- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
Karatsu City in Saga Prefecture plans to refurbish the castle tower at Karatsu Castle (唐津城), a municipal tourist site in Maizuru Park in the Higashi-Jōnai district. After completing design work, the city expects construction to begin in fiscal 2027 and finish in fiscal 2028. The restored structure, a symbol of the city, will once again overlook Karatsu Bay and the pine-covered coast of Niji-no-Matsubara, one of Japan's three great pine groves.
Karatsu Castle was built in 1608 by Terasawa Hirotaka (寺沢広高, 1563–1633), the first lord of the Karatsu domain and the figure credited with developing Niji-no-Matsubara. The fort stands on the summit of Mitsushima-yama, a hill about 42 metres high that forms a land-linked island surrounded on three sides by sea and river. Because the pine forest spreads east and west like wings, the castle is also known as Maizuru-jō, or "Dancing Crane Castle."
The site lost its original structures after the 1873 abolition of castles. Four years later, the former inner bailey became Maizuru Park. The current tower opened in 1966 as a cultural and tourism facility. Historians believe the original castle lacked a main keep, so the present building is regarded as a reconstructed or symbolic tower.
The structure rises about 27 metres. It has five above-ground floors and one below, built in reinforced concrete, with a total floor area of 1,329 square metres. Inside are displays on the history of Karatsu and on Karatsu ware pottery (唐津焼). From the fifth floor, visitors can look across the pine groves and the city below. The site attracts roughly 140,000 people each year.
The planned work will repair cracks and peeling sections on the exterior walls and roof. Fire-fighting and water supply systems will also be upgraded to improve safety. The tower's lighting will switch to LED, and some trees around the site will be cut back to improve the view. Basic design work is underway in fiscal 2025. In fiscal 2026, the city will complete detailed plans and check the building for asbestos. Depending on the pace of the work, the facility may close for a period.
The renovation also covers the elevator that links the base of the hill with the summit. The lift, installed in 1996, runs about 40 metres and rises roughly 34 metres, but officials say breakdowns have begun to occur. The city has allocated ¥85.32 million for related costs in its proposed fiscal 2026 budget. Mayor Mine Tatsurō said the project should strengthen the site as a tourist destination and a source of local pride.
Machine-translated from here:
mainichi.jp
Karatsu Castle was built in 1608 by Terasawa Hirotaka (寺沢広高, 1563–1633), the first lord of the Karatsu domain and the figure credited with developing Niji-no-Matsubara. The fort stands on the summit of Mitsushima-yama, a hill about 42 metres high that forms a land-linked island surrounded on three sides by sea and river. Because the pine forest spreads east and west like wings, the castle is also known as Maizuru-jō, or "Dancing Crane Castle."
The site lost its original structures after the 1873 abolition of castles. Four years later, the former inner bailey became Maizuru Park. The current tower opened in 1966 as a cultural and tourism facility. Historians believe the original castle lacked a main keep, so the present building is regarded as a reconstructed or symbolic tower.
The structure rises about 27 metres. It has five above-ground floors and one below, built in reinforced concrete, with a total floor area of 1,329 square metres. Inside are displays on the history of Karatsu and on Karatsu ware pottery (唐津焼). From the fifth floor, visitors can look across the pine groves and the city below. The site attracts roughly 140,000 people each year.
The planned work will repair cracks and peeling sections on the exterior walls and roof. Fire-fighting and water supply systems will also be upgraded to improve safety. The tower's lighting will switch to LED, and some trees around the site will be cut back to improve the view. Basic design work is underway in fiscal 2025. In fiscal 2026, the city will complete detailed plans and check the building for asbestos. Depending on the pace of the work, the facility may close for a period.
The renovation also covers the elevator that links the base of the hill with the summit. The lift, installed in 1996, runs about 40 metres and rises roughly 34 metres, but officials say breakdowns have begun to occur. The city has allocated ¥85.32 million for related costs in its proposed fiscal 2026 budget. Mayor Mine Tatsurō said the project should strengthen the site as a tourist destination and a source of local pride.
Machine-translated from here:
唐津城、改修へ 27年度から着工、外壁や屋根のひび割れ修理 佐賀 | 毎日新聞
佐賀県唐津市は、舞鶴公園（唐津市東城内）にある市の観光施設「唐津城天守閣」の改修工事を実施する。基本設計や実施設計などを経て、2027年度に着工、28年度に完成する見通しだ。美しくよみがえった唐津市のシンボルが、唐津湾や日本三大松原の「虹の松原」に映えることになりそうだ。
Link:
【公式】唐津城
唐津城は、豊臣秀吉の家臣､寺沢志摩守広高が、慶長7年 (1602年)から7か年の歳月を費やして同13年に完成したと言われています。築城には、九州諸大名の加勢を受け、名護屋城の解体資材を用いたともいわれています。
karatsujo.com
