Yanagawa Punting

About an hour southwest of Fukuoka, Yanagawa is known for its canal network, originally dug for irrigation and as a castle moat. Small flat-bottomed punt boats, called donkobune, carry visitors along the waterways while boatmen pole through and share local songs and stories. Standard tours last around an hour and depart from six points along the canals. The final stop, Ohana, leads to the Tachibana family estate, built in 1910 in a European style with traditional Japanese gardens, a museum, restaurants, and a hotel on the grounds.