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Biwako sosui
琵琶湖疏水

Biwako conduit


The canal connecting Lake Biwa and Kyoto, constructed to promote Kyoto's modernization by providing hydroelectric power and a shipping route. The first stage of construction began in 1885, and was completed in 1890. The canal was used as a water source for garden ponds of mansions such as Murin'an and Tairyu sansō, built around the Nanzenji area of Kyoto where the terminal pond of the canal was located.


Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.