Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyūshū Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Yanagawa (柳川市, Yanagawa-shi) is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2024, the city had an estimated population density of 810 persons per km². The total area of the city is 77.15 km² (29.79 sq mi).

Geography Yanagawa is located in the south-western part of the Chikugo region in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, approximately 100 km south-southwest of Kitakyushu City, approximately 50 km south of Fukuoka City, approximately 20 km south-west of Kurume City. The city is in the shape of a rhombus or diamond, measuring 12 km from north-to-south and 11 km from east-to-west, Almost all of the city is in the flatlands of the Chikushi Plain, with the north-eastern two-thirds of the city consisting of alluvial plains and the south-west one-third consisting of reclaimed land. The reclaimed land was gradually developed from the Edo period into the modern era, so the reclamation embankments and villages along the embankments from each era are lined up parallel to the coastline of the Ariake Sea.

Neighboring municipalities Fukuoka Prefecture • Ōkawa • Chikugo • Miyama • Ōki; Saga Prefecture • Saga.

History The area of Yanagawa was part of ancient Chikugo Province. Yayoi pottery dating back approximately 2,000 years ago was excavated in the Kamachi area on the outskirts of Yanagawa, and it is estimated that rice cultivation began in this area around that time. During the Heian period, Yanagawa was a stronghold of the Tachibana clan against Fujiwara no Sumitomo's Revolt. Yanagawa was reborn as a castle town of the Kamachi clan during the Sengoku period during the 16th century, and became the castle town of Yanagawa Domain under the Tachibana clan during the Edo period. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Yanagawa (柳河町) was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. On April 1, 1951Yanagawa annexed the neighboring villages of Higashimiyaga, Nishinomiyaga, Jonai, Okibata, and Ryokai and changed the kanji of its name to "柳川町". Yanagawa was raised to city status on April 1, 1952.

On March 21, 2005 the towns of Yamato and Mitsuhashi (both from Yamato District) were merged into Yanagawa.

Government Yanagawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 19 members. Yanagawa contributes one member to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Fukuoka 7th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Yanagawa has a mixed economy, with agriculture and commercial fishing, as well as manufacturing centering on semiconductors and woodworking. There is also a thriving tourism industry.

Education Yanagawa has 19 public elementary schools and six public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education. There are also two private high schools, and Fukuoka Prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail Nishitetsu Tenjin Ōmuta Line • Kamachi - Yakabe - Nishitetsu Yanagawa - Tokumasu - Shiotsuka - Nishitetsu Nakashima.

Transport: Road • National Route 208 • National Route 385 • National Route 443.

Local attractions Yanagawa is popular with Japanese tourists because of its 470 km of wide canals (930 km inclusive of all watercourses). Yanagawa riverboats, called "donkobune", are used to take tourists around the city. In 1987 a video documentary was created by Studio Ghibli about these canals and their restoration. The Story of Yanagawa's Canals (柳川掘割物語, Yanagawa horiwari monogatari) is widely available and includes English subtitles.

Yanagawa is the birthplace of Kitahara Hakushu, a Meiji era poet and writer of children's songs. An annual three-day festival is held every November in Yanagawa complete with poetry readings, fireworks, music, and a great number of evening boat rides. During this festival, most activities begin from Shimohyaku Town and centre at the Hiyoshi Shinto Shrine. In addition, Hakushu's birth house is located in Yanagawa and open to the public for tours. The Yanagawa Municipal Folk Museum is mainly dedicated to preservation of Hakushu-sensei's works and memorabilia.

During the months of March and April, Yanagawa also plays host to a number of festivals, most notably Hinamatsuri or Girls' Festival on March 3. A great number of finely crafted Heian era styled dolls are placed on display in a number of private homes, shops, and businesses throughout the city. During this time, a number of local citizens actually open up their homes to the public, allowing people to come and see their elaborate decorations and displays.