Yanagawa River Cruise | Advance Tickets
- These boarding tickets are cheaper than buying them on-site.
- A truly enriching experience aboard the famous "Donko boat"
- White-walled buildings, willow trees lining the streets, and the ever-changing scenery along the waterfront throughout the seasons.
- Even on one-way tours, you can return to your starting point by free shuttle bus.
- The boatman provides commentary, interspersed with stories about history, famous places, and songs, all while demonstrating his skills with the boat pole.
Package Options
Sightseeing Tours
| Tour Type | Shared tour |
| Transportation method | Transfer from meeting point |
| Tour types | Guided tour |
| Meal arrangement | Arrange yourself |
| Sightseeing type | Natural sights, Eco-tourism |
| Transport | Sightseeing cruise |
| Cruise type | River boating |
Product Info
The content of this product is provided by machine translation and may not reflect the actual information, please take this into consideration before booking.
- Every year from mid-February to late February, there is a period called the "water draining period" when the water in the canals is removed.
This period includes the period from 4 PM on February 16, 2026 to the end of the day on February 25, 2026.
During the flood season, the section of the river rafting course beyond the sluice gate will be closed. Therefore, the course will be a round trip of approximately 30 minutes, starting from the Shimohyakucho boarding area, going to the sluice gate, and then returning to the Shimohyakucho boarding area.
Our prices will remain the same, but the course duration will be significantly shortened. If this is acceptable to you, we will accept your reservation.
- Summer-only route operating from July 1st (Wed) to September 20th (Sun), 2026.
Summer-only course: "Shimohyakucho - Amenbo Center - Shimohyakucho", operating time 40 minutes
For customers heading towards Ohana, we offer free transportation to and from Ohana after disembarking.
You can also use the return bus from Ohana-mae to Shimohyakucho free of charge.
*Actual temperatures and weather conditions may vary.
— Spot Introduction —
- Yanagawa, a Water Town, is about an hour's drive from Fukuoka city center. Yanagawa is a water town with a network of canals stretching 60 kilometers in an area of 2 kilometers square. The "canal cruise" on a donko boat is the highlight of Yanagawa tourism. You can spend a leisurely time listening to the boatman's songs and the soothing sound of the water. On the canal cruise, you will travel along the approximately 3-kilometer canal for about an hour, listening to the boatman's commentary and songs. There are as many as 200 donko boats, and you can see boats coming and going all over town, as well as boatmen washing their donko boats. From December to February, during the cold season, "kotatsu boats" appear. You can enjoy the winter atmosphere while staying warm.
- Route Information: Click here for details on our river rafting courses.
- The route will be a one-way trip: "Shimohyakucho to Ohana".
- The journey takes approximately 60 minutes. After checking in, there may be a waiting time of up to 30 minutes before departure.
- There is a free shuttle bus service between Shimohyakumachi and Ohana. The free shuttle bus operates from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
From July 4th (Sat) to September 18th (Fri), a summer-only course: "Shimohyakucho - Amenbo Center - Shimohyakucho," 40-minute journey.
Embark on a 60-minute river cruise with a boatman who knows Yanagawa inside and out!
Umbrellas (rain or sun umbrellas) are not permitted on board. We offer rental hats (the type worn over the head).
Please take the free shuttle bus back to your original boarding location.
Please exchange your ticket at the Shimohyakucho Norifuneba ticket window.
Purchase Notice
- If you do not arrive at the cruise departure point by the designated time, we will be unable to reschedule or change the date and time of your cruise
Reminders
A minimum of 1 traveler(s) are required for the tour to depart. If the number of participants does not reach the minimum requirement, the tour will be canceled. An email regarding tour cancellation will be sent 1 day(s) before the departure date
The boat will depart within 30 minutes of your arrival and check-in. After checking in, please wait at the check-in area until the boat departs. Please follow the instructions of the on-site staff.
In case of rain, the service will operate as scheduled. Please wear the poncho-style raincoat provided free of charge.
Winter departures (December to February) will be conducted in boats equipped with heated tables (kotatsu).
Please note: The course normally runs from upstream to downstream, but it may be reversed in the afternoon. Thank you for your understanding.
Every year from mid-February to late February, there is a period when the water in the canal is drained. This period will be from 4 PM on February 16th, 2026 to the end of the day on February 25th, 2026. During this period, the section of the river cruise course beyond the sluice gate will be unusable. Therefore, the course will be shortened to a round trip of approximately 30 minutes, departing from the Shimohyakucho boarding area, going to the sluice gate, and then returning to the Shimohyakucho boarding area. The price will remain the same, but the course will be considerably shortened, so we will accept reservations only if this is acceptable to you.
Depending on the speed of the water current, the boat ride may be slightly shorter or longer than 60 minutes.
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