Hachiman-bori

Hachiman-bori is a canal in Omihachiman that dates from the late 16th century, when Toyotomi Hidetsugu built Hachimanyama Castle and laid out the surrounding castle town. The waterway served as a commercial artery that helped Omi merchants prosper, and its banks are still lined with white-walled storehouses and old merchant houses. The area forms part of a nationally selected important cultural landscape and has appeared as a setting in films and television dramas. Small sightseeing boats operate along the canal, and the district can also be explored on foot or by rental bicycle. Cherry trees and willows along the water make spring and early summer popular times to visit. There is no admission charge to walk through the district, though boat rides are paid.