| check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 10:00 am. understated, snug rooms have wi-fi, flat-screen tvs, minifridges and kettles. there are also female-only and mixed-gender dorms. set in the city center, this laid-back hotel is a 5-minute walk from karatsu train station, 17 minutes' walk from karatsu castle and 3 km from niji-no-matsubara pine grove. upgraded rooms add sitting areas. breakfast and bike rentals are available. amenities include a stylish, airy lounge and coin-operated laundry facilities
Fukuoka Airport 1 hr 8
Nanatsugama (28 min)
Group of 7 natural sea caves in a black basalt cliff, the largest of which can be visited by boat. Hado Cape (36 min)
This small cape offers activities such as hiking or camping, with nearby facilities. Karatsu Castle (15 min)
Originally completed in 1607, this reconstructed castle offers tours & expansive bay views. Kabe Island (33 min)
Grassy island with a centuries-old shrine, plus clifftop views of the ocean & Yobuko Ohashi Bridge. Mikaeri No Taki Falls (30 min)
A riverside trail with seasonal hydrangeas leads to this dramatic cascade amid thick greenery. Nagoya Castle Ruins (30 min) Mt. Kagamiyama West Observation Deck (23 min)
Hilltop observation platform with far-reaching views of Karatsu Bay & Niji No Matsubara Pine Grove. Hikiyama Exhibition Hall (7 min)
Collection of huge 19th-century floats depicting fish & dragons, used in the annual Kunchi festival. Niji No Matsubara Pine Grove (9 min) Marinepal Yobuko (26 min) Houtou Shrine (26 min)
This mount is known for a mythical tragic love story and for its spectacular views of the city. Karatsu Shrine (8 min) Takashima Island (26 min) | 
