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Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Multilingual Audio Guide Monitor
Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Multilingual Audio Guide Monitor
Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Multilingual Audio Guide Monitor
Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Multilingual Audio Guide Monitor
Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Multilingual Audio Guide Monitor

Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Multilingual Audio Guide Monitor

By JTB KYOTO OFFICE
Free cancellation available
Price is P 1,512 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 1h 50m
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Multiple languages
Overview

In order to improve the service of The Lake Biwa Canal Cruise, we are looking for monitor passengers to board using a multilingual audio guide.

We are currently offering a limited-time special where you can experience a monitoring cruise at a special price! Usually priced at 9,000 yen, we are now offering it for just 3,960 yen! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!

The audio guide will guide you through the history and highlights of The Lake Biwa Canal.

Activity location

  • 17 Hinookaebisudanichō
    • 17 Hinookaebisudanichō
    • 607-8492, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • 3-3-32 Daimondōri
    • 3-32 3
    • 520-0033, Otsu, Shiga, Japan

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Multilingual Audio Guide Monitor
  • Activity duration is 1 hour and 50 minutes1h 50m1h 50m
  • English
Starting time: 9:15
Price details
P 1,511.66 x 1 AdultP 1,511.66
Total
Price is P 1,511.66
Until Thu, Nov 7

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedMulti language audio guide fee
  • What's includedWhat's includedLanding and facility fees
  • What's includedWhat's includedThe Lake Biwa Canal Cruise Fare
  • What's includedWhat's includedlife jacket
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedPrivate transportation
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedExpenses of a personal nature such as meals, beverages, souvenirs, etc.

Know before you book

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Otsu Lock Gate (Pass by)
The Otsu Lock Gate is the facility which is used to adjust the difference of the water level between the Lake Biwa and the canal by opening and closing two water gates alternately. At the outset of the construction, the gate was wooden and opening and closing was controlled manually and required four people. Currently this gate is made of steel. In 2021, renovation work for electrification completed and so manual opening and closing is not necessary anymore. However, for emergency operation, a handle for manual operation remains to this day. The Otsu Lock Gate is one of the first full-fledged western style brick lock gate in Japan following the Ishii Lock Gate located on the Kitakami River in Miyagi prefecture. And this is also a valuable heritage of modernization. In 2023, construction for automation of the lock gate completed.
北垣国道扁額「寶祚無窮」（琵琶湖疏水第1トンネル内壁） (Pass by)
Above the end arches of each tunnel, you will see a stone tablet sign with calligraphy on it, which is called hengaku in Japanese. With the calligraphy on each having different meanings, these hengakus hold great historical significance as they were all inscribed by politicians who defined the Meiji period.
第1トンネル入口（伊藤博文扁額「気象萬千」） (Pass by)
In order to excavate a tunnel stretching 2,436 meters, which was Japan’s longest at the time, while teams bored from both sides of the mountain, a vertical shaft was drilled downwards from the top of the mountain, enabling simultaneous boring from the center of the mountain towards both sides from the bottom of this shaft. This “shaft method” of excavation, which sped up the process, was a first for Japan. Overcoming strenuous challenges such as hard rock and large volumes of groundwater inflow, this shaft of depth 47 meters and a ground level diameter of 5.5 meters was finally completed. ※Access to the surrounding area is usually prohibited, but the shaft can be seen from the street.
Fujio Bridge (Pass by)
Learning from the disastrous Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, an emergency closure gate was installed in 1999 in order to automatically shut off water flow in case of an embankment failure induced by a major earthquake. The bridge that lies past the emergency closure gate was the first bridge to be completed during the construction of the canal. The original construction of the base built of red brick and stone can still be seen today.
Anshu Bridge (Pass by)
Anshu Bridge spans the approach to Bishamon-do Temple. The bridge is a famous spot for cherry blossoms in the spring, together with canola blossoms carefully tended by local residents. Further downstream, the Anshojigawa River which was orignally here before the canal’s construction can be seen flowing under the canal, creating a characteristic dual level intersection of water flow.
21-38 Misasagikuroiwa (Pass by)
Second tunnel At 124 meters in length, Second tunnel is the shortest tunnel on the route. Of all the hengaku stone tablets in the first canal, the one with the most word count is the one on the east end of Second tunnel: Jin wa yama wo motte yorokobi, chi wa mizu no tame ni yorokobu, written by the first home secretary, Kaoru Inoue. At first glance, it looks as though the words are written from left to right across two lines, but they are actually written in four columns, from top to bottom, which sets this tablet apart from others. The west end arch of this tunnel is not semi-circular like those of other tunnels, but is slightly pointed at the top. On this end is a hengaku tablet written by the Meiji government’s first navy minister Tsugumichi Saigo, which says “Yama ni shitagaite, suigen ni itaru.”
607-8494 (Pass by)
Third tunnel Third tunnel, which is located just downstream of 11th bridge, is 850 meters long. On the eastern end of the tunnel, there is a stone tablet saying “Kau shoshoku wo miru,” written by Masayoshi Matsukata, who was the first minister of finance. On the western end is a tablet saying“Uruwashikikana sanga,” written by Sanutomi Sanjo who was Japan’s first Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal after the cabinet system was inaugurated. Next to the west end of the tunnel is the Keage Embarkation Area. One of its main attractions is the pump room for the water supply to the former Imperial Palace, which we will touch upon next.
Former Imperial Palace Water Pump (Pass by)
The pump room for water supply to the former Imperial Palace “Imperial Palace Water Works System” was used to supply water exclusively to the palace for fire prevention purposes. The pump room sent water to a reservoir atop the mountain behind the palace so that water could be sprayed down, if need be, onto the roof of the Hall for State Ceremonies, which was the tallest building in the Imperial Palace grounds. The pump room was designed by Tokuma Katayama, the architect who is known for designing Kyoto National Museum, and built by the Imperial Household Agency.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES17 Hinookaebisudanichō
    • 17 Hinookaebisudanichō
    • 607-8492, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE3-3-32 Daimondōri
    • 3-32 3
    • 520-0033, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE17 Hinookaebisudanichō
    • 17 Hinookaebisudanichō
    • 607-8492, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

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