Kyoto

Cherry Blossoms at Keage Incline

Spring beauty at the end of Lake Biwa Canal

Cathy Cawood Apr 11, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Walking along the rails of the incline</p>

<p>Dramatic statue near Biwako Canal Museum</p>

<p>A rail car that once transported boats between different levels of the canals stands at the Biwako Canal end of the incline</p>

<p>Wooden footbridge over a swampy area (there is a spring here)</p>

<p>Niomon-Dori end of Keage Incline. The Lake Biwa Canal Museum is on the right.</p>

<p>Fountain with Kyoto Zoo in the background at the Niomon-Dori end of the incline</p>

<p>Boat trips on the canal along Niomon-Dori</p>

<p>View of the big red torii of Heian Shrine from the hillside above Keage Incline</p>

<p>A spring wedding couple posing for photos</p>

<p>Blue hills of Kyoto seen over the the cherry blossoms at Keage Incline</p>

<p>Keage corner is always busy in spring</p>

<p>Keage's haunted tunnel leads to Nanzenji and the old brick aqueduct.</p>

Keage Incline lies at the Kyoto end of Biwako Canal, and was an important transport route between Kyoto and Lake Biwa during the Meiji Era. A short rail system was constructed here to move boats over the change in level between Biwako Canal and the canal along Niomon-Dori. These days it is a tourist attraction, especially when the cherry trees are blooming in spring. If you are interested in the history of the canal there is a free museum behind the old red brick building nearby. Also Nanzenji and the old red brick aqueduct are nearby.

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...