Celebrating Its National Treasure Status — A Historical Walk Along the Lake Biwa Canal

A thousand-year capital that flourished in glory — Kyoto. In 1869, the capital was moved to Tokyo. Within a short time, the population dropped to two-thirds... Kyoto declined... it was said to be facing a crisis of survival. To rebuild the city, there was only one way — to bring water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto. But this was a dream even Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man who unified Japan, had given up on. The man entrusted with this reckless project was Tanabe Sakurō, a 23-year-old engineer. After enduring countless hardships, he completed the Lake Biwa Canal, modernizing Kyoto. And in August 2025, it was finally designated as a National Treasure. This is the story of the man who overcame adversity to complete the Lake Biwa Canal. 【Cue Nakajima Miyuki’s “Chijō no Hoshi (Stars on the Ground)”】 (Narration: Akito) Congratulations on National Treasure status! Starting from Lake Biwa, we’ll follow the Lake Biwa Canal all the way to Kyoto. Our goal is the Nanzen-ji Aqueduct, where the autumn leaves will be at their best. Along the way, we’ll share insights into the history and engineering of the Lake Biwa Canal! Walking distance: 12 km, with some ups and downs (mountain level: 3). Reference: Lake Biwa Canal Story (official site)