Takase-bune

　The Takase River flows to the east of the Hotel Okura Kyoto. It is a canal opened in 1614 by Suminokura  Ryōi—who amassed his fortune through the Red Seal trade, primarily with Vietnam—and his eldest son. Drawing water from the Kamo River at Nijo-ohashi Bridge, it extends to Fushimi, covering a total length of just over 10 kilometres.

　It is said that the river was named Takase-gawa because the shallow water required the use of flat-bottomed boats known as Takase-bune.

　Although the water intake from the Kamo River is now an underground channel, boats are moored at the shallow stretch known as Ichino-Funairi, making it a popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms.