Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station 西鉄柳川駅, Dazaifu and Yanagawa Sightseeing Ticket 太宰府.柳川観光きっぷ

Yanagawa Station, on Tenjin Omuta line.
This train station is the gateway to Yanagawa, the city of waterways.

Nishitetsu Tenjin > Yanagawa 

- takes approx. 48 mins by limited express train;
- takes approx 106 mins by local train.

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Dazaifu and Yanagawa Sightseeing Ticket 太宰府.柳川観光きっぷ

-  If you plan to visit both Dazaifu and Yanagawa, I will recommend this sightseeing ticket offered by Nishitetsu. Priced at 2,930 yen (adults), this ticket can be purchased from both Nishitetsu Tenjin and Yakuin Station. At Nishitetsu Tenjin Station, the ticket counter is located on the second floor, just outside the North Ticket Gate.
- This package includes:

• Nishitetsu train round trip ticket
• Typical route taken: Tenjin/Yakuin > Yanagawa/Dazaifu > Dazaifu/Yanagawa > Tenjin/Yakuin
• With this ticket, you can only alight/board at Tenjin/Yakuin, Yanagawa and Dazaifu Station which are all operated by Nishitetsu. 
• What makes this ticket more attractive is that it can be used over a period of two days. Therefore, one can opt for the following itinerary to explore both places more extensively:
• Day 1: Tenjin > Yanagawa; Stay over in Yanagawa for the night
• Day 2: Yanagawa > Dazaifu > Tenjin
• Visited Yanagawa in the day and left after 3 pm. Though I completed the river punting earlier in the day, I visited two other cafes/restaurants after that which explained why a huge portion of the day was spent in Yanagawa. When I reached Dazaifu, I didn't have much time to explore the area sufficiently as it was nearing the closing hour of the shrine and shops. Could have managed my time better. 

Ferried to the river punting boarding point by bus. 

• River punting ticket in Yanagawa
• Upon reaching Yanagawa Station, make your way to punting information desk which is located along a row of shop houses on the right side of the train station (after exiting from the train station).  
• A bus will disembark in front of the information desk to ferry river punting passengers to the boarding point, Shogetsu Punting Station (松月乗船場).
• River cruise takes about an hour or so. 
• Special discount coupons such as
• 50 yen discount on admission fee to Ohana Villa in Yanagawa
• 50 yen discount on Yangawa Nishitetsu taxi
• 100 yen discount on steamed eel rice - restricted to Rokkyu (民芸茶屋六騎) and Unagi no Fuki (うなぎの富貴) restaurant. 
• Rokkyu: http://www.yanagawakk.co.jp/rokkyu.html
• Unagi no Fuki: http://unaginofuuki.com/
• 100 yen discount on admission fee to Dazaifu Amusement Park
• 100 yen discount on bicycle rental at Dazaifu Station

Website (Japanese): http://www.ensen24.jp/kippu/1/; (English) http://www.nnr.co.jp/train/kippura/global/english/ticket/i_dazayana.html