Shimabara Spring Water Swimming Carp Streets

Well knownIn most guidebooks for this region — but rarely with the practical detail.

调查与撰写 Hinato

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长崎县 · Shimabara

32.7911°N, 130.3706°E

Shimabara City's residential streets flow with crystal-clear spring water emerging from underground volcanic aquifers below Mt. Unzen. The traditional water channels (shimabara no yusui) run alongside roads through the old samurai district, and residents have historically used these channels for drinking water, rice washing, and cooling vegetables. In the 1980s, the city introduced colored carp (nishikigoi) into the channels, creating the surreal sight of ornamental fish swimming through residential streets.

The main channel (Shimeisou Water Path) is 100m long with 1,500 carp in turquoise water flowing at walking speed. The water is 15°C year-round and emerges at 4,000 tons per day from the central spring source.

基本信息

营业时间

Open 24 hours | Best viewed 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM when sunlight illuminates the water

公休: Open year-round

门票

Free (carp streets and water channels) | Samurai house museums: ¥300/house | Kanzarashi sweets: ¥400 at teahouses

最佳季节

Year-round | Spring for clear light and comfortable walking | Summer for vibrant carp colors in bright water

建议停留

30–45 minutes (carp streets) | 90 minutes with samurai district and spring source visit

如何前往

交通信息

Shinmachi area, Shimabara City. Near Shimabara Station. The carp streets are free, open 24 hours. Best viewed 9:00–16:00 when sunlight illuminates the water.

独家私藏情报

**Water source visit:** The primary spring (Shimeisou) is accessible through a traditional Japanese house converted to a public spring house — visitors can drink the water directly from wooden ladles (bring your own bottle for takeaway). The spring house interior, with its dark wood beams and stone basin, has been unchanged since the Edo period. **Kanzarashi sweets:** Local specialty dessert served at spring water teahouses — white rice dumplings floating in cold spring water with brown sugar syrup. The dumplings are cooled in the actual spring water channels, creating a direct connection between the landscape and the food. ¥400 at teahouses along the water path. **Samurai district walk:** The water channels run through the former samurai residential area — several houses are preserved as museums (¥300 entry). The combination of spring water channels, white walls, and traditional gates creates one of the most photogenic traditional townscapes in Kyushu.

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