Karatsu

Karatsu (唐津市, Karatsu-shi) is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese word roots 唐 kara (China, or continental East Asia in general), and 津 tsu (port), signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea.[1] As of 1 June 2024[update], the city had an estimated population of 114,695 in 51375 households, and a population density of 200 persons per km2.[2] The total area of the city is 487.60 km2 (188.26 sq mi). Karatsu is located in northern Saga Prefecture. The city area consists of the plains (Karatsu Plain) created by the Matsuura River and Tamashima River, and a hilly basalt plateau called Uwaba. It faces the Sefuri Mountains to the east, Imari Bay to the west, the Kishima Mountains to the south, and the Genkai Sea (Karatsu Bay) to the north, into which the Matsuura River flows. The northwest is a ria tcoast with many inlets and outlets, and due to its geographical features, this area has been a base for maritime traffic to the continent since ancient times. The city also includes a number of populated offshore islands Saga Prefecture