Saga · Karatsu
Karatsu Kunchi
唐津くんち
Fourteen lacquered, gilded floats — hauled, on the second day, down onto soft sand.
Next
2–4 November 2026
10 days away
Every year, 2 November, for 3 days
Future dates: 2 November 2026 · 2 November 2027 · 2 November 2028
Origin
The autumn rite of Karatsu Shrine. Kunchi comes from kunichi, "the ninth day", and denotes a harvest festival. The floats were built neighbourhood by neighbourhood from the late Edo into the Meiji period, each shaped as a concrete thing — a red lion, a sea bream.
What to look for
On the second day the floats are pulled onto Nishi-no-hama, where the wheels sink into sand. The long stretch in which a float refuses to move and the crowd pushes it anyway is the hottest part of the festival.
How to watch
The floats are designated cultural property; do not touch them. The sand will take your footing, so choose your shoes. Do not step into the pulling lines.
Where
Karatsu Shrine
Karatsu, Saga
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