Dazaifu & Yanagawa Travel Pass in Fukuoka

This is a great package deal! You can plan your own time to visit Dazaifu and take a boat tour in Yanagawa, so you won't feel rushed and can arrange everything yourself. I redeemed the tickets at the counter at Tenjin Station. After redeeming them, you just show them to the staff before entering the station. When you exit, the staff will tear off the corresponding ticket. It's very simple and easy to use. We planned to go to Dazaifu first to walk around. Even though it was under renovation, there were still many places to explore and see. You can also exchange for a local snack, Umegae Mochi, which was quite good – it has red bean paste! We didn't leave for Yanagawa until after 12:30 PM. First, we walked to eat at the famous, popular restaurant, Ganso Hon Yoshiya Unagi (eel rice). It would probably be difficult to fit this into your schedule if you weren't traveling independently, as there's a bit of a wait to get in, and then you also have to wait for your food once inside. We went after 1 PM and still had to wait. The restaurant has a very relaxed atmosphere, making you feel very comfortable and at ease, and the food was delicious! I think it was definitely worth it. After eating, taking the boat tour around 4 or 5 PM felt just right, not too hot. Plus, the scenery was beautiful, and we got to see the sunset in the evening. Overall, I think the tickets are very useful and I would recommend them to everyone!

You can choose to redeem your tickets at Nishitetsu Tenjin Station or Nishitetsu Yakuin Station. Tickets can only be redeemed and used on the same day. Upon arrival at Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station, there used to be a free shuttle bus to the boarding area. However, when I visited in June, the shuttle bus required a fee (additional ticket purchase). If you prefer to walk, it takes about 5-8 minutes to reach the boarding area. Boats depart as soon as they are full. The boatman will describe the scenery and buildings along the way, and occasionally sing a few songs. Some boatmen provide commentary entirely in Japanese, while others mix Japanese and English. Whether you're going to Yanagawa or Dazaifu, there are often special sightseeing trains, the Tabibito and Suito, available at certain times. You'll need to check their official websites for schedules. Once you arrive at Dazaifu, you can use the Umegae Mochi exchange coupon on the far left of your ticket to redeem it at participating stores. Remember to ask the store before redeeming, as not all stores participate. If you don't plan to eat it immediately, you can also ask for it to go. The shopping street around Dazaifu is definitely worth exploring. If the Ichiran Ramen line is too long, you can head to Danbo Ramen, diagonally across from the station, to satisfy your craving. The Dazaifu Pudding across from the station has a very rich milky flavor, and the slightly bitter caramel perfectly balances the sweetness. Additionally, there are stores like Sumikko Gurashi and Ghibli, as well as the famous wooden Starbucks designed by Kengo Kuma, which is perfect for a quick photo and a refreshing summer drink. The shopping street typically closes between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Don't worry about missing a train back to Tenjin or Yakuin, as services are very frequent!

The package deal is very practical. You can purchase the package on KLOOK on the same day and exchange it for physical tickets at either the Nishitetsu Tenjin South or North exit. Show the physical ticket when entering the station, and a staff member will tear off the ticket upon exit to validate it. There was about a 40-minute wait to board the boat at Yanagawa, likely due to the large number of visitors during cherry blossom season. The cherry blossoms at the boarding area are beautiful, and the boatman sang 1-2 songs along the way, creating a serene atmosphere. The unagi (eel) rice bowl isn't the best value for money, but it's still worth trying. You can redeem plum blossom mochi at many shops. Overall, I highly recommend this package; it made for a wonderful memory.

Upon arriving at Tenjin to pick up the tickets, after showing the voucher, the staff will ask for the usage date and number of people. Their service attitude is excellent, so remember to keep your tickets safe. As soon as we arrived in Yanagawa, someone immediately asked if we were there for the boat ride, and we followed the staff to the shuttle bus. The whole process was very smooth. The weather for the boat ride was fantastic and very comfortable; those sensitive to the sun should definitely wear a hat. The boatman conversed with us using his limited English, which was very entertaining. The songs he sang seemed to be famous tunes, as the melodies felt familiar, but besides Doraemon, I really didn't know the names of the songs 😂. Afterward, we went to Dazaifu to get some Umegae Mochi, which was hot and fragrant. My family thoroughly enjoyed the entire trip! 🥳

This pass was a great way to experience Yanagawa and Dazaifu. The bunting was the best experience, especially since it was beginning of spring and cherry blossoms can be seen hanging over the canals! Beautiful sight. Dazaifu also has lots of cherry blossoms to see and also many desserts to taste. Great experience indeed.

Finding the ticket pick-up location at Nishitetsu Tenjin Station took a little time (the linked photo of the pick-up location on Klook wouldn't open). Once I got the ticket, it was easy to get to Yanagawa Station. As soon as you exit the station, there's a free shuttle bus to the place where you can take a boat ride in Yanagawa. The boatmen mostly give explanations in Japanese, but you can feel their enthusiasm. Their singing is loud and pleasant to listen to, the scenery is beautiful, and since it was cold, they thoughtfully provided large blankets to use. After getting off the boat, you can go eat authentic and delicious eel rice nearby, and then walk a short distance to take the shuttle bus back to the station. Then take the train to Dazaifu Station and stroll around Tenmangu Shrine. Use the ticket to redeem a delicious ume ga mochi (plum blossom rice cake). The shops on Omotesando Street start closing around 5:00 PM (Ichiran and Starbucks are open later), so you should leave early to have enough time to explore.

This package deal is incredibly convenient! With just one ticket, you can enjoy a boat ride in Yanagawa and visit Dazaifu, departing from Fukuoka Tenjin Station. Transportation through the manned counter was smooth, and you can even redeem a delicious Umegae Mochi in Dazaifu. It's truly excellent value for money.

It was easy to exchange tickets (at Yakuin Station). We took a train from Yakuin Station to Yanagawa at 8:30 AM. As soon as we exited the station, staff directed us to the shuttle bus. The boat tour lasted almost an hour, and after the ride, we had eel rice at 11:00 AM.

We recommend purchasing this ticket if you're planning to visit Yanagawa and Dazaifu! It includes round-trip transportation from Fukuoka city center and the boat ride in Yanagawa. You can also redeem it for a Umegae Mochi. However, the Yanagawa route is different in the summer, and the boat ride is only 40 minutes (though 40 minutes can feel long when it's hot! 🤣). You can also visit the nearby Mameshiba Cafe.

This time, I exchanged my ticket at Nishitetsu Yakuin Station and boarded the train on the day of travel. Upon arrival at Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station, there were staff members to guide us, and a shuttle bus was available right outside the station. After the boat ride, it was convenient to walk back to the station after having lunch in town. The official recommendation of visiting Yanagawa in the morning and Dazaifu in the afternoon is excellent!