Yanagawa River Cruise in Fukuoka: Reservations Begin for a Special Plan to Enjoy Cocktails with a Top Bartender Aboard a Boat Amidst Cultural Heritage (Starting April 28)

Suigo Yanagawa Kanko (Headquarters: Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture / Representative Director: Shigemitsu Morita), which operates river cruise tourism in Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, will begin accepting reservations on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, for a special plan inviting Mr. Shuichi Nagatomo (Bar Oscar: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture), a top bartender who leads Fukuoka's bar scene and is active both domestically and internationally, to Yanagawa.

Click here to apply.

Three Luxurious Pleasures with the Ultimate Cocktail Experience

For 50 years, Suigo Yanagawa Kanko has been dedicated to providing enriching moments through its famous 'Donko-bune' river cruises. We will continue our efforts to deliver the charm of the region more deeply and broadly.

In this plan, the boat's appearance has been renewed, with high-back chairs for comfort and a single-piece table. This is a new style of Yanagawa river cruising for a luxurious time. Furthermore, we will deliver the ultimate cocktail experience at Ohanaya, a traditional restaurant that inherits the historical culture of a former daimyo family and count's family.

The details of the cocktails will be announced on the day, but one of them will be a limited-edition cocktail colored by a collaboration between freshly squeezed citrus from the Tachibana family's exclusive orchard 'Kikkouen' (the lords of Yanagawa Domain) and authentic spirits.

Main Gate: A pre-dinner drink at the guardhouse.
Traditional Restaurant: Seasonal kaiseki cuisine will be served.
Boat: Creative cocktails and koto performance.

17:00~ Aperitif (Main Gate Guardhouse)
The symbolic Western-style main gate. The experience begins with a specially reserved former 'gatekeeper's lodge (guardhouse)' where a pre-dinner drink will be served. Enjoy a creative cocktail by Mr. Nagatomo, setting a rich tone for the time ahead.

17:30~ Dinner (Ryotei Shukeitei)
Ohanaya's kaiseki cuisine, with each dish and bowl featuring local seasonal ingredients. In a guest room that was once the living room of the Tachibana Count family in the Meiji era, we will serve a course meal featuring ingredients with stories that Ohanaya wishes to pass on for a hundred years. Pairing drinks that maximize the flavor of the dishes will be offered.

19:00~ Boat (Ohanaya Circumference Course)
A tranquil night cruise on the moats. Board the boat with Mr. Nagatomo and savor creative cocktails after dinner. With a koto performance adding to the atmosphere, spend a time where fine drinks and beautiful melodies resonate.

Plan Overview

Reservation Start: Tuesday, April 28, 2026~

Experience Time: Approximately 17:00~19:40

Minimum Participants: 1 person (Maximum 4 people)

Meeting Place: Main Gate Guardhouse of Yanagawa Domain Lord Tachibana Residence Ohanaya (1 Shinmach, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

Basic Fee: 250,000 yen (tax included) *For 1 person. Additional fee for 2 or more people: 35,000 yen/person (tax included)

*For 2 people: 285,000 yen (tax included)

Application Method: Via official website or application form listed below (request reservation)

Optional: Transfer between Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station and the venue (free: pick-up/drop-off), arrangement of interpreter guide (paid)

Response to Rain:

River boat operations may be suspended due to weather. In such cases, you will enjoy creative cocktails by Mr. Nagatomo within the venue facilities.

Click here to apply.

Guest Message

I am very pleased to be able to host you in Yanagawa. Yanagawa, a historic castle town, is a tranquil sanctuary that the poet Hakushu Kitahara aptly described as 'the mother of my poetry.' On board, I hope you will experience the collaboration between us bartenders and koto performers with all five senses. There are no strict rules. Please relax and enjoy the flow of the water, the sound, and the taste of a single drink. I hope the moments born in this place will quietly accompany your travel memories.

Bartender: Shuichi Nagatomo
Owner of Bar Oscar (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture). After graduating from university, he apprenticed under Kazuo Ueda at Shiseido Parlour 'Bar L'Osier'. He is a highly skilled bartender with numerous awards in various cocktail competitions. Currently, while focusing on nurturing younger talent, he is also actively involved in guest shifts both in Japan and overseas.

Major Awards: 1994 Suntory The Cocktail Competition Whisky Category Winner. Beefeater International Bartenders Competition 1997 (London) Category Winner, 3rd place overall.
Chevalier de l'Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne.

Koto Performer: Haruna Sakaguchi
Master of the Ikuta-ryu Chikushikai. Began playing the koto at age 8. She has a wide repertoire from classical to contemporary works and has appeared in numerous concerts mainly in Fukuoka City. While valuing the traditional sound and profound expression of the koto, she actively performs to widely convey its charm. By familiarizing herself with the piano, she explores delicate and rich expressions that utilize both Japanese and Western musical perspectives. She also has a deep knowledge of cultural tastes such as Japanese tea and wine, and dearly loves the rich and diverse time created by music and taste.

Venue: Yanagawa Domain Lord Tachibana Residence Ohanaya
A traditional restaurant and inn where the descendants of the former Yanagawa Domain Lord Tachibana family continue to preserve their estate. Approximately 400 years of history.