[Yanagawa Tourism] Donko boats are exciting for adults too! A report on the highlights of the "river boat" experience

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Hello. I am Yorimichi, the owner of the blog "Yorimichi's Fukuoka Introduction," which introduces delicious restaurants in Fukuoka.

This time, we will introduce you to a classic Fukuoka tourist activity: river boating on Yanagawa.

The main event for sightseeing in the water town of Yanagawa! A relaxing river boat ride

Yanagawa is famous for eel, but it seems there used to be a castle here.

A maze of waterways surrounds it for several kilometers, but as there are no waves you can relax on a boat listening to history and trivia.

Today I came here hoping to have a relaxing time.

This is how tourists enjoy themselves.

Image: Detour

That's great. Carpooling makes me a little nervous, but it's sure to be a valuable experience.

As I was admiring this scene, an elderly man called out to me from behind.

Purchase your ticket at Yanagawa Bojo Senbei Inaricho Main Branch, the store that sells the "best rice crackers in Japan"

The owner of the Yanagawa Bojo Senbei Inaricho Main Branch called out to me. He told me that you can also buy tickets for the river boat ride at this store.

There are many ticket booths along the river. The fare seems to vary slightly depending on the shipping company, but it is around 1,560 to 1,650 yen per adult.

Incidentally, this "Yanagawa Bojo Senbei" is a rice cracker that won the Prime Minister's Award at the 20th National Confectionery Exhibition, which is said to be the highest honor in the confectionery industry.

After receiving the best rice crackers in Japan from the generous shop owner, we headed straight to the pier. There are four piers within a 5-10 minute walk from Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station.

As I walked along the river with my ticket in hand, I saw all kinds of people coming and going: people running in a hurry, people who looked angry about something, and couples who looked like they were having fun.

I'm sure everyone has different thoughts and lives their own way.

……。

Maybe I'm a poet?

I don't usually think about such things, so I'm sure it's the atmosphere that makes me feel that way.

It's time to board the Donko Boat!

The boat arrived in about 15 minutes. Each tour takes about 40 minutes, so depending on the timing, you may have to wait a long time or it may arrive quickly.

There are plenty of shops and delicious restaurants nearby, so you won't get bored at all. Take your time while you wait.

Image: Detour

And to my surprise, we had the whole place to ourselves.

Now, we set sail. It's so quiet and quiet.

The boat slowly moves along as we listen to stories about the origins of this land, why Yanagawa prospered because of eels, and so on. Since I've only just arrived in Fukuoka and don't know anything about the history, there are many things I'm hearing for the first time.

Image: Detour

Ah, this feeling is really good.

Even old guys have days when they want to relax.

Now that I'm almost 30, I find this kind of thing fun.

Image: Detour

I was told, "We'll be going under the bridge soon," so I looked straight ahead.

Hmm? Hmm? A bridge appeared in front of me, but doesn't it seem a bit low?

Image: Detour

Eh, isn't it low?! It's much lower than I expected.

The boatman was laughing at how shocked I was, but I was pretty surprised!

Image: Detour

I wonder if that makes sense. This is almost the same as the height of the ship.

But I'm sure it would have been even more fun if I had ridden it as a kid.

Even an old guy like me can get excited about it.

Some of the houses along the river have a historic feel to them, and it is said that when the river was cleaner, people used to do their laundry and wash vegetables here.

Image: Detour

As we walked along listening to the story, the huge hotel "Yanagawa Feudal Lord Tachibana Residence Onohana" came into view.

Wedding ceremonies can also be held here, and it's a familiar place for people in Yanagawa.

Image: Detour

We also learned some interesting facts, such as that there is a wooden bridge and it is lit up at night.

I'm sure it would be beautiful if you came at night.

Apparently after the wedding ceremony at the aforementioned "Yanagawa Feudal Lord Tachibana Residence, Ohana," people can take a sightseeing trip here right away.

Image: Detour

As we chatted like this, the whole trip went by in an instant.

Why does time pass so quickly when you're having fun?

Image: Detour

Oh, that's right. When I was talking to the boatman, he said that there are quite a few people who quit their jobs to become boatmen.

It's a physically demanding job, but surprisingly there are a lot of young women who do it too.

There seems to be a labor shortage, so if you're interested in changing jobs, please ask the boatman.

It was a very valuable experience. I hope you will enjoy it with your family or as a couple. (Text by Yorimitsu)

<Yanagawa River Cruise>
business hours: 9:00 to early evening (varies depending on the shipping company)
inquiry: Yanagawa City Tourism Association
Parking: Available (various locations within the area)
*This article is current as of the time of publication. *Prices in the text include tax.

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