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Cherry Blossom Viewing Along the Biwako Canal – From Shiga to Kyoto

Cherry Blossom Viewing Along the Biwako Canal – From Shiga to Kyoto：Photo Trip Reports

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Cherry Blossom Viewing Along the Biwako Canal – From Shiga to Kyoto

: Asta So (USA)
Brian Stafford (USA)
Dusty Wittman (USA)
James Split (USA)
Jeronimo Gehres (Brazil)
Travis Sanders (USA)

: Apr 9, 2011

Once used to transport goods from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, the Biwako Canal is now lined with sakura trees or cherry blossom trees, which bloom in the spring.

On the bridge in Otsu, Shiga, at the start of the Biwako Canal.
A map of the Biwako Canal.
At the beginning of the Biwako Canal, looking towards Lake Biwa. On the water is the Michigan Boat, a pleasure cruise ship that travels around the southern part of the lake.
Cherry blossoms aren't only on the trees, but on the fences, too!
Sakura trees over the gates of the canal.
Enjoying conversation beneath the beautiful sakura trees.
Cherry blossoms in full bloom partially shield the view of the canal's path through Mt. Nagara.
The canal's gates open at the entrance to Mt. Nagara.
Sakura, ahoy!
As in Otsu, the sakura in Yamashina are in full bloom.
With no sakura in his home country of Brazil, Jero takes full advantage of our hanami, or cherry blossom viewing.
A close up view of sakura reveals its poetic beauty.
Both locals and tourists delight in taking pictures of sakura.
The cherry blossoms share the stage with other colorful flowers on a lovely spring day.
Taking a well-deserved break under the shade of the sakura trees.
Cherry blossoms are renowned for their fragility.
We were lucky enough to see many large sakura trees in full bloom that day.
A close-up view of both budding and fully bloomed sakura.
A view of the trains from Yamashina, in eastern Kyoto, as they travel to the heart of Kyoto city.
This bridge leads to a creepy dolls graveyard. Enter at your own risk!
Cherry blossoms range in color from bright pink to snow white, as soon in these sakura.
On the footpath from Keage station back to the canal.
This is where the canal comes out of the mountains into the city of Kyoto.
At this point, the Biwako Canal is too small for boats, so they used to be loaded onto rail cars to be carried to the water below.
We are walking down the railway, calld the Incline, that was used to carry supply boatsfrom one section of the Biwako Canal to another.
Walking down the Incline is like walking through a tunnel of sakura!
The Incline is popular for walks and picnics during the cherry blossom season.
This is where the Incline meets back up with the canal. On the right side is the Biwako Canal Museum.
The canal continues as an aquaduct that passes through the grounds of Nanzen-ji Temple.
This is the aquaduct, it is about 1.5 meters wide.
This is us being silly below the aquaduct.
From Nanzen-ji Temple we headed to the Philosopher's Path.
The Philosopher's Path is a foot path renowned for its beauty all year long.
We stopped for a quick snack at a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki stand.
Even the fish enjoy the beautiful sakura!
We ended our walk here, near Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion. What a pleasant day!