River Festival at Yanagwa

柳川川開き

Mizuochi has been a tradition in the Yanagawa area since the Edo Era (1605 - 1868). For about ten days, Yanagawa castle’s floodgate is closed in order to clean the canals, called “horiwari”, that encircle the city’s streets, as well as to repair the revetment.
At the River Festival, the floodgate sluice is removed, and the stopped up water flows rapidly into the clean canals. This event takes place in an area of Shinmachi called “Johori Suimon”, so ask around for details!

Address (Japanese)	832-0032　福岡県柳川市新町柳川城堀水門
Address	At the Moat Gates of Yanagawa Castle, Shinmachi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka
Telephone Number	0944-74-0891（柳川市観光協会）
Contact	Yanagawa City Office, Tourism Department
Car Park	Unavailable
Access	By train - About a 10 minute walk from Nishitetsu “Yanagawa” Station on the Tenjin Omuta Line
Website	http://www.city.yanagawa.fukuoka.jp/index.html