Experience: Yanagawa Canal Boat Ride with a "Kotatsu" Heater. Period: December – February. Highlight: Enjoy the serene Japanese winter scenery from a warm, cozy boat guided by a professional boatman. Dining: Meals are served at the hotel restaurant (not on the boat) before or after the cruise.
Note: The castle moat will be drained from Monday, February 16th to Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, so the canal cruise course may be subject to some changes.
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The Highlight
Yanagawa is known as the “City of Waterways” because there are many beautiful canals, or moats, running throughout the city. One of the best ways to experience Yanagawa is by taking a river cruise, also called a “moat tour.”
During the cruise, you will ride in a small boat and travel along the peaceful canals. This unique tour lets you see Yanagawa from a lower viewpoint, close to the water, which is different from walking around the city. You can relax and enjoy the charming scenery, traditional buildings, and the calm atmosphere of Yanagawa.
A local English-speaking guide will accompany the tour from Fukuoka. The tour includes a ticket for the Yanagawa River cruise, lunch of steamed eel in a pot, and a round-trip train ticket.**
The Experience
Around 400 years ago, maintenance dug artificial moat to form a castle town in the cage of Yanagawa Castle fortification was created. In Yanagawa, a very unique water supply system for flood control, irrigation, various mechanisms by the wisdom of our ancestors is still alive. Yanagawa is the city the feudal era of heritage is still alive, with the world's leading waterway in harmony with canal that extends to the center city 2km square to the extension 60km. That's why this city has another name "Venice in Japan" Leave it to the road of water of the moat, please enjoy a boat trip with the Funauta ( boatman song ) sung by a boatman, seeing a beautiful scenery of each season.
Please enjoy a lunch of Yanagawa's specialty, steamed eel, along with the beautiful countryside scenery.
Information about tour Place of departure and destination: From Fukuoka to Fukuoka Number of days of travel: 1 Day Means of transportation: Train Name of bus company: Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd. Meal(s): Lunch Minimum number of passengers to operate. 2 Number of GUIDE：1
Tour Operator Information Company Name: H.I.S. Co., Ltd. Department Name: Inbound Travel Sales Division DMC Department Kyushu Group Northern Kyushu Team Address: Tenjin-heiwa Building 8F 1-14-4 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, JAPAN, 810-0001 Tel: +81-050-1742-3921 Registration No.: No. 724 by the Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency Membership: Full Member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)
Contact Information Department Name: Inbound Travel Sales Division DMC Department Kyushu Group Northern Kyushu Team Address: Tenjin-heiwa Building 8F 1-14-4 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, JAPAN, 810-0001 Tel: +81-050-1742-3921 Opening hour :10:00~18:00 (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)
General Travel Services Manager: Megumi Hisatomi *The Tour Operations Manager is responsible for transactions related to your travel at the sales office handling your travel arrangements. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the explanations provided by the staff about this travel contract, please do not hesitate to contact the above-mentioned Tour Operations Manager.
Please read and understand the Terms and conditions below. Travel Terms and Conditions:Domestic Package Tours Travel Agency Terms and Conditions:Section of Package Tour Contract
Guide Services
Languages Spoken by Guides
- English
- Korean
- Japanese
- Mandarin Chinese
Itinerary
- 09:00 ~ 10:30: Meet the guide at Fukuoka Mitsukoshi Lion Square This is a half-day tour that takes 6 hours and 30 minutes from the meeting time.
- Take the train to Yanagawa Station
- Yanagawa River Cruise Experience (60min)
- Grilled Eel Lunch (60min)
- ** Stroll around the moat (To the train home)
- 15:30 ~ 17:00: Arrive at Nishitetsu Tenjin Station
Price Details
How to Use
- Voucher will be sent via email. Please show your e-voucher at designated location.
Purchase Notice
- Private tour by train with a guide
- The minimum number of participants is 2 person.
- If you cannot eat eel, or you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please let us know in advance.
- If the weather condition is not good for river cruise, river cruise tour will be cancelled for your safety.
Important Booking Information
- The meeting place is Fukuoka Mitsukoshi Lion square.
- It is located on the 1st floor and marked by a bronze lion statue.
- The guide will wait having a name board with our customer's name and the HIS logo.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation made at least 11 day(s) before departure date, Fully refundable (100% refund)
- Cancel during 8 ~ 10 day(s) of departure, will charge 20%
- Cancel during 2 ~ 7 day(s) of departure, will charge 30%
- Cancel on 1 day(s) before departure, will charge 40%
- Cancel on activities date, Non-refundable (0% refund)
