オススメ度
外国語対応
About Yanagawa
Yanagawa prospered as a castle town of the Yanagawa clan in the Edo period (1603-1868), and is located about 50 km south of Fukuoka City.
The once castle town still retains many vestiges and historical sites from that period, and is rich in charm.
One famous example is Ohana, the villa of the former feudal lord Tachibana.
The villa is a must visit for visitors to Yanagawa.
The contrasting, yet beautifully constructed, styles of the Japanese garden and the Western-style house is most appealing of the historical site.
Yanagawa is also known as “Suigo no machi” (water town) because of the waterways that run through the town.
A popular activity is the “moat tour,” a slow boat ride around the waterways in a small boat called a “donko-bune.”
Brief History
The history of Yanagawa as a castle town began in 1504, when the Kamachi clan, which ruled Yanagawa in the Middle Ages, built a castle here.
In 1587, Tachibana Muneshige (1567-1643), who replaced the Kamachi clan and took over Yanagawa as his fief, began to renovate Yanagawa Castle, but lost his position in 1600.
Later, Tanaka Yoshimasa (1548-1609) became the first lord of the Yanagawa domain, and carried out large-scale renovations of Yanagawa Castle, completing the castle tower, turrets, and moat walls.
However, the Tanaka clan had no successor, so they were exiled, and in 1620, Tachibana Muneshige was reinstated as the lord of the Yanagawa domain.
Since then, the Tachibana clan served as the lord of the Yanagawa domain for 12 generations until 1884, when the clan system was abolished.
Incidentally, Yanagawa Castle was destroyed by fire in 1872.
Recommendation
Enjoy sightseeing, boat excursions, and eating, among other things.
Sightseeing
Frankly speaking, the only thing worth seeing is Yanagawa Clan Tachibana Residence Ohana.
Though, it is nice to walk around the townscape where the Edo atmosphere remains.
Luckily, if you get tired from walking, there are footbaths in the town to rest and relax your feet.
Sightseeing boat
The “moat tour” takes visitors on a small “donko-bune,” a small boat that travels along the waterways built in the Edo period.
Visitors can enjoy the scenery and relaxing time from a small boat.
Eat
You can enjoy eel and seafood from the Ariake Sea.
In particular, Seiro-mushi (eel steamed in a bamboo basket) originated in Yanagawa and is a specialty of the area.
The Ariake Sea is the largest tidal flat in Japan, and is home to many kinds of seafood that cannot be found in other areas.
*Yanagawa Port handles the largest variety of seafood in Japan.
Dishes using rare seafood such as mutsugoro, warasubo, and sea anemone would be worth trying.
Access to Yanagawa
From Hakata
By Train
From Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, take the Nishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Line to Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station.
Approx. travel time: 50 minutes.
Frequency: roughly 2 trains per hour.
From Saga Airport
By Bus
From Saga Airport, take the Saga City Bus or Saga Station Access Bus, get off at Ekiminami Honmachi bus stop, walk to Shiyakusho Minami bus stop, take Nishitetsu Bus Saga – Yanagawa Line, and get off at Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station bus stop.
Approx. travel time: 2 hour and 30 minutes.
By Car
25 min by taxi or car.
Sightseeing
Gardens : YANAGAWA TACHIBANA-TEI OHANA
The Tachibana Residence was built in 1738 by the fifth lord of the Yanagawa domain as his private residence.
In 1910 during the Meiji period (1868-1912), a guest house and Japanese garden were built, and today the entire 23,100 m2 site is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan.
The following are the main attractions.
Shoto-en
Shotoen is an elegant garden created in 1910, modeled after the landscape of Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan.
The garden was designed so that the view from the hall is most beautiful.
The pond, which resembles the ocean, is surrounded by numerous evergreen black pines.
In winter, wild ducks fly in and play in flocks in the garden.
Western-style Building This elegant Western-style building was built in 1910 as a guest house for the Tachibana family, who were counts in the Meiji era. In the past, the guesthouse hosted garden parties for dignitaries.
Many lampshades and other magnificent furnishings from the past still remain in the building.
Tachibana Museum Yanagawa
This museum exhibits approximately 5,000 valuable daimyo items inherited from the Tachibana family, the feudal lord of the Yanagawa domain.
Armor and arms of the first lord, Muneshige Tachibana (1567-1643), tea ceremony utensils, Noh play goods, paintings and calligraphy works, and more are exhibited seasonally.
In particular, the collection of elaborate “Hina” dolls (princess dolls) from the Edo period is one of the best in Japan.
Ohana
Built in 1738 as a villa by the fifth lord of the Yanagawa domain, it was the home of the lord’s concubines and their children during the Edo period.
Today, it is a ryotei ryokan (Japanese traditional inn and restaurant), where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the garden from the chic rooms and Yanagawa’s specialty, “Unagi seiro-mushi” (eel steamed by a bamboo) and other high quality Japanese dishes at the restaurant.
Reception Hall
This room was built in 1910 in the architectural style popular among Japanese celebrities at the time, “a large hall in Japanese architecture following the main entrance of a Western building.
It boasts an area of 100 tatami mats (182 m2) and is sometimes used as a Noh stage.
The view of Shoto-en (garden) from this hall is magnificent.
YANAGAWA TACHIBANA-TEI OHANA
The Tachibana Residence was built in 1738 by the fifth lord of the Yanagawa domain as his private residence. In 1910 during the Meiji period (1868-1912), a guest house and Japanese garden were built, and today the entire 23,100 m2 site is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan.
[ See details ]
| Address | 1 Shinhokamachi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka |
|---|---|
| Access | By Bus:Nishitetsu Bus : Take […] |
| Tel | 0944-73-2189 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Sightseeing boat:Yanagawa moat tour
This is a leisurely boat ride on a donko boat operated by a boatman from the boarding area near Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station to the “Yanagawa Domain Lord Tachibana’s Residence Ohana,” a distance of less than 4 km.
The boat ride takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, and boat riders get to enjoy the scenery and charm of it all.
The fare is reasonable as well, ranging from 1,500 to 1,650 yen.
* The “moat wall,” a network of mesh-patterend moats built approximately 400 years ago for the fortification of Yanagawa Castle, has a radius of 2 km and stretches 60 km in total length.
Initially, it was used as a water supply for daily life and as a waterway, but since the Meiji period (1868-1912), river boating using donko boats has flourished and continues to the present day.
The following are the famous spots that can be seen from the boats.
Namikura
Built in the 1910s this red brick warehouse is still used as a miso warehouse.
Namako Wall The wall is made by spreading the concave tiles out and filling paster in the gaps to make the tiles rise.
You’ll find remnants of these pattered wall all over town and get a feel of what a castle town looked and felt like in the past.
The black and white latticework of namako walls looks beautiful alongside the green weeping willows.
Tree tunnel
Along the canals are about 400 willow trees, cherry trees, and autumn leaves, allowing visitors to enjoy nature in all four seasons.
Yaemonbashi
The bridge—the narrowest and oldest bridge on the course—is just barely high enough for boats to pass under making it a bit of a thrilling pass through.
Eating and drinking are free on the boats, and visitors are welcome to bring their own lunch boxes and beverages.
There are two waterfront stores along the “moat tour,” selling juice, sake, snacks, soft-serve ice cream and more.
Seasonal donko boats are also available.
After sunset from mid-July to early September, there is a romantic Akari-bune (reservation required) boat with paper-framed lanterns and LED lights illuminating the water, and from December to February, a Kotatsu-bune boat with a kotatsu (table with blanket and heater) on board.
Keep in mind, there are four boat boarding sites near Mihashira Shrine.
Yanagawa moat tour
This is a leisurely boat ride on a donko boat operated by a boatman from the boarding area near Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station to the “Yanagawa Domain Lord Tachibana’s Residence Ohana,” a distance of less than 4 km. The boat ride takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, and boat riders get to enjoy the scenery […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 329 Takahata, Mitsuhashi-cho, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka |
|---|---|
| Access | 5-10 min. walk from Nishitets[…] |
| Tel | 0944-72-6177 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Eat
Eel
Yanagawa is famous for its eel cuisine with about 30 eel restaurants in this small town.
In the past, a lot of eel could easily be caught in Yanagawa and it was a specialty of the area.
Now, however, there are no eels.
“Unagi no seiro mushi (eel steamed in a bamboo basket)” is a specialty of Yanagawa and has a history of more than 300 years.
“eel steamed in a bamboo basket” is a dish of steamed rice covered with sauce, topped with broiled eel and egg.
The eel is aromatic, fluffy and tender at the same time, and the aroma and flavor of the eel soak into the rice.
In recent years, the price of eel has skyrocketed, and with it, the price of eel dishes has also risen significantly.
Although the price cannot be said to be reasonable, it is definitely delicious and worth trying at least once.
The following are the restaurants worth visiting.
Ganso Motoyoshiya
This long-established restaurant, dating back to 1681, specializes in eel dishes and invented the Yanagawa specialty “Seiro-mushi (eel steamed in a bamboo basket)”. The most popular dish is the “Seiro-mushi teishoku (set meal).” The rice is coated with the same secret sauce that has been used since the establishment of the restaurant, topped with freshly […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 69 Asahimachi, Yanagawa, Fukuoka |
|---|---|
| Access | 12 min. walk from Nishitetsu […] |
| Tel | 0944-72-6155 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Wakamatsuya
Founded in 1860, this long-established eel restaurant was loved by many famous Japanese writers, including Kitahara Hakushu (1885-1942). The most popular menu item is “Unagi Seiro-mushi (eel steamed in a pbamboo steamer over charcoal).” The broiled eel is grilled over high heat using oak charcoal, dipped in a secret sauce, and quickly steamed on a […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 26, Okinohata-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka |
|---|---|
| Access | Take Nishitetsu Bus from Nish[…] |
| Tel | 0944-72-3163 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Seafood
Yanagawa also faces the Ariake Sea—the largest tidal flat in Japan— providing delicious seafood that cannot be found in other areas.
Yanagawa Port handles the largest variety of seafood in Japan, and dishes using rare seafood such as mutsugoro(google-eyed goby), warasubo (Odontamblyopus lacepedii）, and isoginchaku (sea anemone ) are worth trying.
Yoakeja
This diner is attached to a fresh fish restaurant. Because it is owned and operated by a fresh fish restaurant, the taste and freshness of the fish are naturally very high. The menu featuring rare fish from the Ariake Sea is popular, but the restaurant also offers a wide variety of fresh seafood from the […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 94-1 Inari-cho, Yanagawa-shi, Fukuoka |
|---|---|
| Access | 10 minutes by car from Nishit[…] |
| Tel | 0944-73-5680 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
