Kawa-kudari! We're going to kawa-kudari so hard!

一所懸命川下りするぞー！

Although I've lived in Kyushu for over 10 years now, I had always wanted to come here

１０年以上九州に住んでいるんですが、なかなか柳川にこれませんでした

but I never really had the chance until today.

今日はやっと来れました。

You can rent a hat!

レンタルばっちょ笠あるんだー！

Do you want it?

かぶる？

So while we were here, Tatsu and I decided to go FULL TOURIST.

ということで、たつと一緒に思い切って観光客になりました。

Yay!

?！

Luckily for us, the other tourists also decided to go "full tourist" too.

嬉しいことに、思い切って観光客になっているのは、私たちだけじゃなかった！

A one-way trip down the river typically takes about 70 minutes, and visitors come from all

普通の片道のコースだと約７０分かかるんです。お客さんは

over Japan to experience this relaxing trip through one of Kyushu's more traditional

全国から、この昔ながらの街に訪れてくれるらしいです。

towns.

外はまだちょぴっと寒いということで、船の中でこたつが用意しています。

It's still a bit cold out, so the boats are equipped with Kotatsu! Heated blankets

足をいれて、暖かく気持ち良く、川下りを楽しめます。

and tables to keep your legs toasty during the hour-long boat ride.

リラックスできるし、写真好きな人のシャッターチャンスが多いです。

It's a relaxing trip, with tons of amazing photo opportunities, oh and the occasional

たまにドラマもあります！

drama as well.

川下りのタイミングをうまくすれば、終わった頃にお腹が空く

If you time your boat ride right, you'll be pretty hungry by the time you get off.

すると柳川市の名物を食べることができます！

And luckily, Yanagawa is famous for it's food as well.

柳川市のもう一つの名物は、「鰻」です！

So the other thing that Yanagawa City is known for is it's delicious "eel", so we are waiting

ということで今、行列のあったところに並んでみました。

in line at a place. It must be good if there's a line!

鰻たべるぜー

I'm gunna try some eel!

鰻のお専門店１０件以上あるという柳川市、やっぱり人気のようですね。

Eel is so popular in Yanagawa that there are over ten restaurants in the city that specialize

迷ったら、とにかく行列のある店にいく！というのは

in serving it. When in doubt though, it's the Japanese way to always trust the restaurant

日本人のやりかたですよね！

with the longest line.

個室に移動したんだけど、まあ、個室じゃないんですね。

So now we have moved to a "koshitsu" which is not really a "koshitsu" because we're sharing

もう一人のカップルがいるんです。

it with someone else.

こんなところでブログしちゃダメでしょう！隣に人いるし！

No vlogging zone! Because they're are people right next to us. I like how they put this

真ん中にこの壁らしきもの置いても、

wall (partition) here, like, this will make it all better.

まだ見えるしね！

But it doesn't because we can still see them!

静かすぎるんだよ〜〜！

It's too quiet!

メニューで迷ったらやっぱり鰻のせいろ蒸しでしょう！

This is a nice picture!

甘いたれで蒸した鰻とご飯の相性が抜群！

Isn't it!

元気も出るし！

What?

店員さんが、二階に雛人形があると言ってたので、行ってみます！

Ah, I thought this one was cute.

うわーすごい！

I love this photo.

ひな祭りという日本のお祭りは、３月３日に開催されます。

Should I send it to you?

娘の人生がうまく行くように、家族が祈る祭りです。

Yeah.

日本の家族は、２月になると雛人形を出して飾ったりしているんです。

Unagi No Seiro Mushi is the most popular way to eat eel here, steamed in a bamboo basket

そして柳川市には、それに「さげもん」というものを作る文化もあります。

and served with rice and egg, it's soft and sweet, and is said to give you lots of

生まれてきた娘の初めてのひな祭りのために作るんですって。

energy.

これはすごいよね、たつ！

So they said if we go to the 2nd floor, they have "Hina Dolls"

たつ？

Woah this is really cool!

あれ？

Hina Matsuri the festival of dolls, is celebrated on March 3rd, and is a time when families

何しているの！！！

pray for the prosperity of their young daughters.

結局柳川は、半日あれば楽しめる街だとおもいますよ。

Families traditionally decorate their home with Hina dolls in February, in the weeks

遊びにきたら、一日ずっとかからないんです。午後にきて、川下りして、

leading up to Hina-Matsuri, but in Yanagawa, they have the added tradition of making “Sagemon”.

晩飯を鰻にすればいいんですね！

These hanging dolls are meant to bring luck, and are usually made to celebrate a daughter's

福岡の中々珍しい体験を楽しめる場所です！

first Hina-Matsuri.

日本全国にとって珍しいかもしれないね！

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.