Summer at Omihachiman Canal

Explore a beautiful, historic area of Omihachiman

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

There are some beautiful traditional buildings on the canal banks

Can you see the electric fan? It gets hot on the second floor!

He is holding up a bag of puffed rice. I bought some and it was delicious!

Omihachiman's manhole cover shows the canal flowing under cherry blossoms

Omihachiman is a great place for a day trip from Kyoto. Take the bus, walk or hire a bike and cycle from Omihachiman JR Station to the beautiful canal area. This canal was once a castle moat, and it connects with Lake Biwa, making it an ideal place for merchants to set up shop because the could use the canal and lake to transport their goods. Today the merchants are gone, but there are paths beside the canal, tourist boats to ride in, and there is a Kawara Museum (Japanese roof tiles including the gorgeously ornate end tiles one sees decorating temples and shrines.) And when you are ready for refreshments, there are two of the best cafes I've ever been to!