A visit to historic and charming Yanagawa makes a relaxing break from the bustling cities of Kumamoto or Fukuoka. The small city is famed as the little Venice of Kyushu with a network of canals running through the center around the remains of the old castle. Strolling around the leafy green canals is a pleasant activity but many people choose to take to the water, taking a ‘Donko-bune’ boat, a Japanese style gondola.
Yanagawa is famous for its seafood and particularly its steamed eel cuisine, its many festivals, seasonal flower viewing, one of the top fish markets in Kyushu, a beautiful Japanese garden belonging to the historic Tachibana Clan residence which is also a hotel and museum, hot springs and a great second hand store if you are looking for reasonably priced kimono or Japanese accessories.
To get a better idea of what Yanagawa is all about take a look at this short video:
See below for more information about what to do in Yanagawa.
A trip to Yanagawa can be combined with a visit to the Samurai sword maker in nearby Arao City with an exclusive Explore Kumamoto tour , click here for details.
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