Hello there!
This is Ayu-mama, writer for “Sarukuma.”

Today I’m introducing you to
[Miyamoto Boat],
located on beautiful Ezu Lake in Ezu, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City.
Have you ever spotted those charming swan boats and rowboats drifting peacefully across Ezu Lake?

That’s right!
Today we’re diving into the classic Ezu Lake activity: rental boats!
There are two boat rental shops on Ezu Lake, but this time we visited [Miyamoto Boat]!
Ezu Lake has several parking areas, but for the rental boats, the ‘Omagari Parking Lot’ is your best bet! The boat rental shop sits right next to the Omagari lot.
Omagari Parking Lot is right here ↑↑↑

There’s a restroom inside the parking lot, so be sure little ones use it before boarding the boat!
You’ll find a row of vending machines lined up in front of Miyamoto Boat too — handy for grabbing a drink.
Here are the boat rental rates.
Wonderfully wallet-friendly prices!

Why We Recommend It

Since I had zero confidence in my rowing skills (haha), I went with the pedal boat [30 minutes / ¥1,000], also known as the ‘swan boat’!

After paying, the kind staff gentleman walked us right down to the boat dock.

We waved goodbye to the rowboats (which I had no business attempting)…

…and met our swan! How adorable!

If there are enough boats available, you can even pick your favorite one.

All aboard!

Off we go — setting sail for the high seas! ←okay, slight exaggeration (haha)

The wind was really strong that day, and we drifted away from the shore in no time. Out on the water it felt amazing — we even spotted fish and waterfowl, and my son was absolutely thrilled!

But getting back was another story…

The wind was so strong we couldn’t make any headway!
No matter how hard we pedaled, the shore stayed stubbornly out of reach…

An out-of-shape mom with zero stamina paired with a toddler whose feet barely reached the pedals = no match for the wind!

We very nearly became castaways on Ezu Lake (haha), but we somehow made it back.

As a final treat, we received a free slice of bread to feed the koi carp!

A delightful little bonus the kids absolutely love!

Schools of koi gather around the dock, eagerly waiting for the bread.

My son was winding up like a little baseball pitcher, hurling bread chunks with all his might! He nearly tumbled in!

This thoroughly exhausted mom just watched the whole spectacle from the sidelines…

Whether you visit with your kids, your partner, or your friends, please give Miyamoto Boat a try!

Just remember to bring plenty of stamina and willpower for all that pedaling (haha)!

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Information

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information accurate at time of reporting. Prices and opening hours are subject to change. Please verify before your visit.