Visit Kyushu
The Official Kyushu Travel Guide

Yanagawa, about an hour to the southwest of Fukuoka, is famous for its network of canals, originally used for irrigation and to create a moat around the town's castle. Exploring the canals on a small punt boat (donkobune) is a charming way to see the town. The boatmen often share stories and folksongs along the way. Standard tours last around 1 hour and depart from one of the six stations around the canals. At the last boat station, Ohana, you can visit the residence and gardens of the Tachibana family, who once ruled the area. The house was built in 1910 in a grand European style, with traditional Japanese gardens. There are restaurants, a museum and a hotel on the grounds.