In July 2016, I received a gift from a friend who went to Yamaguchi and Fukuoka. It's the "Harimaya River Boating Senbei" bought in Yanagawa, Fukuoka. When I visited Yanagawa before, it was raining so I couldn't go boating, but I had steamed dishes and Yanagawa hot pot at "Goka" restaurant. The "River Boating Senbei" is a typical souvenir from Yanagawa, shaped like the Donko boat used for river boating in Yanagawa. The senbei has three people stamped on it: a boatman steering the Donko boat with willow and bamboo poles, and a customer wearing a cool umbrella. I tried it immediately. It's like a type of egg senbei. The dough is made with plenty of eggs, honey, butter, and local wheat flour ground by a water mill, giving it a crispy texture and a good chewiness. It has a gentle sweetness and tastes delicious. You can easily snack on it. Thank you for the meal!

On the morning of the final day of the trip on July 17, 2016, I enjoyed a "river cruise" in Yukuhashi, a water town that I hadn't visited in over 20 years. After a delicious breakfast at the inn "Ryokan Akune" on the second day, I took a leisurely 70-minute ride on a boat from the nearby "Shogetsu Pier" to the "Okihata Pier," listening to the entertaining stories and songs of the boatman. For lunch at 11 o'clock, I indulged in the famous Yukuhashi dish of "steamed eel in a steamer" and then visited the "Suiten Shrine" while strolling around the moat. I also made a quick stop at the hand-baked rice cracker shop "Harimaya Honpo," where I bought the popular "river cruise rice crackers" as a souvenir for a friend. These rice crackers are shaped like the boat used for the river cruise, with the image of three customers and a boatman with a unique umbrella printed on them. I also purchased the "seaweed rice crackers," which are made with rare and fresh seaweed harvested from the Ariake Sea. These rice crackers, made with wheat flour, sugar, eggs, butter, peanuts, sesame, miso, ginger, and seaweed, are crispy and flavorful, making them a delicious snack to enjoy with tea.

I am casually strolling around Yanagawa City. Speaking of Yanagawa City! It's the hometown of the sumo wrestler Kotoshogiku! ( ´∀`)/~~ He recently won the championship, the first Japanese-born wrestler to do so in 10 years since Tochinoshin. Sumo is truly a national sport, and it's great to support Japanese wrestlers. Kotoshogiku, also known as "Kiku-chan," is a local hero from Yanagawa and the city is bustling with celebrations. One of the small specialties of Yanagawa City is the "Harimaya River Rafting Senbei" shop located near the rafting pier. The shop is known for its "Nyanko-chan," a few round and chubby cats with beautiful fur that welcome you. The owner then offers a sample to try. The senbei is crispy and delicious! The owner mentions that they use a lot of butter, sugar, and eggs in it. It's a high-calorie treat, but it's tasty. I liked it. The Harimaya River Rafting Senbei costs 500 yen for 13 pieces. They are individually wrapped and have a crispy texture. The senbei has a unique imprint of the Yanagawa River rafting scene. It's slightly firm and packed with butter and eggs, making it delicious but a bit on the pricey side, typical of tourist attractions. It's a souvenir with a nostalgic feel from a tourist destination. It's a delicious senbei that instantly reminds you of a trip to Yanagawa. The cats at the shop are all strays that have become accustomed to being fed. It's recommended for cat lovers. (^-^)/

This is a senbei (rice cracker) shop located in Okibaru-cho, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Okibaru-cho is a charming area with a nostalgic atmosphere, known for being the starting point of Yanagawa's river cruises, as well as for landmarks such as the birth home of Kitahara Hakushu and the former feudal lord's residence "Goka." This shop is situated near the heart of this area. While there are several senbei shops in the vicinity, the "Kawakudari Senbei" (river cruise senbei) here is highly recommended. The crescent-shaped senbei features symbols of Yanagawa such as river cruise boats, boatmen, and willow trees. The crispy senbei is made with peanuts and honey, resulting in a delicious flavor. It's easy to end up eating too much of it! Recently, there have been various variations of senbei flavors available, including ones with seaweed. When visiting Yanagawa, in addition to eel, I recommend trying the senbei as well.

At the end of the street, there is an old rice cracker shop that has been in business for a long time. I was drawn to the shop by the beckoning cats. The rice crackers, stubbornly baked by a skilled craftsman, are delicious. In front of the shop, a kind lady takes care of the cats welcoming visitors. A bag of rice crackers costs 550 yen. There are various flavors available, but I bought the regular one and the ginger-flavored one. They are not too sweet, crispy, and have a simple yet delicious taste, similar to tile-shaped rice crackers. While I was tasting them, the cats at my feet were so adorable. There was a three-colored kitten born this year looking for a new owner. All the cats were friendly and cute. Just be careful with your car. This shop is a paradise for cat lovers. The rice crackers are also delicious, and it's nice that they are light.

In Yanagawa, there are two senbei shops, Yanagawa Bojo Senbei and Harimaya Kawakudari Senbei. Both are sweet wheat-based senbei with a strong egg aroma. They are similar in genre, but this one has a stronger, more fragrant bake. It has a distinct flavor profile. Perhaps because it was early in the morning, the lady gave us oranges as a service. It was quite refreshing and gave us energy during our journey. Thank you very much.