In Photos: Historic Lake Biwa Canal sites in Kyoto remain standing after over a century

In Photos: Historic Lake Biwa Canal sites in Kyoto remain standing after over a century – The Mainichi

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The No. 10 bridge over the First Canal is seen from the No. 2 tunnel in Kyoto’s Yamashina Ward on May 15, 2025. Built in 1904, it is familiarly known as Yamanotani Bridge. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

The No. 10 bridge over the First Canal is seen from the No. 2 tunnel in Kyoto's Yamashina Ward on May 15, 2025. Built in 1904, it is familiarly known as Yamanotani Bridge. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

The Anshukawa aqueduct bridge stands in Kyoto's Yamashina Ward on May 18, 2025, where the First Canal crosses the Anshoji River. It was built in 1890. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

The Nanase River water discharge facility is seen along the First Canal's Kamogawa Canal in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward on May 18, 2025, as students returning from club activities walk along the waterway. The facility was built in 1911. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

The Nanase River water discharge facility is seen from the west (the Keihan Electric Railway Co. side), in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward on May 18, 2025. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

Red bricks can be seen on the Anshukawa aqueduct bridge in Kyoto's Yamashina Ward on May 18, 2025. The area along the First Canal is lush with greenery, and people can be seen enjoying walks along the waterway, some with pets. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

The Ebisugawa lock gate built in 1890 and Ebisugawa power plant built in 1914 still operate today, as seen in this photo taken in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward on May 15, 2025. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

This photo shows the main building of what was formerly known as the Fushimi power station, in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward, May 18, 2025. Built in 1914 of steel-reinforced concrete, it currently operates as Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Sumizome power station. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

The confluence tunnel of the First Canal and the Second Canal can be seen in the center at the back, in Kyoto's Yamashina Ward on May 15, 2025. Extending to the right is a weir for the old and new canals to adjust the difference in water level. Currently, the waters of the two canals do not mix. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

The old main building of Keage power station is seen from the current facility operated by Kanasai Electric Power Co., on May 16, 2025, in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward. The building was completed in 1912. The water wheel and other structures that used to be in the building have been removed. (Mainichi/Yoko Minami)

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