Written by Jane Pipkin
Historically serving as a key transportation route for the local economy, connecting the city of Omihachiman to Lake Biwa, the Hachiman-bori Canal is today celebrated for its scenery.
You can enjoy a roughly 30-minute boat ride down the canal for ¥1,000. Along the way, you’ll see many historic houses which establish the area’s “stuck-in-time” atmosphere.
Because of its Edo-period feel, the canal has been the backdrop for many period TV shows and even some anime. In springtime, you can cruise through dozens of cherry blossom trees.
Following the boat ride, you can visit the Omihachiman City Museum and Himure Hachimangū Shrine, among other spots, to learn more about the history of the area. For more insights, check out our Omihachiman guide.
How to get there
You can easily get to the Hachiman-bori Canal by taking a 12-minute bus ride from Omi-Hachiman Station (on the JR Biwako Line).
- 2.2 km from Ōmi-Hachiman Station Biwako Line (A19)
