Itako: Traditional Hand-Rowed Boat Ride on the Maekawa Canal

For centuries, Itako was a waterside town where daily life moved by boat. From the Kamakura period onward it served as a relay point for river freight bound for Edo (present-day Tokyo), and it later flourished as a lively entertainment quarter. Surrounded by water on three sides, residents once travelled almost everywhere by boat.

This 30-minute cruise takes you along the Maekawa Canal in a sappa boat, the traditional hand-rowed wooden boat that nearly every local family once owned. Your boatman propels the boat with a single long oar from the stern; the quiet creak of the oar and the slow pace of the water set the tone for the ride. The route passes the Maekawa Iris Garden and a long avenue of willows that trail toward the water.

• - Ride a traditional hand-rowed sappa boat through the water town of Itako
• - Try rowing with the boatman's guidance (optional)
• - Cruise past the Maekawa Iris Garden and willow-lined banks
• - Stay warm in winter aboard a kotatsu boat

Tsugaru Kashi Ato Hiroba boat landing

• Boat ride on a traditional hand-rowed sappa boat
• Sightseeing commentary from the boatman
• Rowing instruction (on request)
• Photos taken for you on request
• Life jackets and other safety equipment
• Transportation to and from the meeting point
• Food and drinks on board

• Please wear non-slip shoes.
• The boat operates in light rain, and umbrellas may be used on board.
• Cruises are cancelled in heavy rain or storms. Strong winds may also lead to cancellation even without rain or snow.
• During the Itako Iris Festival (late May–mid June), the area is at its busiest.