Niji-no-Matsubara — Japan's Three Great Pine Groves
Niji-no-Matsubara is a 5km arc of coastline planted with approximately 1 million black pine trees — one of Japan's 'three great pine groves' (Miho no Matsubara in Shizuoka and Kehi no Matsubara in Fukui are the other two). The trees were planted in the early Edo period as windbreaks for the coastal rice paddies and have grown to heights of 15–20m, creating a coastal forest with a canopy that filters the sea light and a needle-carpet floor that deadens all urban sound. The beach behind the pines faces Karatsu Bay.
Essential Information
Opening Hours
Open year-round, accessible at all hours
Closed: Never closed
Entrance Fee
Free
Best Season
Year-round | October–April (4:00–5:30 PM) for dramatic horizontal pine canopy light
Visit Duration
1–2 hours (interior trail + beach)
Getting There
Access Information
Insider Guide
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