Hachimanbori Boat Rides
One of the most convenient ways to enjoy the traditional townscape of old Omihachiman is by taking a boat ride on the Hachimanbori Moat. The canal was once a busy commercial waterway, and this history is reflected in the number of white-walled storehouses and elegant merchants’ houses that line its banks. The ambience of the Edo period (1603–1867) is so well preserved here that one can imagine having slipped back in time, and historical dramas are in fact often filmed in the area.
Two companies offer boat rides on the Hachimanbori Moat. Both use roofed boats that have a simple interior with a tatami-mat floor. When boarding, passengers should take off their shoes before entering the covered section and taking a seat on the tatami mat. All tours start and end in the moat’s picturesque central section, and some also take in quieter parts toward the western end of the waterway.