Lake Ezu, Kumamoto The Last Princess' Boat Journey

About
Lake Ezu & Kenkoin

Twenty minutes by car from central Kumamoto lies Lake Ezu, where some 580,000 tons of spring water from the underground streams of Aso well up every day. A yakatabune boat company founded in 1877 still sails here today.

On the shore of this lake stood the residence where the last princess of the Hosokawa family spent her final years. Kenkoin (Princess Masu), who married into the Hosokawa family from the Hiroshima domain, moved to the Hosokawa residence at Sunatori in 1874 and passed away here the following year.

The journey follows the path she once walked. Stroll Suizenji Jojuen, the Hosokawa family garden, pause for tea at Kokin-Denju-no-Ma, and stand at the waterside of the residence site. Then board the yakatabune. First you see the view the princess saw; then you float on that very lake yourself. The order itself is the design of this experience.

On board, we serve the "Kenkoin Gozen," created for this boat by local Restaurant KOKYO, paired with Zuiyo sake, including Tohi Akazake, a red sake brewed only in Higo (Kumamoto) for 400 years.

Story
The Story of Kenkoin

A Hosokawa Princess

Kenkoin

Kenkoin was born in 1806, the daughter of the lord of the Hiroshima domain, and became the wife of Hosokawa Narimori, the tenth lord of the Kumamoto domain. Accomplished in calligraphy, waka poetry and flower arrangement, she lived through the turmoil at the end of the Edo period as the wife of the ruling house.

In the Meiji era, Kenkoin moved to the Hosokawa residence at Sunatori on the shore of Lake Ezu. To the south of the house lay a wide pond filled with spring water, and it is said she spent her days gazing at its surface.

No knowledge of history is needed. The feel of the kimono, the views of the garden, the breeze across the lake: what you take in through your five senses becomes your doorway into Kenkoin's story.

Portrait of Kenkoin (wife of Hosokawa Narimori), collection of the Eisei Bunko Museum

Plans
Four Plans

From a daytime stroll through the garden in kimono to a sunset banquet and a misty morning lake,
each time of day reveals a different side of Lake Ezu.

PLAN 1Daytime

The Last Princess Experience

Kimono, the Hosokawa garden, and a boat on Lake Ezu

• Approx. 5 hrs
• Up to 8 guests
• ¥65,000

PLAN 2Daytime

A Boat on Lake Ezu: The Princess' Table

Spring water, and lunch aboard a yakatabune

• Approx. 3 hrs
• Up to 20 guests
• ¥30,000

PLAN 3Sunset

The Last Princess' Banquet: Sunset and Higo Sake

Sunset on the lake, and 400 years of sake

• Approx. 4 hrs
• Up to 20 guests
• ¥50,000

PLAN 4Early morning

Dawn on Lake Ezu: A Misty Morning Cruise

Morning mist, and breakfast on the boat

• Approx. 2.5 hrs
• Up to 20 guests
• ¥20,000

All prices are per person, tax included.

Information
General Information

Partners
The People Behind This Experience

Ezuko Kanko Eto Boat House

Founded in 1877. Operates the yakatabune on Lake Ezu and carries on the lake's boating culture.

Restaurant KOKYO

A restaurant on the shore of Lake Ezu. Creates the "Kenkoin Gozen" for this boat.

NPO Discovery Kumamoto

Provides multilingual guides at Suizenji Jojuen and the residence site.

Gofuku no Mito

A kimono shop on the Suizenji approach. Provides kimono rental and dressing for Plan 1.

Zuiyo Co., Ltd.

A Kumamoto sake brewery. Supplies Tohi Akazake, the traditional red sake of Higo, and the sake served on board.

Kumamoto Prefecture Travel Agency Cooperative

Plans, sells and operates the tours.

Contact
Booking & Inquiries

To book, please use the "Book This Plan" button for each plan.

Contact: Kumamoto Prefecture Travel Agency Cooperative +81-96-234-8943