We indulged in a very luxurious experience on this trip. The destination of this journey is Oka in Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture. I had been curious about Oka since my previous stroll in Yanagawa. Going back to 1587, Tachibana Muneshige became the first lord of Yanagawa. After siding with the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara, he was stripped of his title, but in 1621, he returned to Yanagawa as the lord once again. The 5th lord moved a part of the Nino Maru that had become cramped to this location, creating a place called Oka Hatake where families lived and used boats to cross the moat. In the Meiji era, the 14th lord held the title of Count and developed Western-style buildings and gardens that were in vogue. Later, the 16th lord used the buildings as a ryokan and restaurant, which continues to this day. And now, the 18th lord has inherited the estate, and the Tachibana Residence in Yanagawa, Oka, stands here. The 7,000-tsubo estate is designated as a national scenic spot, and the museum on the grounds displays numerous items, including a national treasure, while the large hall overlooking the garden is very pleasant, and you can really stay there for a long time. This time, I enjoyed the special Oka Maiko Noh performance with an overnight stay, which was a one-time event this year. I used to go to the Maiko Noh at the Heian Shrine often, but due to the coronavirus and the heavy rain on the day I planned to go this year, I hesitated to leave the house and gave up. It's been a while since I've seen Noh. It's luxurious to be guided through the estate and museum by the current lord himself, and Maiko Noh, which is performed as part of the samurai family's upbringing, is easy for beginners to understand with a lecture in the splendid space of the stage set up in the large hall with the tatami mats removed and the spacious garden. The performance was the climax of "Atsumori". Lighting candles and the resounding sound of the Noh flute... Afterwards, we had a meal in the building next door where we could see the garden. We enjoyed various dishes inspired by Atsumori and the Tale of the Heike. The seasoning was just right, and the conversation was lively and delicious. The final meal was steamed eel on a bamboo steamer. The fluffy eel with delicious sauce on top of rice. The Tachibana family has been involved in agriculture since the Meiji era, and the mandarin orange juice from their mandarin orchard was delicious. The breakfast was also luxurious. In a room facing the garden that used to be a living room. A salad with mentaiko, a warm egg with grilled salmon, and yudofu with yuba in a seaweed soy sauce. A piece of delicious seaweed from the Ariake Sea, as is! The delicious seaweed made me eat more rice than usual. Watching the boats on the moat beyond the trees in the garden, it makes you not want to leave.

After enjoying a boat ride down the Yanagawa River, we visited this place nearby. The steamed eel in a steamer (top) was very tender, and the rice was cooked with sauce, giving it a soaked color. Although it looked salty, it was surprisingly light. It was delicious.

The food at the renowned restaurant Goka in Yanagawa was delicious, with a variety of dishes such as corn appetizer, octopus with okra, and eel. After the meal, taking a night boat ride on the moat in front of the hotel was truly enchanting and lovely. Enjoying fireworks and Japanese sake on the boat under the moonlight was a magical experience. The boatman's guided tour of Yanagawa's streets at night was a luxurious and unforgettable experience. Highly recommended for a special evening.

The owner of the Yanagawa domain residence, "Gohana" has transformed the estate into a restaurant and inn after the war, which continues to this day. Yanagawa has many restaurants serving eel steamed over rice, with a rich history. Originally a feudal lord, they prefer to serve eel with the back cut rather than the belly cut, as seppuku is considered unlucky. I tried the Eel Steamed over Rice (regular) for 3,630 yen at the restaurant "Shukkeitei" Dining. The dish consists of eel grilled and steamed on top of rice with sauce, with three pieces of muscular eel due to the high price. However, the rice becomes clumped together after being steamed twice, which was disappointing. Despite the generous portion, this was a downside. Thank you for the meal.

I had to try the eel in Yanagawa at least once! The eel is steamed and served with a golden sauce, and the rice is blackened with sauce, but it's not too heavy and can be enjoyed deliciously. There are many famous restaurants, but today I went to Gohana, which was the residence of a feudal lord. It was delicious!

Located in Yukuhashi City, Fukuoka Prefecture, this ryokan is managed by the former feudal lord of the Yanagawa domain, the "Tachibana clan," which ruled over 110,000 koku (a unit of wealth in feudal Japan). It is conveniently situated near the goal of a boat tour down the river from Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station, making it a popular tourist spot. I made a reservation and visited the Shukeitei restaurant. As I entered through the gate, I was impressed by the spacious grounds and tranquil atmosphere. Upon informing the staff of my reservation, I was escorted to a glass-walled seat with a great view. I enjoyed a steamed premium eel dish and a non-alcoholic beverage. The container for the steamed eel featured the Tachibana family crest, "Gionmori," which was quite cool. When I opened the lid, the steamed eel was piping hot and fragrant. The sauce was light, allowing the chewy texture of the steamed rice to shine through. The rolled omelette also paired well with the dish. The view of the garden was also stunning, making it a wonderful dining experience. Thank you for the delicious meal. I also had the opportunity to explore the guesthouse built in the style of the Karameteikan, known as the "Western-style building," as well as the designated national scenic spot, Matsutaoen garden, and the 100-tatami "Daihiroba" room overlooking the garden. It was fascinating to learn about the history behind these structures.

As a guest staying at the hotel, I enjoyed the eel dishes, sashimi, and grilled beef, all of which were very delicious. There was also something like a pickled dish that looked like it was from a cartoon, but it was surprisingly tasty. Dining in a private room with a view of the garden felt very luxurious, and I think it's better to dine with two people rather than alone. I would love to sit and eat facing the garden. Eating sherbet on the veranda was amazing.

The review will be long, so I will upload it in 2 parts. Dinner is served at the restaurant on the 1st floor. Infection prevention measures: ○ (hand sanitizer available, masks worn, social distancing, ventilation) The social distancing is well maintained, so the staff seem far away. When I looked at the drink menu, I was immediately asked, "Have you decided?" and when I asked for a moment, they came back asking again 2 minutes later. A bit rushed. The menu for the day is detailed, which is nice. The appetizer was a mackerel vinegar-marinated yam and seaweed roll with needle vegetables and vinegar. The presentation was nice, and the flavors were good. The next course arrived even though I hadn't finished half of the first one. The speed of service was a bit too fast. The sashimi course was tuna and swordfish, both with a nice texture and flavor. The soup course was inspired by moon viewing, with tofu and various vegetables. The flavors were good, but the soup seemed a bit slimy, possibly pre-made. The simmered dish was a turnip steamed with sea bream, which had a nice fluffy texture but was served cold. The grilled dish was grilled Spanish mackerel with yuzu, eggplant, and fried tofu. Unfortunately, it was also cold. The following courses were served at a more normal pace, which was a relief. The clam and abalone soup with baked pie was served hot and had a good flavor. The roast beef dish was average, and the eel mini steamed dish was tasty. The dessert was moon viewing dumplings, which were satisfying. The room was spacious and had a nice view of two gardens. The overall experience was good, but the speed of service and some cold dishes were disappointing.

Breakfast is served in the breakfast venue on the second floor. When seated, several dishes were already prepared. Salted salmon, rolled omelette, grated daikon radish, vegetable side dish, salad with a delicious dressing, simmered vegetables, carbonated tofu with seaweed soy sauce, grilled seaweed, seaweed condiment, spicy cod roe, and pickled seaweed were all served. The miso soup had fried tofu in it. The rice was of average quality but refillable. The breakfast menu consisted mostly of traditional dishes, with the addition of warm dishes like hot tofu. The portion size was sufficient. Since the Edo period, "Goka" has been the former residence of the Tachibana family, the feudal lords of Yanagawa. Guests can visit for free. Matsutaoen was established in 1910 by Count Kanji Tachibana. It is a garden surrounded by Japanese black pines, with a pond where you can enjoy the view from the tatami room. The garden features around 280 black pines, 1500 garden stones, and 14 stone lanterns. The large stones in the pond were said to be moved from the former castle's foundation stones. In winter, you can see wild ducks flocking on the islands and rocks in the pond. The main hall, built in 1909, retains the traditional Japanese architecture with a Western-style entrance. The 100-tatami "main hall" facing Matsutaoen can be converted into a Noh stage by removing the tatami mats. There was a beautiful Hina doll display and the famous Yanagawa "Sagemon" hanging decorative balls. I had always wanted to see the garden at "Goka," so it was a memorable experience.

*The restaurant is already registered under the name "Goka," but various travel sites and official websites of inns introduce it as a traditional inn under this name. There is a possibility of confusion regarding the usage fees and usage methods. It should be separately registered as an inn. Yukuhashi City in Fukuoka Prefecture is a castle town. The Tachibana family has owned 109,000 koku of land since the heroic figure, Munemasa. Even now, there are white-walled buildings from the Edo period and the lord's villa. Furthermore, there are memorials dedicated to local poets and novelists scattered around the area. Not to mention the charming boat tours around the moat. This time, we visited Yukuhashi for sightseeing. Compared to the major cities in Kyushu such as Hakata, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, Yukuhashi is a relatively modest presence. There are no hot springs, no historic sites from the end of the Edo period. However, it has a unique charm such as boat tours around the moat and steamed eel in a steamer. Furthermore, the 5th lord, Sadatsugu, relocated his villa within the grounds of Yukuhashi Castle and developed the garden "Shotoen" during the Meiji period. This is now the "Tachibana Residence Goka" that has a garden which is unprecedented in the country. Goka also has a museum related to the Tachibana clan and a Western-style building that was once a reception hall. Upon check-in, first visit the buildings and gardens. The harmonious blend of Japanese and Western styles inside is truly magnificent, exuding the dignity of a daimyo family. It is both a restaurant inn and a cultural property. Yukuhashi, a top tourist destination, is always bustling with activity. In addition to boat tours around the moat, weddings are also popular. This time, we stayed overnight in a Western-style twin room. For dinner, we had steamed eel from Wakamatsuya. After returning to the inn, we also enjoyed the garden's illumination, which was truly fantastical and beautiful. It is a quiet area, so we were able to sleep soundly. For breakfast, we enjoyed a feast of seafood from both the mountains and the sea, including salmon, grilled chicken, simmered daikon, salad, miso soup, mentaiko, nori from the Ariake Sea, and tofu hot pot. It is sure to become an even more popular spot in the future. Location, facilities, service, cuisine, tourist spots - everything is perfect! I highly recommend it.

After enjoying a river cruise, we had lunch at Gohana. We used the special set ticket from Nishitetsu (Delicious Ticket), which includes round-trip tickets from Nishitetsu Tenjin to Yanagawa and lunch, making it quite a good deal. The food is from an original menu, with a variety of dishes such as steamed eel and rare delicacies from the Ariake Sea. While gazing at the beautiful Matsutaoen and the elegant boats cruising down the moat, we enjoyed our meal in a relaxed atmosphere. After eating, we strolled around Matsutaoen, a breathtakingly beautiful garden.

To enter here, there is an admission fee of 700 yen for adults. In return, you can see the inner garden and the adjacent museum. The main dish is eel steamed in a bamboo steamer, but there are also other options like loach hot pot and roast beef bowl. The prices are on the higher side. This time, I recommend the set menu. It was around 4,200 yen. The set included eel steamed in a bamboo steamer (3 pieces), pickles, pickled vegetables, and a soup with eel liver. Eel is really delicious, isn't it? (^ ^)

This time, the most famous place in Yanagawa City? I have been using it for work every year, but this is probably the first time I'm writing a review. I didn't have high expectations for the food, but this time there was surprisingly a lot of it! Maybe it's because of the pricing? Dish after dish keeps coming out. The taste is average, I think, and the variety of dishes is decent. Now, there's even high-priced eel steamed in a bamboo steamer included. There are no photos, but there were also desserts and cakes included. In this historically significant area, the feeling of satisfaction is decent for this price. In the past, it would have been impossible to eat at such a place. My impression is that as a commoner, I was able to experience the best feeling.

After enjoying a river cruise in Yanagawa, we had lunch here. This place is called O-Hana, which used to be a separate residence for feudal lords. You can also walk around the garden. On that day, a wedding was taking place in the grand hall. It's a very beautiful building. You can have lunch in the dining area. "Please enjoy your meal while reading the instructions," they said. We were served three small dishes and pickles. Each dish was delicious. First, they lit the Yanagawa pot. Once it boiled, we were supposed to add beaten eggs. It contained burdock, loach, shiitake mushrooms, and more. The loach fins were a bit difficult to eat. Overall, it was sweet and savory, very tasty. By the time we finished the Yanagawa pot, the steamed eel in a bamboo steamer arrived. It had two pieces of eel and shredded omelette on top. The eel was well soaked in sauce. A sheet of Ariake seaweed was also served. It was a bit thick but delicious. It was tasty on its own and even better when wrapped with the rice from the steamer. For dessert, we had oranges and pineapples. The pineapple was sweet and delicious. Thank you for the meal. After the meal, we visited the Japanese-style garden and the interior of the building. We couldn't enter the grand hall as a wedding reception was taking place. The corridor leading to the Western-style house had Hina dolls displayed. The building was impressive and enjoyable to explore.

In December 2018, after finishing the boat ride in Yanagawa, we went to Goka-san right near the final station. We didn't have much time, so we couldn't see the garden, but we had eel and steak at Shukkeitei. I can't eat eel, so I had the steak, which was delicious with plenty of vegetables. The luxurious Unaju, made with a whole eel, was steamed in a bamboo steamer, making it fluffy. The rice was also delicious, soaked well in the sauce. The rice was so tasty!

I enjoyed a delicious meal of steamed eel at a room overlooking the garden at Shotoen. The view was amazing, and the tender eel was delightful. The beer was also delicious. It was a pleasant experience to dine slowly at the historic Tachibana residence.

We indulged in a little luxury and went to have lunch at Goen with two people. Goen is a separate residence of the Tachibana family, who ruled the Yanagawa domain of 110,000 koku, and the entire 7,000 tsubo site is designated as a national scenic spot "Tachibana-shi Garden". There are several dining options at Goen, but this time we used Shukeitei Dining, which we had reserved in advance, so we were able to enter smoothly. The restaurant is styled in a modern Japanese and stylish manner. There were two women in kimono as hall staff. Their service, from guiding us to the table to serving the food, was excellent. The quality of their service was, in a sense, more than worth the price. We were able to enjoy a service and atmosphere that was a step or two above our usual meals. We ordered the October limited edition mini kaiseki "Autumn Breeze". First, we were served with "Seasonal Ohitashi" as an appetizer, followed by various appetizers on one plate. The plate included 'Shiraae, Agemono, Duck rolled with grilled green onions, Lily root manju, Matsutake sushi, Kampachi and Tai sashimi'. When ingredients like duck and matsutake appear, you can really feel the autumn. Each dish was just a bite or two, but the appearance and the elaborate details in each dish showed the enthusiasm of the kitchen. Especially the sashimi. The Kampachi was seasoned with sesame sauce, and the Tai was seasoned with kombu, without using soy sauce. Both were delicious. The simmered dish was 'Kabura steamed with mackerel'. The topping of crab meat added a sense of luxury. The grilled dish was 'Bou leaf miso grilled'. The Bou leaf container also added an extraordinary feeling. The main dish included pork belly, autumn eggplant, ginkgo nuts, and autumn leaf fu. The rice to finish was 'Mushroom rice' that evoked the feeling of autumn. The 'Akadashi' soup had autumn eggplant as an ingredient. The smooth and bouncy texture was delightful. The dessert was 'Yamamomo jelly'. All this for a price of 3,564 yen (including tax and service charge). From Shukeitei Dining, you can't see the famous garden of Goen, "Shotoen", but with all these visually appealing dishes, you won't feel any lack. They also offer the famous eel dish of Yanagawa, but if I were to revisit, I might ask for the mini kaiseki again. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.