The experience of having to duck down so that the roof can be lowered was fun. We had the additional pleasure of having two volunteer guides from the Matsue Goodwill Guide Group to assist us in translation about the moat, castle, boats, and other information as we cruised around Matsue Castle for 50 minutes. (for contact information for the Matsue Goodwill Guide Group, go to the JNTO website, and search for "volunteer guides"). As it was December, we sat in the small boat around a kotatsu, a low wooden table draped by heavy futon, with a heat source underneath. It was warm and toasty inside the boat. We started off with 6 people in the boast (each boat can fit 10 passengers), which allowed us to stretch our legs under the table. However at a certain point in the ride, the boat took on 4 more people. At that point it was a little cramped, especially for my legs. Overall, an interesting and fun tour!

Small narrow boat that tours the canals surrounding the castle. Taking only about 10 people, as you have to lie almost flat when the roof is lowered to enable the boat to pass under the very low bridges. Quite a different experience, but well worth the mild discomfort. Take in the sights of the backwaters as the boat passes municipal buildings, roads and traditional houses as well as the trees and bushes that line the banks. May not be suitable for less able visitors.

This is a pleasant tour around the castle moat. Guests sit on the floor of a boat, with a roof that cranks down to pass under some of the lowest bridges! You will have to duck! That was actually a really entertaining part of the trip!

We were part of a group and it was great fun . Families will have great fun. They lower the roof of the boat to get under the lower bridges so you have to be able to hunker down. A great way to spend an hour going around the castle. The actual trip is 50 minutes but you can take a shortened trip of 30 minutes which you have to book in advance. If you show foreign Id the rate is ¥1200 adults and ¥600 children for the full tour.

The Tourist Information Centre just outside Matsue JR station recommended me to take this boat trip when in the Matsue Castle area. Unfortunately time constraints prevented me from doing this. The regular course took about an hour. Nevertheless during my walk towards Matsue castle I saw many of these pleasure boats passing by with very relaxed and happy people on board. The starting point it in the southeast corner of the castle location (you can hardly miss it when walking from the station). I am absolutely sure I will put this one on my program next time around when in Matsue again.

Providing you're ok to clamber into a low-slung boat and sit on the floor, this is a great experience. The roof of the boat is lowered (and you have to hunker down) to get under the lowest of the bridges. We really enjoyed the whole trip and would thoroughly recommend.

Show your passport for a foreigner's discount! Take off your shoes. It was a little rainy, so they put a tarp over our shoes. They practiced scrunching down, because they have to briefly lower the roof to get under some of the bridges. If they know that you need English, they play recorded descriptions of what you're seeing. We had lovely hydrangeas (ajisai) blooming along the waterway. Under one of the last and longest (widest?) bridges, the boat guide will sing! I didn't get it on video, so you should! There's a little mascot that's a water drop. It's also awesome for Pokemon Go (with a Gotcha), because there are lots of stops and you're going pretty slow. WOOT!

Interesting ride through the moats of Matsue Castle. You have to take off your shoes and since it was fairly chilly, they had kotatsu blankets to cover your legs and laps while you sat around on the floor around the table. My feet fell asleep and it felt crampy but it was worth it. Narration is mostly in Japanese but the boatman played recorded messages in English as often as possible which helpted. I lucked out as it was peak cherry blossom time so got to see different views around the castle. Visitors, don't forget to show your passport to get a discount!

松江の堀川めぐりは、屋根の下げあるボートで約50分間の楽しみがあります。お濠の周りの景色をガイドさんが紹介してくださり、途中で降りることもできます。冬もこたつがあり、暖かく楽しめます。おすすめです。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In a cold season, the Horikawa boat ride at canal surrounding Matsue castle is still interesting and comfortable fun ride with Kotatsu (Japanese foot warmer). Matsue city keeps the canal system build in Samurai period, about 400 years ago. The boat ride is about 50 minutes to look around the city of Matsue with the roof, which can lower to protect the passengers, with an interesting experience.

This sightseeing boat ride around Matsue is definitely one of a kind. The boat is only 8 meters long and 2 meters wide. You sit on the bottom of the boat and when going under very low bridges, the roof lowers. And it is low. you are actually laying down until you pass the low bridge. There are three boarding points. Thirteen Sights of interest along the way. The ride takes about 50 minutes. Foreign Tourist rates are 820 Yen per adult, 410 Yen for Child 6-12. Two preschool kids ride for the price of one child. About 10-12 total per boat. To get the foreign rate you have to present a foreign ID. Locals fares are higher at 1230 Yen and 610 Yen respectively. Operating hours are 900 to 1600 with slightly later closing hours Mar 1- Oct 10.

A well justified cruise, much more fun than I imagine before embarkation. We join at the pier adjoining to Matsue Castle. In the first 20 minutes, we cruise around the nice and beautiful greenery, with many traditional Japanese houses; offering you a different perspective to the city. The subsequent voyage, passing through many bridges, requires the lowering down of the cover of the boat, is another interesting and exciting experience. We also enjoy very much the songs sung by the boatman; he is very friendly, tries all the time to engage conversation and introduce the scenery with us.

The boat ride was undoubtedly the best part of my trip. The view from the water is unique and worth riding. It gets somewhat cramped as the boat goes under low bridges which require passengers to bend forward lowering heads to knees just like airplane crash positions. If you get claustrophobic it may be advisable not to try

Enjoyed this more than expected to. Nice scenery from boat, very peaceful. Hilarious when roof is lowered to go under bridges, had to lie almost flat on bottom of boat!. A good way to see scenery and have a bit of a rest too!

The people were very nice. Since I am from Korea, they turned on the Korean instructions so that I can also fully enjoy the tour. The tour was around 30 mins, and during that time, tourists can enjoy the view of lakes, bridges and mountains, which are so beautiful. In some sense, the view is quite similar to the one of Kyoto, but I think since it has many historical buildings as well as bridges, This view may present more unique experience to the tourists. I do really recommend this spot to the tourists, even though they are not familiar with the Japanese.

Always good esp When the boat guide is speaking the local Japanese dialect which other Japanese and myself found hard to understand Ha ha