river cruise of the Yanagawa

Yanagawa, the medieval town that prospered in the vicinity of Yanagawa Castle, is famous as the hometown of modern poet Hakushu Kitahara. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this water town by boarding a punt (donko-bune) to be carried downstream and through the canals that criss-cross the town.
The name “donko-bune” may have derived from a type of small goby fish named “donko.” These punts also appear in winter months as “kotatsu-bune,” or boats for tourists with seating heated by a charcoal brazier.
River punting, or kawa-kudari, is an hour-long experience covering around 4km, guided by a boatman regaling passengers with folk songs. In spring the banks of the canals are a riot of peach and cherry blossoms, while in summer, a major attraction is the Kabashima Iris Garden, where some 30,000 flowers bloom. Autumn brings the changing foliage while in winter, in the heated kotatsu-bune, you gaze upon the picturesque snowy landscape passing by. 
Monuments and statues of Hakushu Kitahara are found around Yanagawa. Listening to the children's songs sung by the boatman brings the scenes in his poems to life.  Most tours explore the inner canals, but there are some departures that take in the outer canals of Yanagawa and one boat even serves passengers the local steamed eel specialty dish. Find the Yanagawa punting trip that suits you best.