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| Limbo level: Expert. Just one of the 11 bridges trying to take our heads off today! |
In Yanagawa, the streets are replaced by slow-moving streams. We traded the speed of the highway for the tranquil perspective of a traditional punt, gliding through the celebrated "Venice of Kyushu."
Our final day in Yanagawa was a masterclass in Japanese hospitality, minor athletic feats, and a dash of financial drama.
Punting Like a Pro
We started with a hotel breakfast run on the "honor system"—vouchers in a basket, no questions asked. It’s quintessentially Japanese: self-accountability at its finest.
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| Tsutsumi-san and his arias |
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| Tsutsumi-san provided the soundtrack; the bridges provided the cardio. |
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Then, we hit the water. For 4400¥(柳川川下り 松月乗船場 https://www.yanagawakk.co.jp), we joined 20 other tourists and our singing captain, Tsutsumi-san, for a canal cruise. The water was a perfect mirror, but the real "mini-drama" happened at the 11 low bridges. Watching a boatload of tourists simultaneously duck for their lives is a 10/10 experience (plus a bonus point for the captain's serenading).
We capped off the morning with a sumptuous box of Yanagawa eel (9000¥). It was local, smoky, and delicious—the literal calm before the storm.
The Plot Twist
The "zen" evaporated when Pat discovered fraudulent charges from a restaurant we visited the previous day. We scrambled back to the hotel (free shuttle bus from Ohana to Yanagawa Eki) to enlist the concierge’s help, only to find the restaurant closed on Wednesday and calls went unanswered. With the charges hanging in limbo until tomorrow, we were left with a distinct "wet blanket" over our afternoon.
The 16,000-Step "Detour"
To keep our spirits up, we headed to Ohana to peer into riverside houses. Honestly? If it’s not a canal, Yanagawa doesn’t have much to say for itself.
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| Technically, we walked enough steps today to earn three of these Mont-Blancs. Don't check my math. |
We sought emotional support in the form of sugar at Sakura Patisserie. Between a parfait and my Mont-Blanc cake, we felt human again—until we walked a kilometer away and Pat realized his favorite running cap was still back at the cafe.
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| This boatman was too slow to rejoin his boat because he stopped mid-climb to pose for photos |
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| The boatman had to chase his boat |
By the time we retraced our steps and finally hit Daiso, my mood was as "scenic" as the castle ruins we passed. We ended the day with 16,000 steps—most of them unintentional.
A Hotpot Finale
Dinner was a modest shokudo by the station. As the temperature plummeted, a bubbling Nabe (hotpot) was exactly what we needed. I dusted off my limited Japanese to order inari and beer. It was "lipsmacking" good, though the bill came to a surprising 6,600 yen (a bit steep for a neighborhood joint, but at this point, we were just happy it was hot!).
The Verdict: Yanagawa gave us tranquility and anxiety in equal measure. We walked a lot, yet felt like we were going nowhere. Here’s hoping Hita has fewer bridges and more honesty!