A Tapestry of Islands Woven by Sea and Mountains, Sky and Earth

Floating in the tranquil waters of the Saikai Sea off Karatsu City in Saga Prefecture lies Irohajima—a scatter of islands said to resemble the 48 characters of the traditional iroha poem. In tune with the shifting light, the whisper of the wind, and the rhythm of the tides, their appearance changes moment by moment.
Legend has it that the great Buddhist monk (Kōbō Daishi) Kūkai, moved by the beauty before him, named the islands after the irohacharacters—and that the view was so breathtaking he cast aside his brush mid-poem. Today, the sight of verdant isles set against the blue expanse of the sea continues to speak quietly to the hearts of those who gaze upon them.
The surrounding landscape is equally captivating, with terraced rice fields unfurling in graceful steps toward the shore. Here, where sea and mountains, sky and earth weave together, time slows, enveloping visitors in a gentle nostalgia. As you take in the scene of islands and terraced fields, both time and words seem to fall away, leaving only the stillness of quiet wonder.