Travel Plan – Karatsu & Yobuko

Karatsu…Pottery and Ikizukuri sashimi of squid

　Karatsu ware is favored by tea masters along with Raku and Hagi, but there are many variations such as Ekaratsu, Chosen Karatsu, and Kohiki, and the tableware enhances food, so I personally like it the most out of the three. The delicious food served on Karatsu ware is also a pleasure of a trip to Karatsu. In Yobuko, you should definitely try the transparent squid ikizukuri, sashimi prepared from live fish. Most fish taste better as regular sashimi than ikizukuri, but when it comes to squid, ikizukuri wins.。

※I designed a plan based on my experiences and information from friends. Introduced places are including where I have not actually visited, but I hope you will find it useful.

This page is helped by Deep L and google translate. Thank you for your generosity for my poor English.
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May 2024

DAY1：Go to Karatsu

　Many of you may be traveling by train from around Fukuoka. If you get there at noon, you will have one more meal to enjoy, so do your best.

• Lunch :鮨処 つく田(Tsukuda)　Have a SUSHI first!
  
  ＝Ryokan Yoyokaku Check-in Take a big bath and relax!＝
  *This is not a hot spring, but the hot water is supplied from the tank in which heal-stone is laid.  Near bath, there is the pottery gallery of Meister Nakazato and his daughter Hanako’s works
  
• Dinner : Enjoy the bounty of Karatsu prepared by the skill of Ryokan Yoyokaku‘s head chef. The tableware is also one of the pleasures.

DAY2 Fullness of Karatsu

　　　＝Morning bath＝

• Breakfast : at Ryokan Yoyokaku
  
  ＝To Yobuko(呼子)　Stroll at Morning market(朝市)＝
  Even though it be called morning markets, some are open until close to lunchtime. Please don’t have the squid, it for lunch.
  　　
• Lunch： Kawataro(河太郎　呼子店)
  Live squid sashimi. Fresh and transparent!
  
  ＝Mysterious Cave Nanatsugama cruise on Ika-maru（イカ丸）
  　Travel on a squid-shaped boat. It’s a little embarrassing to get on.
  
  ＝Nagoya castle 名護屋城博物館＝
  　Only ruins remain now, but this is the castle built by Hideyoshi.
• Dinner : at Ryokan Yoyokaku again
  
  ＝Take a big bath＝

DAY 3 Go home

• Breakfast : at Ryokan Yoyokaku
  
  ＝Go to Karatsu castle (唐津城)＝
  　There is an exhibition of Karatsu ware, and you can see old Karatsu up close. It is also fun to compare it with the works of contemporary artists at Yoyokaku.
• Lunch : Japanese Cuisine Kawashima (日本料理　川島)
  　　　Enjoy Japanese cuisine to the very end
  
  ＝Go home＝

OTHERs

Hotels & Ryokans　

• Mizuno Ryokan
  Japanese-style inn overlooking Karatsu Castle and the sea. It has villas available for rent.
• Karatsu Seaside Hotel
  Right next to Niji no Matsubara. There are various types of rooms available, so you can choose the one that suits your mood.

Restaurants

• Ame Gen(飴源)
  Serves traditional Karatsu ingredients such as Tsu crab, river fish, and freshwater herb dishes. Founded in 1830, this long-established restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes.
• Arutokoro (あるところ)
  Enjoy heartfelt cuisine in a traditional Japanese house

Books

• イルカと、海へ還る日（Japanese）　Jacques Mayol

Souvenirs

• Shoro manju (松露饅頭)
  A perfectly round bun from a long-established store in Ohara. It’s made like takoyaki, but the inside is filled with red bean paste. If you like red bean paste, you’ll be sure to smile the moment you bite into it.

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日本は44都道府県、海外は欧州やアジア中心に旅行しました。少し言葉がわかるだけで旅が楽しくなるので、旅行前後に語学の勉強をしてしまいます。

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日本の観光・食事・風習について紹介しています。