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Lake Biwa Canal

The Lake Biwa Canal runs from Lake Biwa in Otsu to multiple rivers in Kyoto. It supplies the former capital with fresh drinking water and hydroelectric power, and provides a cruising route for pleasure boats between the two cities.

Construction of the 20-kilometer main canal began in 1885 and was completed five years later. The project was spearheaded by civil engineer Tanabe Sakuro (1861–1944) and was considered a feat of modern engineering at the time. Tanabe also built Japan’s first hydroelectric power station in Kyoto, utilizing water flowing through the canal. Besides being a source of drinking water and power, the canal was also the fastest way to move people and goods between Kyoto and Otsu.

The main canal begins at the southwest portion of Lake Biwa and runs past Miidera Temple into its first (and longest) tunnel, emerging in the Yamashina area of Kyoto. From there, it passes through three more tunnels and runs close to Nanzenji Temple, where a brick aqueduct still carries water. It joins the Kamo River near the Imperial Palace and eventually joins the Hori River in Fushimi. There is a difference in elevation between Otsu and Kyoto, and one section along the canal route near Nanzenji Temple is particularly steep. The Keage Incline, an inclined plane with tracks, was built to move boats up and down a slope in that area.

The Lake Biwa Canal was so successful that a second, completely underground canal was added in 1912, joining the first below the Keage Incline. However, railway and road transport quickly eclipsed the canal’s convenience and boats stopped running by 1951. The Keage Incline became a walking trail, and the cherry and maple trees that line the canal route could no longer be enjoyed by boat. Although boat traffic stopped for a time, water kept flowing through the canal, which has continued to be used to generate power and to supply fresh water. In 2015, boats began running on the canal again. The trip from Otsu to Kyoto takes roughly one hour, while traveling from Kyoto to Otsu takes about half that time.

琵琶湖疏水

「琵琶湖疏水」，即琵琶湖運河，從大津的琵琶湖流向京都多條河流，為曾經的都城送去新鮮飲用水和水電能源，也為兩座城市之間的遊船提供了巡遊的航道。

20公里長的「第一疏水」（主運河）始建於1885年，於5年後竣工。這項建造計畫由土木工程師田邊朔郎（1861-1944）主持，在當時被認為是現代工程的一項壯舉。田邊還利用流經運河的水，在京都建起了日本第一座水力發電站。除了提供飲水和電力，運河也是京都和大津之間人員、貨物往來的最快途徑。

第一疏水始於琵琶湖的西南部，經由三井寺進入第一個（也是最長的）涵洞後，流經京都的山科地區、穿過另外三個涵洞，到達南禪寺附近，那裡至今仍有一條磚砌的引水渠。第一疏水在皇居附近匯入鴨川，最終在伏見流入堀川。大津和京都之間存在海拔高差，因此南禪寺附近的運河有一段特別傾斜，這處斜面上的「蹴上斜坡鐵路」就是為了幫助船隻上下通行而建。

第一疏水取得了巨大成功，因此「第二疏水」（第二條運河）隨後在1912年建成，這是一條地下運河，在蹴上斜坡鐵路下方與前者連通。然而，鐵路和公路運輸的發展很快令運河的便利性黯然失色，船隻在1951年停止運營。蹴上斜坡鐵路變成了步行道，人們也無法再乘船欣賞運河沿岸的櫻花和楓樹。儘管船運一度中斷，運河卻始終供應著電力和淡水。2015年，運河終於恢復船運，從大津到京都船程約1小時，回程只需一半時間。

琵琶湖疏水

“琵琶湖疏水”，即琵琶湖运河，它从大津的琵琶湖流向京都多条河流，为曾经的都城送去新鲜饮用水和水电能源，也为巡游于两座城市之间的游船提供航道。

20公里长的“第一疏水”（主运河）始建于1885年，5年后竣工。项目由土木工程师田边朔郎(1861-1944)主持，这在当时被认为是现代工程的一项壮举。田边还利用流经运河的水，在京都建起了日本第一座水力发电站。除了提供饮水和电力，运河也是京都和大津之间人员、货物往来的最快途径。

第一疏水始于琵琶湖的西南部，经由三井寺进入第一个（也是最长的）涵洞后，流经京都的山科地区，再穿过另外三个涵洞后到达南禅寺附近，那里至今仍有一条砖砌的引水渠。之后，第一疏水在皇居附近汇入鸭川，最终在伏见流入堀川。大津和京都之间存在海拔高差，因此南禅寺附近的运河有一段特别倾斜，这处斜面上的“蹴上斜坡铁路”就是为了帮助船只上下通行而建。

第一疏水取得了巨大成功，因此，“第二疏水”（第二条运河）随后在1912年建成。这是一条地下运河，在蹴上斜坡铁路下方与前者连通。然而，铁路和公路运输的发展很快令运河的便利性黯然失色，船只在1951年停止运营。蹴上斜坡铁路变成了步行道，人们也无法再乘船欣赏运河沿岸的樱花和枫树。尽管船运一度中断，但运河的电力和淡水供应从未间断。2015年，运河终于恢复行船，从大津到京都船程约1小时，回程只需一半时间。