A canal town where flat boats go through willow-lined waterways.
Worth a day?
Yes. Yanagawa is a slow boat ride on canals, with a boatman who paddles and sings, and a local grilled eel dish. It is a poor choice if you need English commentary on the boat or do not want to sit in a small boat for an hour.
Pick your pace
Yanagawa works as a slow day or a full one. Choose the pace that fits yours and the stops that suit it come first. Nothing is removed.
Pick one and the stops reorder. Nothing is hidden. Clear
Temples, museums and history, with the reason for each.
A day in 3 stops
In the order that suits your pace.
- 1 hMorning
Yanagawa canal boat ride 舟A boatman poles a flat boat under low bridges and willow trees.
- 1.5 hAfternoon
Old merchant houses walk 詩A quiet walk past old houses and a poet's home along the canal.
- 1 hAfternoon
Eel steamed over rice 鰻The local dish: grilled eel steamed on rice in a square box.
How to get there
FastestNishitetsu Railway, Tenjin-Omuta Line (limited express) → Nishitetsu-Yanagawa
- Time
- 50 min
- Changes
- None
- Seat
- No booking
- Take the Tenjin-Omuta Line from Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, next to Tenjin subway station.
- Get off at Nishitetsu-Yanagawa Station. The sources do not mention a change.
- Walk 5 to 10 minutes to the boat piers. Many shared boats leave without a booking; some operators need one, so check first.
A cheaper way
The Japan Rail Pass does not cover Nishitetsu trains, but a one-day Nishitetsu sightseeing ticket covers a round trip from Fukuoka, according to Fukuoka Now; check its current terms.
Coming back. Return by the same line. The sources did not give the last train, so check the Nishitetsu timetable, and check boat hours, which end between about 14:30 and 17:00 depending on the operator.
Typical times. Check the timetable before you go.
Stay a night
Sleep in Fukuoka and come by train, because the trip takes about 50 minutes each way and there is no need to stay in Yanagawa.
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