The Yanagawa, Kurume, and Chikugo areas are located in the southwestern part of Fukuoka Prefecture. Kurume is home to Senko-ji Temple, famous for its hydrangeas, and Yanagawa is famous for its downstream river and sunflowers, and the natural scenery fostered by the Chikugo River is beautiful.
The Yanagawa area is located in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture and is known among tourists for its waterways. The waterways in Yanagawa were built to defend Yanagawa Castle, which was said to be impregnable in the Edo period, and to develop commerce and production.
At one time, as the urbanization of the Yanagawa area progressed, pollution from factory effluents became a serious problem, and there were plans to reclaim the canals.
Today, visitors can enjoy a leisurely river cruise on a dongko boat along the waterways of Yanagawa River, and also enjoy sightseeing with historical landscapes such as red-brick storehouses and namako walled storehouses.
Kurume area is located in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture and is famous for its pontoon boats and other boating activities along the Chikugo River. Kurume is home to the main shrine of Suitengu, which is famous throughout the country for its blessings for safe childbirth and child bearing, and you can also visit historical sites such as Kora Taisha Shrine, which was built approximately 1,600 years ago.
The Kurume City World Azalea Center, where you can see precious azaleas collected from all over the world, attracts many tourists every year in April when the azaleas are in full bloom.
Chikugo area is located in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture and is known for its many spots where visitors can enjoy beautiful flowers.
A particularly popular spot among tourists is the "Kuroki no Oto (Big Wisteria Tree)" in Kuroki Town. The 600-year-old giant wisteria is designated as a national natural monument, and its tens of millions of hanging flower clusters from mid-April to early May, when it blooms every year, are said to be a national treasure, attracting many tourists.
The area is also a popular place to enjoy many other flowers, such as the Heike Ipponzakura cherry tree at Tenpokoyama, a sacred tree associated with the Heike family, and the hydrangea at Jorinji Temple.
Mitsui Port Club is a historic building and garden located in Nishiminatomachi, Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Originally established as a prestigious social club associated with the Mitsui business group, it served as a reception venue for distinguished guests, including foreign maritime officers, prominent figures from politics and business, and members of the Imperial Family. Today, the buildi...»
The historic townscape of Yame-Fukushima is located in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Once a prosperous merchant town, it developed during the Edo period (1603–1868) as an important center for commerce and traditional industries. Today, its streets retain much of the character of old Japan, with traditional wooden buildings, tiled roofs, and distinctive merchant houses. Situated in an area that h...»
Chikugo Yoshii is a historic district in Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture, known for its traditional white-walled buildings and streets that preserve the atmosphere of an old Japanese merchant town. Located along the Chikugo River basin, the area prospered through commerce and agriculture, developing a distinctive townscape that reflects the wealth and ingenuity of its former residents. The histori...»
Soma-no-sato Keiryu Park is a nature park nestled in the mountainous countryside of Yabe Village, Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Surrounded by forests and a clear mountain stream, this peaceful destination offers visitors a chance to experience the beauty of rural Japan away from busy cities and crowded tourist attractions. The park's main landmark is an impressive suspension bridge standing appr...»
The Chikugo River Lift Bridge is a historic movable railway bridge that once formed part of the Saga Line operated by Japanese National Railways. It connects Okawa City in Fukuoka Prefecture with Morodomi, Saga City, in Saga Prefecture. After the railway line was discontinued, the bridge was preserved and converted into a pedestrian walkway. Known in its former railway role as the Chikugo River B...»
Yanagawa Nabe is a traditional local dish associated with Yanagawa City in Fukuoka Prefecture, a town renowned for its waterways and leisurely canal cruises. Made with loach simmered alongside burdock root in a sweet-savory broth and finished with beaten egg, this rustic hot pot has long been part of the area's food culture....»
Unagi no Seiro-mushi is a signature dish of Yanagawa, a historic canal town in Fukuoka Prefecture. It combines fragrant grilled eel with rice seasoned with a distinctive sweet-savory sauce, then steams them together in a traditional bamboo steamer. Finished with delicate strips of egg, this comforting yet indulgent dish is one of Yanagawa’s best-known culinary specialties....»
Kurume Ramen is a celebrated local specialty of Kurume City in southern Fukuoka Prefecture. Known for its rich pork-bone broth, it is widely regarded as the origin of tonkotsu ramen, which later spread throughout Kyushu and became one of Japan’s best-known noodle dishes. Its history began with a small street-food stall and developed through a fortunate accident that helped establish the characteri...»
A Handmade Confection Said to Have Originated in Farmhouse Kitchens Kurobo is a traditional baked sweet said to have originated in the Chikugo region of Fukuoka Prefecture. It is made by kneading brown sugar, eggs, wheat flour, and baking soda together by hand, allowing the dough to rest, shaping it into long sticks, and baking it in an oven. After baking, the sticks are cut to the desired length...»
A Delicate Japanese Confection Inspired by Buddhist Characters Itsumoji is a traditional Japanese confectionery from Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is made by Yoshikane Kashiho, a Japanese confectionery shop founded in 1875, the eighth year of the Meiji era. The shop is one of Kurume's oldest confectionery businesses, and Itsumoji has been made there since its founding. The design of the sweet i...»