Vol. 2 - June - No. 30
The Takase River (Ichino Funa-iri)
The Takase River, in its heyday, was used to transport materials and products into central Kyoto from Yodo and Osaka to the south. The water in the river was siphoned off from the Kamo River. The canal ran parallel to the river until Jujo Street, at which point it crossed the river and continued in a southeasterly direction until reaching the Fushimi area. More than one hundred Takase boats, characterized by their flat bottoms and high sides, plied the canal carrying things from Osaka and other areas, mainly for the large concentration of timber merchants (Kiyamachi literally means 'wood shop town') in this central area of Kyoto. In fact, to serve this buy trade area, there were a number of these types of canals leading into the city.
After the Meiji period, the Takase River was no longer used as a commercial canal. However, the river, now lined with trees on both sides, has added a distinctive charm to Kyoto downtown. The Takase River's Ichino Funairi Ditch is designated as a Historical Site, which stands as convincing testament of the prosperous days of the Edo period (1603-1868) and its transportation network
learn more about this fascinating subject:
Kyoto Media Station
Takase Bun (Takase Boat)
Mike Dust Snapshot Archive (logon as a guest, no password necessary)
Prehistoric and Historic Settlement Patterns in the Takase River (another) Drainage
