Nakasu Hakata-bune drifts along the calm waters of the Naka River, which flows through the heart of Nakasu, as the only yakatabune houseboat operating within Fukuoka City.
Nakasu Hakata-bune has now teamed up with Trizen Foods, the company behind the Hakata Hanamidori brand that represents Hakata's mizutaki culture, to begin serving a new mizutaki made with Kyushu-grown Hanamidori chicken and a soup extracted from Kyushu-grown chicken leg bones and whole birds. The dish is served with the boat's own original ponzu sauce. The idea is to let guests enjoy "the taste of Hakata" and "the scenery of Hakata" together, tasting mizutaki, one of Hakata's signature food traditions, on the Naka River as it runs through Nakasu, one of Kyushu's liveliest entertainment districts.
Eating Mizutaki on the Water Turns the Moment Itself Into a Memory
The mizutaki is enjoyed on board. Outside the window, the neon lights of Nakasu shine across the Naka River, and as the boat moves forward, the view changes gradually while the city lights shimmer on the water's surface.
Nakasu Hakata-bune isn't a formal ryotei-style boat but one built for enjoying a meal with friends, laughing together as the evening goes on. Watching the streets of Hakata pass by through the boat's windows while spending time with someone important is central to the experience, and the mizutaki supervised by Hakata Hanamidori now joins that experience. Gathering around a steaming pot while the boat glides along the Naka River is a way of enjoying mizutaki that can't be replicated at a restaurant, a ryotei, or at home.
This collaboration isn't only about serving mizutaki — it's about experiencing Hakata's food culture while taking in the view of the city. For visitors to Hakata, it can become a highlight of the trip; for those welcoming someone important from out of town, it can serve as a dish for hospitality; and for people who live in Hakata, it offers a chance to enjoy a familiar dish from a different angle. Through this collaboration, Nakasu Hakata-bune is offering a new experience on the water where Hakata's food and scenery meet.
About Hanamidori, the Brand Chicken Behind the Broth
Born for Mizutaki: The Flavor of the Chicken Itself
Hanamidori is a brand chicken that represents the mizutaki culture that originated in Hakata. It was created when the founder of Trizen Foods concluded that a truly good mizutaki needs more than cooking skill — the chicken itself has to be good. Pursuing that flavor led the founder to take up poultry farming directly, and Hanamidori was the result.
Named for the Color of Its Meat
The chicken is named Hanamidori for the vivid pink color and moist texture of its thigh meat in particular. The meat has less of the smell typical of chicken, along with a clear depth of flavor and a pleasant bite.
Raised in the Open Air to Bring Out the Chicken's Natural Strength
Hanamidori chickens are raised in open-sided coops set in Kyushu's natural surroundings — an old-style coop design with many openings that lets in sunlight and breeze, giving the chickens room to move freely on the ground. They're also fed a dedicated Hanamidori feed blended with seaweed, herbs, grape pomace, and wood vinegar.
This isn't simply an effort to build a brand chicken. Working from the idea that good chicken comes from healthy chickens, time and care go into every part of raising them, from their living environment to their feed to hygiene management. The result is meat with a vivid color and the natural flavor of the chicken itself.
Mizutaki Begins and Ends With the Soup
Another essential part of Hakata Hanamidori's mizutaki is the soup. Trizen Foods treats the soup as the true essence of mizutaki and has refined it since the company's founding. Its defining feature is a method that layers Kyushu-grown chicken leg bones with whole birds and simmers them slowly. The result is a soup that's rich yet clean on the palate — sip it first, then work through the chicken and vegetables as the broth continues to draw out flavor, down to the very last drop. This soup is the foundation that supports Hakata Hanamidori's mizutaki.
Nakasu Hakata-bune's Original Ponzu
Nakasu Hakata-bune's original ponzu brings out the flavor of Hanamidori by blending several types of citrus, including mildly sweet orange along with refreshing kabosu and daidai. Each citrus is hand-squeezed carefully to avoid bitterness or off flavors, then aged to soften the acidity into a mellow taste. Bonito flakes are steeped in the mix as well, adding an elegant, layered aroma and a fuller flavor overall.
Hakata-bune Exclusive: Mizutaki Supervised by Hakata Hanamidori
Contents: Made with Hakata Hanamidori chicken and mizutaki soup. The ponzu sauce is Nakasu Hakata-bune's original blend.
Served at: Nakasu Hakata-bune
Price: Mizutaki course ¥8,800 (tax included, boarding fee included)
About Nakasu Hakata-bune
Founded in 1989, Nakasu Hakata-bune is the only yakatabune houseboat in Fukuoka City. It operates two boats, one in Japanese style and one in Western style, on the Naka River as it flows through Nakasu, one of Kyushu's liveliest entertainment districts, and has offered dining on the water for roughly 40 years along this stretch of river lit up by neon signs.
Boat Cuisine
The meal centers on hearty boat cuisine. A large platter of fresh sashimi is served in generous, thick-cut portions with a moist, sweet bite. The tempura, fried to order, also comes in large pieces true to the boat-dining style. Along with seafood charcoal grilling, where shrimp and scallops sizzle over the flame, a cloudy mizutaki broth full of flavor, and motsunabe with fresh wagyu offal that bursts with juice, the meal builds a sense of togetherness and excitement as guests share drinks with friends away from everyday life.
Views From the Boat
Looking out the window reveals a side of Hakata that looks different from land. Simply taking in the familiar streets from a new angle brings a fresh perspective, and sharing that view can bring you closer to someone important.
Nakasu Hakata-bune (Nakasu Hakatabune)
Address: 4-6 Nishinakasu, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Phone: 092-734-0228 (reservations accepted 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM)
Departure times: Departures are generally at 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 8:10 PM. Daytime departures can be arranged by request.
Closed: Obon and New Year holidays (with other irregular closures)
Private charter: Daytime from 10 guests / evening from 20 guests
Capacity: Japanese-style boat, 42 guests / Western-style boat, 24 guests (group boarding from 2 guests)
Official website: https://yakatabune.co.jp/
