Today we're in Yanagawa City in Fukuoka Prefecture, and we're going to uh...
Kawa-kudari! We're going to kawa-kudari so hard!
Although I've lived in Kyushu for over 10 years now, I had always wanted to come here
but I never really had the chance until today.
You can rent a hat!
Do you want it?
So while we were here, Tatsu and I decided to go FULL TOURIST.
Yay!
Luckily for us, the other tourists also decided to go "full tourist" too.
A one-way trip down the river typically takes about 70 minutes, and visitors come from all
over Japan to experience this relaxing trip through one of Kyushu’s more traditional
towns.
It’s still a bit cold out, so the boats are equipped with Kotatsu! Heated blankets
and tables to keep your legs toasty during the hour-long boat ride.
It’s a relaxing trip, with tons of amazing photo opportunities, oh and the occasional
drama as well.
If you time your boat ride right, you’ll be pretty hungry by the time you get off.
And luckily, Yanagawa is famous for it’s food as well.
So the other thing that Yanagawa City is known for is it's delicious "eel", so we are waiting
in line at a place. It must be good if there's a line!
I'm gunna try some eel!
Eel is so popular in Yanagawa that there are over ten restaurants in the city that specialize
in serving it. When in doubt though, it’s the Japanese way to always trust the restaurant
with the longest line.
So now we have moved to a "koshitsu" which is not really a "koshitsu" because we're sharing
it with someone else.
No vlogging zone! Because they're are people right next to us. I like how they put this
wall (partition) here, like, this will make it all better.
But it doesn't because we can still see them!
It's too quiet!
This is a nice picture!
Isn't it!
What?
Ah, I thought this one was cute.
I love this photo.
Should I send it to you?
Yeah.
Unagi No Seiro Mushi is the most popular way to eat eel here, steamed in a bamboo basket
and served with rice and egg, it’s soft and sweet, and is said to give you lots of
energy.
So they said if we go to the 2nd floor, they have "Hina Dolls"
Woah this is really cool!
Hina Matsuri the festival of dolls, is celebrated on March 3rd, and is a time when families
pray for the prosperity of their young daughters.
Families traditionally decorate their home with Hina dolls in February, in the weeks
leading up to Hina-Matsuri, but in Yanagawa, they have the added tradition of making “Sagemon”.
These hanging dolls are meant to bring luck, and are usually made to celebrate a daughter’s
first Hina-Matsuri.
This looks nice, hey Tatsu!?
Tatsu?
Huh?
What are you doing!?
Yanagawa, I think, in essence, is a good half-day trip. I don't think you need to be here too
late, it's not something that will take all day, like if you come in the afternoon, take
a boat ride, eat some unagi (eel), you're good!
It's a good way to experience something you don't get to experience everyday in Fukuoka
or even Japan, so yeah.