Private Tour

Yanagawa River Cruise and Grilled steamed Eel Lunch Private Tour

Overview

Available languages

Japanese

English

6 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

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.”

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.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Grilled steamed Eel Lunch, Infant lunch is not included.

English-speaking local guide

River cruise experience

Tenjin-Yanagawa round-way train tickets

beverage

What To Expect

Take Nishitetsu train to Yanagawa On the way, your personal guide will give you a briefing about Fukuoka, Kyushu and Yanagawa.

1 hour • Admission Included

Yanagawa Castle Moat Water Gate

Enjoy "Donkobune"boat cruising, and have lunch of grilled eel that is famous in this area Yanagawa. 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.

4 hours • Admission Included

Options

Yanagawa River Cruise and Grilled steamed Eel Lunch Private Tour

Reviews

4.90

10 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Yanagawa trip
Iris I,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Interesting and a lovely way to spend the day. The lunch was delicious. Our guide Shuji was quite knowledgeable. We learned a lot about Japanese history and customs.
A Tour not to Miss
Neal M,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The private tour was a great experience. We had individualized attention to our interests and it was a relaxing and entertaining canal ride. The boat man entertained with his opera vocals. Yanagawa town is charmingly quaint.
Awesome. Would recommend it.
mina t,
Aug 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was wonderful and our guide Mr Seri was very good and knowledgeable. The food was good and they were able to accommodate beef and chicken instead of eel.
Punting the canal in Yanagawa
Daneil C,
Dec 28, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Relaxing and enjoyable culminating with a delicious lunch. Takeya san was very knowledgeable and accommodating.
Great guide
Ronald C,
Dec 2, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
A relaxing tour made better by a singing boatman and a fantastic guide. May is very fluent in English and worked very hard not only on this trip but helping us to make the next tour happen. Very lucky to have her as guide!
Enjoyable and Leisurely Experience.
Neal M,
Oct 4, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
The boat tour was excellent and our tour guide was so wonderful. We were able to experience the local area and people. We are so glad we booked this tour--thoroughly enjoyed the entire tour.
Great experience! Elevated our trip
859nathya,
Jul 28, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Mr. Takaya was a very nice man who took us to this destination. He was very interested in getting to know us and he was delightful. We learned a lot and we had a great time. The boat ride was calming and wonderful and we got to experience a different side of Japan. He also helped us buy tickets we needed for the express bus to another location. I would 100% recommend it!
Relaxing day trip from busy Fukuoka
Hadley S,
Apr 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Shinohara-san was a delightful tour guide. We mostly spoke in Japanese as we are trying to find opportunities to practice the language. The boat tour was fun, and Shinohara-san was extremely kind in congratulating us on our recent wedding. The uni restaurant we went to after the boat tour was enormous. We tried the traditional Unagi Seiro Mushi (steamed eel over thin-sliced egg). Shinohara-san was knowledgeable about Yanagawa traditions such as Saemon being displayed during the hinamatsuri festival, and also helpful in recommending other things to do in Fukuoka and Japan. We highly recommend this day trip from Fukuoka! Thank you.
Wet Biat trip but Sunny Guide & Boatman
Colin K,
Apr 7, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00
The initial meeting place description was generic “just by ticket machine & gates”. Guide Mayumj had to hunt for us, because there were about 3 possible places fitting that description. In the end, the big hall was on 2nd floor. A picture & better description would have helped. It was rainy day, and not best for outdoor boat ride. But there was no cancellation & we had paid already. We were only boat on the creek, Mayumi & boatman Satoshi were knowledgeable about Yanazawa history & nice. Their “sunny” personalities made up for the wet weather & we enjoyed the trip. The sun came out half way & that made a big difference. Thank you Mayumi & Satoshi.
Great tour but confusing meeting spot
Asma S,
Apr 6, 2023
- Review from Viator
4.00
Meeting spot - we got confused where the meeting spot was as we thought to meet at tenjin subway station which has 3 gates. Luckily I ask one of the ticket officer and he said we need to go upstairs to the actual railway station. We were 15 mins late, luckily the train leaves in another 15 mins. Perhaps, to put a photo of the ticket gate on the website would have been helpful. Our tour guide Takaya was a true gentleman. He was very knowledgeable, full of culture and history. Great tour guide!