Lake Biwa Canal at Kyoto Japan: sustainable development and revitalization

Abstract

Lake Biwa Canal (engineer Tanabe Sakuro) connects Lake Biwa and Kyoto. It was built in the end of the 19th c. in order to revive Kyoto, which decayed after the transfer of the capital to Edo (Tokyo) in 1868 and served to supply Kyoto with drinking and industrial water, as well as for cargo transportation. The aim of the work is to determine the historical periods of Lake Biwa Canal’s existence and to highlight its significance for ensuring the sustainable development of Kyoto. The research was conducted at Kyoto mainly with field studies and interview methods. As a result, three historical periods of the Lake Biwa Canal existence were identified. In the first period (1885-1951), the canal combined water supply, transportation and landscape-shaping functions and was fundamental to the sustainable development of Kyoto. In the second period (1951-1990th), the transport role of the canal became unclaimed, and its role in sustainable development of the city significantly decreased. In the third period (since 1990th), the canal was designated as National Historic Site, and a campaign of its revitalization began. The Canal acquired touristic and educational functions and increased its role in the sustainable development of Kyoto. Thus, at the time of its construction, the Lake Biwa Canal was the main driving force that saved Kyoto from decline. Now, we can talk about the opposite process, when Kyoto City supports the sustainable development of the Canal.