Eel Memorial Service
Event period: Mid-July
This annual festival is held before the Day of the Ox, and is a celebration of gratitude to eels and prayers for business prosperity.
Yanagawa in Summer
In summer, the willows sway in the wind and a cool breeze blows through Yanagawa. Flowers such as irises and sunflowers decorate the river, and at night the canals are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere that you can enjoy on a lighted boat.
Average maximum temperature: 29.5°C
Average minimum temperature: 23.0°C
Main Events
Kabashima Iris Garden
Event period: Late May to early June
At Kabashima Iris Garden, located along the river boat (canal tour) course, you can enjoy the sight of approximately 30 varieties and 30,000 irises.
Nakajima Gion Festival
Event period: Fourth Saturday of July
This festival has a history of about 150 years, and involves parading giant snake floats and praying for good health, safety of families, and bountiful harvests.
Yanagawa Solar Boat Competition
Event period: Late July
This is a competition in which participants build boats that utilize solar energy and compete on the beautiful waterways of Yanagawa. It aims to raise awareness of natural energy and the conservation of aquatic environments.
Dan Kazuo Literary Commemoration Festival
Event period: Mid-September
This is held every September at the literary monument of Dan Kazuo, a Naoki Prize-winning author with ties to Yanagawa. You can see a wine offering in memory of Dan Kazuo.
Recommended sightseeing spots in summer
Yanagawa Sunflower Garden
The large sunflowers blooming all over the reclaimed land of the Ariake Sea are very impressive. The contrast between the blue sky and the yellow, and the fantastic scenery of the night illumination show a variety of different expressions. For more information on the blooming, please see the City Hall Tourism Department website. Paid parking is available.
See & Enjoy
Light Boat
In Yanagawa City, the “Yanagawa Summer Lantern Boat” will be operating, lighting up the summer nights. You can enjoy Yanagawa in a fantastical atmosphere that is completely different from daytime.
See & Enjoy
Kabashima Ice Cream
Since 2011, they have been producing popsicles and ice cream using fruit grown at Anri Farm, a farm in the same chain as the shop. Candies made with mango juice grown at the farm are a well-known Yanagawa specialty. They are well-known nationwide from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and are also very popular online. The candy’s simple packaging design is very memorable, evoking a nostalgic feeling like something you would see in an old shop. Customers who buy from the shop say, “Even if you just want a single ice cream, you can sit in the tatami room and enjoy your meal at your leisure.” The shop is set in a traditional Japanese house that has been preserved as it is. The former tatami rooms have been used as seating for customers, with as little modification as possible. The most popular seats are the pleasant veranda tables with a view of the garden. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the store’s founding this year, the store has launched “Kabachan Yaki,” a taiyaki-style sweet featuring the store’s trademark hippopotamus design. The wheat used for the skin is harvested at Anri Farm, and the red bean paste inside is a special product made in collaboration with a yokan store in Saga. It contains white and black bean paste, and is popular with tourists for its cute appearance. Spend a relaxing time gazing at the garden in the old house. It is close to the tourist center, so it’s a great place to stop by for a quick break during your walk in Yanagawa.
Eat
Kyoho grape picking
You can enjoy picking freshly picked Kyoho grapes, which are sweet and juicy and grown in the lush natural surroundings. It is characterized by “reclaimed Kyoho grapes” grown in the salty sea breeze of the Ariake Sea. In addition to being able to taste freshly picked Kyoho grapes, you can also purchase some as souvenirs.
See & Enjoy
