🄫Saga Prefecture
HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Golden Tea Room in Karatsu
Experience a tea ceremony in a tea room lavishly covered in gold leaf in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
Step into a glowing world at the Golden Tea Room, located in the Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum in Karatsu City.
This historic tea room dates back to the end of the 16th century, when feudal lords from all over Japan gathered at Nagoya Castle to meet with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the lord who unified Japan. He would hold tea ceremonies and diplomatic talks in this very room.
The tea room is a movable structure and is said to have been used four times at Nagoya Castle. It was moved to its current location in 2022.
Perfectly restored to its former glory, a total of 16,500 pieces of gold leaf were used to cover the walls and ceiling, which glow with a beautiful soft luster. Unusual deep crimson tatami mats and shoji screens add to the sense of opulence and power.
Special experience programs are held at the tea room twice a month, so you can enjoy a tea ceremony fit for a domain lord.
How to get there
Take the train from JR Hakata Station to JR Nishi-Karatsu Station (approx. 1 hour 20 minutes), then switch to the bus (around 40 minutes) and get off at the Nagoya Castle Museum Entrance bus stop.
1931-3 Nagoya, Chinzei-machi, Karatsu-shi, Saga-ken
