Little Edo Sawara boat tour — Attraction in Katori

We visited in early October 2024, and it was scorching hot. We arrived around noon, but the water level was too low, so we had to wait about an hour before we could board. If you’re planning to visit, make sure to reserve in advance!

To kill time, we grabbed lunch at Tonkatsu & Ramen HANAYOSHI, which I highly recommend. It’s just a three-minute walk from the boat tour—check out my review for it!

When we returned, we filled out some forms, put on life vests, and got ready to go. Some boatmen wore traditional outfits, while others didn’t. They shared historical facts about the Sawara waterway, but everything was in Japanese, so if you don’t understand the language, just enjoy the views!

The boat ride costs around 1000 yen per person and lasts 30 minutes round-trip. If you want to avoid the heat, I’d recommend going either 9–10 AM or 2–3 PM. The last boat ride is at 3 PM.

The scenery was stunning, with lots of traditional shops and restaurants along the way. If you love red spider lilies, you’ll see them everywhere—lining the roads, decorating restaurants, and more. We also saw kids on a school field trip, and most of our fellow passengers were seniors.

Overall, a really fun experience! If I could do it again, I’d pick a cooler...

We took the Little Edo Sawara boat tour and it was such a great experience. We caught the last boat of the day around 4 PM, and even though we didn’t speak the language, the staff were very accommodating and tried their best to explain the historic sights and passages we were floating through. The atmosphere was peaceful, the views along the old canals were beautiful, and it felt like stepping back in time.

What stood out was how family-friendly it was—our toddler loved it, and it was no problem with the stroller since you can leave it by the office and they’ll have it ready for you when you get back. The ride was smooth, safe, and very affordable, making it an easy must-do if you’re in Sawara.

Pro tips: • Go for the late afternoon ride (around 4 PM) for calmer vibes and softer light for photos. • Affordable tickets—bring a little cash since some kiosks don’t take card. • Toddler/stroller-friendly → just leave your stroller at the office before boarding. • Don’t worry if you don’t speak Japanese, the boat guides are kind and will still make the experience fun...

【佐原の町並み】

千葉県は北総香取市にある佐原の町並みは、江戸時代の中頃に栄えた河港商業都市。 小野川沿いの両側に築100年以上の歴史的建造物や江戸時代から続く商家が並び、見事な景観を形成、歴史情緒溢れる町並みは「重要伝統的建造物群保存地区」に指定されている。

また、小野川を有料で遊覧出来る「小江戸さわら舟めぐり」では船頭さんが佐原の歴史、名物などを教えてくれる。

先の大戦の関東大空襲で焦土となり貴重な建物が失った中、ここ佐原の町並みは現存しており、関東圏では貴重な存在と言えるでしょう。

The townscape of Sawara

The townscape of Sawara, located in Hokuso Katori City in Chiba Prefecture, is a river port commercial city that flourished in the middle of the Edo period. Historical buildings more than 100 years old and merchant houses from the Edo period line both sides of the Ono River, forming a splendid landscape, and the townscape full of historical atmosphere has been designated as an "Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

The "Koedo Sawara Boat Tour," which allows visitors to tour the Ono River for a fee, features boatmen who will tell you about Sawara's history and local specialties.

While the town was scorched to the ground and valuable buildings were lost in the air raids of World War II, the townscape of Sawara here has survived and is a valuable presence in the...