[Japan's only! Tarai-bune experience on the river] Relax and enjoy a tub-shaped boat ride in Ogaki, the city of water

Just 30 minutes by train from Nagoya, Ogaki City, which retains the atmosphere of a castle town, offers a special experience where you can enjoy the pure flow of water. This is the popular event unique to this town rich in spring water: the Water City Ogaki Kitarai Boat.

Written by

Ogaki Tourism Association

Located in the center of Nishi Mino in the western part of Gifu Prefecture, Ogaki is blessed with an abundance of groundwater, so much so that it has long been known as the "City of Water." Known as the birthplace of haiku poet Matsuo Basho's travelogue "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," the town is also home to Ogaki Castle, which served as the base of Ishida Mitsunari's Western Army during the Battle of Sekigahara, and Sunomata Ichiya Castle, said to have been built in one night by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. From late March to May, the town is home to boat rides, tub boats, and the Ogaki Festival, which was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site in 2016.

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What is a tub boat? A historic experience based on the "Oamu Story"

Ogaki Castle was the base of Ishida Mitsunari's Western Army during the Battle of Sekigahara. Legend has it that after the battle, when the castle was on the verge of falling, Oamu, the daughter of Yamada Kyoreki, a vassal of Ishida Mitsunari, escaped in a tub.

View from the river - a one-of-a-kind tub boat experience

The "Tarai Bune, Ogaki, City of Water" was born from this "Oamu Story." It is still loved by many people today, and gives a sense of the history of the castle town of Ogaki.

The tub boat departs from the boarding point right next to the city-run Higashisotomachi parking lot and travels approximately 1.1 km in about 30 minutes to the disembarkation point at the ruins of Ogakifunamachi River Port, which is designated as a national scenic spot.

Dates: April 25th (Sat), 26th (Sun), 29th (Wed, national holiday) / May 2nd (Sat) - 6th (Wed, national holiday) 2026

Operating hours: Morning: 9:20/10:40/12:00 Afternoon: 13:40/15:00/16:20

Travel time: Approximately 30 minutes (one way)

Boat fare: 3,000 yen per boat

Number of tub boats: 24 per trip

Recommended points

Sado is famous for tub boats, but Ogaki is the only place in Japan where you can experience them on a river! Enjoy a special time leisurely cruising in a tub boat along the pure waters of the Suimon River.

The view of Ogaki, the water city, from the water is exceptional as it is enveloped in the warm spring weather. Why not experience the spectacular scenery that only the "water city" can offer, which is a little different from seeing the city on foot?

For reservations and details, click here

Click here for reservations and details about the Tarai Bune!

This popular spring event is perfect for sightseeing, dates, and family trips. Why not enjoy the charm of Ogaki, the city of water, while being rocked in a tub boat?

Written by

Ogaki Tourism Association

Gifu

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