF’s Sefuriyama Sub Base is located in Kanzaki City, Saga Prefecture. It is a radar base located at the top of the sacred Mt. Sefuri, which straddles Fukuoka and Saga Prefectures. It provides regional air defense centered in the Kyushu region.