If you’re visiting Fukuoka, you should definitely make time for Yanagawa.

I discovered a very convenient day trip that combines Yanagawa and Dazaifu in one day, and honestly, it was one of the most relaxing experiences during my trip.

The Yanagawa Day Pass

At Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station, you can purchase the Yanagawa River Cruise Day Pass.

The pass includes:

• Round-trip train between Fukuoka and Yanagawa
• Yanagawa river cruise
• Transportation from Yanagawa to Dazaifu and back to Fukuoka

Price: 3,340 Yen

Considering everything included, it offers excellent value.

Yanagawa River Cruise Experience

After arriving in Yanagawa, there is a complimentary shuttle bus that takes you to the boarding point.

The entire river cruise lasts about one hour, and it was far more relaxing than I expected.

A gentle breeze, calm canals, swaying willow trees, and birds singing along the river created an incredibly peaceful atmosphere. The boatman even sang traditional Japanese songs while rowing.

It was one of the most relaxing moments of my Fukuoka trip.

A Small Tip

You can actually buy many of Yanagawa’s local specialties in Fukuoka city as well.

I accidentally bought six boxes of souvenirs in Yanagawa and quickly realised how heavy they were to carry around all day. If possible, save your souvenir shopping for the city.

From Yanagawa to Dazaifu

Getting to Dazaifu is very straightforward.

Take the train from Yanagawa and transfer at Futsukaichi Station. After a few more stops, you will arrive at Dazaifu.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

We arrived around 3:00 PM, but the crowds became noticeably larger closer to 5:00 PM.

If you’d like to take photos or enjoy a leisurely stroll, arriving earlier is recommended.

Unfortunately, many dessert shops and cafes around the shrine close around 6:00 PM, so we only had time to try:

• Umegae Mochi (grilled rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste)
• Roasted tea parfait

Both were worth trying.

Returning to Fukuoka

In the evening, we simply used the same day pass to return to Tenjin.

There was no need to purchase additional tickets.

Overall, the route was smooth, convenient, and required very little planning.