Karatsu, Saga
Due to its proximity to mainland Asia, Karatsu has long been known as a stopover to Korea and China.Under ritsuryō, the current city area was part of the Hizen Province. In 1591, on the coast of the northern part of the city (formerly the town of Chinzei), Nagoya Castle was constructed. The following year, it became the location from which the Imjin War was launched by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the middle of 1593, Terasawa Hirotaka created the Karatsu domain and began governing it. In 1602, replacing Nagoya Castle, Karatsu Castle was constructed in what is now the heart of Karatsu. The tower of Karatsu Castle was built in 1966 .
Nagaoka Castle
Nagaoka Castle was a flatland-style castle with two central baileys, the "Honmaru" (本丸) and the "Ni-no-Maru" (二の丸), both surrounded by a moat. These were in turn surrounded by the "San-no-Maru" (三の丸) and "Tsume-no-Maru" (詰の丸 ) Baileys, and the "Minami-Kuruwa" (南曲輪 ) and "Nishi-Kuruwa" (西曲輪) forecourts. This outer ring of defences was also surrounded by a moat. The castle had only earthen ramparts, with "yagura" watchtowers at various locations, and there was no donjon in the central bailey.