PRESS RELEASE

Press Release

[Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort] Started offering an original Goshuin book made using Nao Tesuki Washi, a traditional craft of Saga Prefecture, and a good luck plan to visit the power spots in Karatsu.

At Niji no Matsubara, one of Japan's three major Matsubaras, and Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort, a resort hotel located adjacent to the Sea of Genkai (Higashi Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture / General Manager: Eiichi Koyama), we launched an all-inclusive accommodation plan to wish for good luck while visiting power spots. A variety of good luck contents, such as making original Goshuin book using Nao Tesuki Washi, a local traditional craft, visiting Hoto Shrine, known for praying for gold luck, and experiencing a drink using gold leaf. Visit the historic shrines and scenic spots of Karatsu to provide a special stay where you can feel healing and mood.

Plan Overview

Price: All-inclusive with 2 meals per night 18,950 yen ~ (per person when using 1 room for 2 people, tax, etc.)
Included content: Evening breakfast, lounge, public bath, making original Goshuin book, 1 bottle of gold leaf (per room)
Reservation period: October 1, 2025 (Wednesday) - March 26, 2026 (Thursday)
Accommodation Period: November 4, 2025 (Tuesday) - March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)
Date of exclusion: December 29, 2025 (Mon) - January 3, 2026 (Sat)
Details and Reservations: https://mercure-sagakaratsu-resort.jp/plan/goshuin-making-powerspot/　
※Reservation required at least 5 days in advance

Project background

November of the lunar calendar is called "Shimotsuki", and it has been a milestone month that concludes the year, and it has been time to prepare for the new year. In addition, as represented by "autumn wallet" and "close wallet", there are also customs related to fortune and good luck at this time.

Our hotel is located in a location overlooking the Sea of Genkai and Karatsu Bay, and we have proposed a trip to experience the nature and culture unique to Karatsu. In this plan, after the "season to cultivate luck" that begins in Shimotsuki and continues to spring, we combine shrine visits with original Goshuin book made by customers, and tours of scenic spots representing Karatsu, etc. Based on the hotel, we propose a stay where you can enjoy the time to prepare your mind and body and the good luck experience where you can enjoy the local culture and superb views at once.

Point 1 “Making original Goshuin Book” only in the world

You can experience making a red seal book that uses Saga Prefecture's traditional craft "Nao Tesuki Washi" as the cover. We have prepared Japanese paper, masking tape with the motif of lucky mizuhiki and sea bream, so you can complete your own original Goshuin book by decorating freely.

[About Nao Tesuki Washi]

This is a traditional craft of Saga Prefecture, which has a history of about 300 years, and all processes from the cultivation of Kajinogi, a raw material, to making Japanese paper by hand, are performed in Nao, Saga City. It is characterized by its glossy and thin but durable. It is also used for the restoration of national treasure-class buildings, such as the restoration of Hikiyama of Karatsu-kunchi and Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
Reference: https://naowashi.com/

At check-in, you can choose your favorite Japanese paper for the cover and rent out other materials and stationery sets. Please enjoy making original Goshuin book freely in the guest room.

Point 2 Enjoy a cup of lucky charm with gold leaf in Karatsu's famous tea

We will prepare a famous tea "karatsucha" grown naturally in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, yuzu slices, and gold leaf (one bottle per room) of lucky charm that has been a symbol of fortune and prosperity since ancient times. Karatsu tea is a fragrant green tea made from Karatsu tea leaves, and is characterized by a low astringency and a mellow taste. It is believed that the strong aroma of yuzu, which is in season in winter, dispels evil, and in the Edo period, there was a custom of soaking in yuzuyu as a remedy before the arrival of "Ichiyorai". (*) In connection with this custom, this plan features yuzu tea with yuzu slices with gold leaf, and you can enjoy a gorgeous and auspicious cup. In addition, gold leaf can be used as an accent for making original Goshuin book.

＊Reference: "The Habits of the Four Seasons Calling Lucky" (by Mikako Honma / Housewife no Tomosha)

Point 3 Go to "Hoto Shrine" known nationwide for its auspicious name

Located on Takashima, a remote island, which can only be reached by ferry from Hoto Pier, a 10-minute drive from the hotel, Hoto Shrine is a power spot known nationwide from the auspicious name "Hoto (Treasure hit)" . It is a popular shrine that attracts about 200,000 people annually, and the shrine is generally a rare tatami floor. You can take off your shoes, go up to the tatami, and have a strict experience of worshiping in the right seat. In this plan, one lottery ticket will be prepared for a round-trip ferry ticket from Hoto Pier to Takashima. You can experience a special worship, wishing for good luck while overlooking the Rainbow Matsubara and Karatsu Bay.

Ferry Timetable
Departure from Karatsu 7:50, 10:00, 11:40, 14:10, 16:00
Departure from Takashima 9:00, 10:45, 13:20, 15:00, 17:00

Point 4 Recommended power spots around historic shrines and superb views

A breathtaking view spreads below your eyes. In autumn and winter when the air is clear, there are many days when you can enjoy a clearer evening view.

Kagamiyama Observation Deck (Kagamiyama and Kagamiyama-jinja Shrine)

Located at an altitude of 284m, Kagamiyama Observation Deck is a scenic spot overlooking Karatsu Bay and Nijino Matsubara. There is a huge red torii gate on the road leading to the summit, and Kagamiyama Shrine, which is enshrined beyond it, is derived from the fact that Empress Jingu worshiped a mirror. The benefits of marriage and good luck have been handed down since ancient times, and have appeared in Manyoshu and Hizen Fudoki. It is the stage of the history where the legend of Matsuura Sayohime remains, and is regarded as a sacred place representing Karatsu, where nature and religion overlap.

Karatsu-jinja Shrine

Karatsu Shrine has a history of about 400 years and has been popular with people as the total guardian of Karatsu-jo Castle. The gods are Mikami Sumiyoshi and Muneji Kanda, who are said to have the benefits of voyage safety, thriving business, and good luck. The Karatsu-kunchi, which is held every fall, is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country, and Hikiyama is a must-see for its brave appearance around the city. It is a symbolic shrine of Karatsu that flourished with the sea, and it is a company that wishes for good luck and prosperity that conveys the faith of the local people to the present.

Just by looking at the scenery of the Genkai Sea from the tip of the steep stone steps through the torii gate, you can feel refreshed.

Tajima-jinja Shrine

Tajima Shrine, which has a history of about 1800 years, is known as the oldest shrine in the Sea of Genkai. The gods of the sea, including Himemei Toyotama, are transmitted to a wide range of benefits, such as voyage safety, prosperity of fisheries, safe birth and child treasures, and marriage. From the precincts, you can see the Sea of Genkai, and it is still gathering religion as a company that protects the local people.

Provision: (One company) Karatsu Tourism Association

Nanatsugama

Nanatsugama, a national natural monument created by the rough seas of the Sea of Genkai, is a superb view spot lined with seven large and small sea caves (*) on basalt cliffs. The sight seen up close from the pleasure boat is powerful, and the contrast with the clear blue sea is mysterious. It has been a subject of natural religion since ancient times, and it is said that it has the benefits of "amulet protection" and "sea safety". It is also popular as a power spot where you can purify and improve your mind and body while feeling the power of nature.

*Caves formed on the cliffs of the coast by the erosion of waves

Example of schedule

Day 1
15:00 Check-in
16:00 Take a break with Karatsu tea in the guest room, make an original Goshuin book
17:00 Go to Karatsu-jinja Shrine, the total guardian of Karatsu-jo Castle
18:00 View the Sunset in the Rainbow Matsubara and Karatsu Bay at the Kagamiyama Observation Deck
19:00 Dinner at the hotel’s top floor buffet restaurant Locavore
21:00 Relax in the lounge with a drink with gold leaf in hand

Day 2
08:00 Breakfast at the buffet restaurant on the top floor while enjoying views of Karatsu-jo Castle and the Genkai Sea
10:00 Ferry boarding and worshiping for "Hoto Shrine"
12:00 Enjoy the lively creation of the crow bandits with a caller
13:00 Visit to Tajima-jinja Shrine, which is believed to be the guardian deity of maritime traffic
14:00 Appreciation of the national natural monument "Nanatsugama"

■Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort

It is a resort hotel adjacent to Niji no Matsubara, one of Japan's three major Matsubara, and boasts a superb view of Karatsu Bay. It has good access to sightseeing spots such as Karatsu-jo Castle and Yobuko's Morning Market, and is recommended as a base for travel in Saga. With all-inclusive, you can enjoy breakfast in the morning and evening, alcohol during dinner, drinks and snacks in the lounge without worrying about extra costs. It is about an hour's drive from Fukuoka city, so it is recommended to go a little further from sightseeing in Fukuoka and enjoy a leisurely resort stay.

Location: 4-9-20, Higashikaratsu, Karatsu-shi, Saga
TEL： 03-6627-4651 (Reservation Center)
URL： https://mercure-sagakaratsu-resort.jp/

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