VOL.204 JUNE 2025
JAPAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER
Yanagawa Canals Supporting Yanagawa, Known as the ‘City of Water’
A famous feature of Yanagawa, often called the ‘city of water,’ is its summer canal cruises.
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
Yanagawa, a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, is often called the ‘city of water’ due to its extensive moats and canals that run throughout the area. This article introduces the waterways that have supported both the lives of Yanagawa’s residents and the land itself.
Yanagawa features a unique landscape of interconnected waterways, with small and large canals extending over a total length of approximately 930 kilometers throughout the city. According to TANAKA Hirotaka from the Waterways Division at Yanagawa City Hall, the formation of Yanagawa’s waterways dates back to the 16th century during the Edo period.
“The development of Yanagawa began in the 15th century Sengoku period, when local warlords established their stronghold here. In the 17th century Edo period, alongside the construction of the castle, canals serving both defensive and transport functions were developed. These waterways, equipped with roads and drainage functions, further evolved to create the distinctive landscape seen today.”
Photo: Yanagawa City
At the same time, a system was developed to draw water from the rivers, forming an integrated network of waterways that became a vital foundation supporting daily life, agriculture, and boat transportation in Yanagawa.
“The waterways serve multiple important functions: they temporarily store rainwater during heavy rainfall to prevent flooding; retain water to prepare for droughts; help protect the ground from sinking by allowing rainwater to soak into the soil; and purify water through the activity of aquatic organisms and microorganisms. These functions have greatly contributed to the region,” explains TANAKA.
“More than just infrastructure, they have served as communal spaces where residents gather and connect, fostering a strong sense of community and cultural identity. For example, traditional events such as horihoshi, organized for maintaining the waterways, continue to be held with the cooperation of local residents. Thus, the waterways have not only supported people’s livelihoods and production activities but also nurtured community connections and cultural traditions.”
Photo: Yanagawa City
Today, in addition to supplying water for irrigation and fire prevention, the canals are also utilized for tourism. NISHIDA Miori of the Yanagawa Tourism Bureau shared some insights about the canal boat tours.
“Canal cruises are a unique Yanagawa experience in which visitors ride on traditional flatboats known as donkobune and slowly cruise through the city’s waterways. These tours are very popular among tourists. What makes them so special is not only the beautiful scenery, but also the skillful boat handling by the sendo-san, or boatmen, using poles, and the enjoyable storytelling and songs they perform, which add to the charm of the experience. By listening to the boatmen’s stories, visitors can gain deeper insight into Yanagawa’s history, culture, and way of life. Audio guides are available in five languages—Japanese, English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Korean—so we hope many people will take this opportunity to experience the history of Yanagawa.”
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
By MOROHASHI Kumiko
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji; Yanagawa City