Back in the olden days, Kyoto's Fushimi Ward, famous for its many sake breweries, needed a way to carry cargo and passengers between them and Osaka.
That's where these unique flatbottomed jikkokubune boats come it. Used all the way back in the Edo period up until the turn of the century in the late Meiji era, these boats were what kept business flowing between the two growing metropolises.
Nowadays, these cargo boats turned tourist cruise run between spring and autumn and give people the opportunity to see the magnificent sake breweries and beautiful scenery of the Fushimi area all from the comfort of a riverboat cruise.
With cherry blossoms in spring, newly grown green leaves in summer, and the crimson red leaves of autumn, these boat rides offer something new to look forward to every season.
While in Kyoto, if you're planning on visiting any of the historic breweries in Fushimi, then take the opportunity to experience one of these lovely boat rides as well.