Two new table tennis experiences themed around Karatsu's iconic autumn festival are set to open at Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort on April 25, 2026. Dubbed KUNCHI Rally and OZASHIKI Ping Pong, both experiences draw their design inspiration from the Karatsu Kunchi Festival — a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — and the resort's surrounding natural landscape of Niji no Matsubara (Rainbow Pine Grove).
About the Karatsu Kunchi Festival
The Karatsu Kunchi Festival is the autumn grand festival (Shuuki Reitaisai) of Karatsu Shrine, held annually on November 2, 3, and 4. Registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, it features 14 elaborate hikiyama (ornate floats) that are pulled through the castle town to the accompaniment of festival music, making it one of the most celebrated festivals in the Karatsu region.
KUNCHI Rally and OZASHIKI Ping Pong — Background
Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort developed the two new table tennis spaces with design supervision and construction support from Rallys, a specialist table tennis media outlet. The goal was to blend local culture and the excitement of a rally into a distinctive indoor activity accessible regardless of the weather, open to guests of all ages from children to adults.
KUNCHI Rally is a floored table tennis room where the entire space is dressed in Karatsu Kunchi Festival imagery, evoking the atmosphere of the festival while guests play. OZASHIKI Ping Pong, by contrast, places a table tennis table on the tatami of a Japanese banquet hall — guests remove their shoes and play in a relaxed, traditional setting. Both spaces incorporate festival motifs into the table tennis equipment, allowing visitors to engage with local culture through play.
Point 1: Custom-Designed Tables Featuring the Karatsu Kunchi Festival and Rainbow Pine Grove
The standard table tennis tables have been redesigned to reflect Karatsu's culture and scenery. The table surface uses colors inspired by Niji no Matsubara — one of Japan's Three Great Pine Groves — which stretches right in front of the hotel. The net panels incorporate illustrations of hikiyama floats from the Karatsu Kunchi Festival, depicting the floats navigating the waves of Karatsu Bay in a playful, charming design. With each rally, the net sways as if the floats are pushing through the waves.
In addition to the festival-themed rectangular tables, a circular table for four players has also been introduced. With four sides instead of two, participants keep the rally going around the circle — a fresh style that differs from conventional table tennis.
Point 2: An Immersive Karatsu Kunchi Festival Atmosphere
The KUNCHI Rally room itself has been transformed into a special space that immerses visitors in the world of the Karatsu Kunchi Festival. From the entrance to parts of the walls, large-scale graphics of hikiyama floats create a sense of stepping inside the festival. The decorated backdrop also makes for a memorable photo opportunity between games.
Point 3: Designed and Built by Table Tennis Specialist Media Rallys
The tables and space design were supervised by Rallys, a dedicated table tennis media outlet with deep knowledge of the sport. Rallys applied its expertise not just to the visual design but also to the quality and playability of the equipment and layout, ensuring that the space is comfortable and enjoyable to play in.
Session Overview
- Reservation Start Date: April 16, 2026 (Thu)
- Stay Period: May 5, 2026 (Tue, holiday) onwards, year-round
- Available Hours: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM / 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Rates:
- KUNCHI Rally all-inclusive stay plan with 60-minute session: from ¥16,500 per person (based on 3 guests per room, tax and service charge included)
- KUNCHI Rally walk-in: 40 minutes / ¥1,000 per group
- OZASHIKI Ping Pong walk-in only: 30 minutes / ¥500 per group
During the Golden Week period, advance paid sessions can be arranged by inquiring at the front desk.
Golden Week Workshops: Experiencing Karatsu Culture
Karatsu-Yaki Tea Ceremony Experience
Karatsu-yaki (Karatsu ware) is a centuries-old traditional craft held in high esteem in the world of tea ceremony, often cited in the classic tea hierarchy alongside Ido ware and Raku ware. This program combines authentic Karatsu-yaki tea ware with Ureshino tea — a well-known Saga Prefecture variety — for a hands-on matcha preparation experience.
- Dates: Year-round
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: 1F Lobby
- Price: Included in the all-inclusive plan
Kunchi Saihai-Making and Hikiyama Painting Workshops
Two hands-on craft workshops inspired by the Karatsu Kunchi Festival are offered. The first involves making an original saihai — the decorated baton used to direct the hikiyama float-pullers during the festival parade. The second is a hikiyama painting workshop, where participants apply colors freely to unglazed pottery pieces shaped like the festival floats.
Kunchi Original Saihai-Making
- Dates: Year-round
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: 1F Lobby
- Price: Included in the all-inclusive plan
Hikiyama Painting
- Dates: April 25, April 26, and April 29, 2026
- Time: 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM (last entry 5:00 PM)
- Location: 1F Lobby
- Price: ¥1,500 per piece (limited to 10 pieces)
RC Car Treasure Hunt at Niji no Sunaba (Rainbow Sandpit)
Returning from last summer, the RC car treasure hunt takes place at "Niji no Sunaba" — a sandpit area using sand from the nationally designated special scenic spot, Niji no Matsubara. Visitors operate RC vehicles modeled on construction and working vehicles to dig through the sand for hidden pinecones — a symbol of the pine grove. The number of pinecones found can be exchanged for local souvenirs.
- Dates: April 25 (Sat) – May 5 (Tue, holiday), 2026 / July 1 (Wed) – August 31 (Mon), 2026
- Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Location: Back of the shop, 1F
- Price: ¥1,000 per play per vehicle (6 minutes)
- Recommended age: Elementary school age and above
Buffet Dining Inspired by a "Marché"
The resort's dinner and breakfast buffet was refreshed on April 1 (the hotel's second anniversary) under the theme of a "marché" (market). New dishes include Boeuf Braisé and Vegetable Wellington. A dedicated Kids' Corner offers child-friendly options such as french fries and fried chicken alongside new additions: corn soup with popcorn, teriyaki salmon rice with broccoli (breakfast only), and shrimp gnocchi in tomato cream sauce (dinner only).
Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort
Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort is an all-inclusive resort hotel overlooking Niji no Matsubara — approximately 4.5 kilometers of roughly one million black pine trees along the coast, one of Japan's Three Great Pine Groves — and the blue waters of the Genkai Sea. Located about 90 minutes by car from Saga Airport and about 90 minutes from central Fukuoka, it offers easy access from across Kyushu. The all-inclusive package covers the dinner and breakfast buffet, alcoholic beverages at dinner, and lounge access for drinks and light snacks throughout the stay.
- Hotel Name: Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort
- Reservations: 03-6627-4651 (reservation center)
- Rate: All-inclusive from ¥22,500 per person per night (based on 2 guests per room, tax and service charge included)
- Official Website: https://mercure-sagakaratsu-resort.jp/
Lunch is not provided. Some services are subject to separate charges. All photos are for illustrative purposes. Information current as of April 16, 2026.
