Yanagawa, a town known for its waterways, has been nominated as one of the top 6 in the world for its efforts to preserve and pass on its canals, as part of the “100 Best Practices for Sustainable Tourism Development in the World”!

Following their attendance at the “Green Destinations Top 100” international certification awards ceremony, they were selected for a top award! Their co-creation model for water culture, the only one from Kyushu to present at the event, has garnered global recognition!

In Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, a collaborative effort between citizens, private businesses, and the local government to preserve and utilize the canals has been selected as one of the “Top 100 Stories 2026” by the international NGO “Green Destinations,” and we attended the awards ceremony held in Slovenia last month. Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that we have received official notification that our initiative has been nominated for the “Top 100 Story Awards (Top 6 in the World),” which recognizes outstanding examples from among the selected regions and ranks us among the world’s top in each category.

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① Nomination to the world’s “Top 6”

From among the regions selected for “Top 100 Stories 2026,” this region was nominated as one of the top 6 in its category as an outstanding example of excellent practice. The final results will be announced at the International Tourism Trade Fair “ITB” and other events.

② Attending the awards ceremony and presenting case studies in Slovenia (October 28-29)

Last month, I attended the international conference “Green Destinations 2026” held in Kranj, Slovenia, where I received an award and, as the only municipality in Kyushu to participate, presented Yanagawa’s water culture and public-private partnership initiatives to the world.

Background and the recognized initiative (“Water Culture: Preserving While Using It”)

The approximately 930km network of canals that crisscross Yanagawa City has a history of being protected by strong solidarity among citizens, the government, and private businesses, even though it once faced the threat of reclamation due to water pollution during the Showa era.

While continuing traditional activities such as “Horiboshi,” a community-wide event, private companies including river boat operators, local residents, and the government have worked closely together to achieve both water quality preservation and tourism promotion.

The recognition and high nominations in this year’s Green Destinations awards go beyond mere scenic beauty; they recognize the practice of “reviving the canals through the hands of the local community and continuing to pass them on as a culture of ‘using and preserving’ them,” which has been highly praised as a world-class model case.

Information on future developments and media coverage

Story Awards Final Results Announcement

Following the nomination, we are scheduled to participate in award ceremonies and other events at the upcoming International Tourism Trade Fair (ITB) and be present for the announcement of the final results.

Giving back to the local community and striving for further international certifications.

We will not treat this evaluation as a one-off event, but will work to preserve the canal environment, create walkable spaces, and add value to the waterfront, while also aiming to take a step towards obtaining full-fledged international certification that will evaluate the entire region.

For media inquiries regarding this matter, please contact:

Yanagawa City Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association) Contact Person: Ujiie

TEL: 0944-88-9027 E-mail: dmo@yanagawa-net.com