06-Jan-2023
Another train trip, this time to Yanagawa, which is about 49 km south of Fukuoka.
A different kind of train today, as the route is serviced by Nishitetsu, as opposed to Japan Railways. But just as splendidly comfortable and efficient as all Japan's other trains have been.
As on previous journeys, you suddenly emerge from the tight urban environment into a landscape with a little more space. The housing is low-rise; little fields begin to appear.
Yanagawa is Kyushu's canal city par excellence (and, yes, "the Venice of Japan" is a descriptor that crops up painfully often). In the past, the 470-odd-km network of waterways served agricultural and military purposes. But now they're primarily draw-cards for tourists. This is the most tourist-oriented place we've been to so far in Kyushu, and although the January trippers are not legion, you can imagine it all gets a bit intense in the other seasons.
These punt tours are very popular...
... not surprisingly, as the canals simply beg for photographs
We didn't boat, however. We walked. And the constantly alternating sunlight and grey skies enhanced Yanagawa's photogenic qualities still further:
Mihashira Shrine
Rice fields, even in the city
There's not a lot left of the castle
But there are other fine edifices. This is Ohana
Cute coffee stop
And then on to a wonderfully photogenic area on the edge of town
This is a city with distinguished literary connections. There's Haiku master Kyoshi Takahama, for example (1874-1959):
He visited Yanagawa, and composed the verse carved here. It's about a spreading ripple in the spring dawn...
There are more examples of his haiku here. Not being able to read Japanese, I realize I miss out on most of the beauty of haiku, but even so, they're poignant.
But Yanagawa is most famous for Hakushu Kitahara (1885-1942), "one of the most gifted and popular poets of his generation". (There are translations of his poems here, here, and here, and he is also noted for his translations of English-language nursery rhymes.)
Sadly shut on the day we visited, but this is the poet's birthplace
The Hakushu Kitahara memorial garden. Engraved here is one of his poems
This is part of the winding, canal-hugging route that Hakushu used to take to walk to school
I so regret my lack of Japanese when I come across these interesting people...
And here's an additional famous connection!
This was another very rewarding day out, full of interest.
Heading home...