"Water City Osaka Waterside Walking Guide" Waterside Walking Guide by Area 4 "Higashiyokobori River Area"

[Waterside Walking Guide by Area]

An unmapped covered river
Higashiyokobori River area

Higashiyokobori River was the first canal excavated as the West Sogamo Moat of Osaka Castle. This canal divided the area around Osaka Castle from the town of Semba. Later, the Hanshin Expressway Route 1 was built directly above Higashiyokobori River, so it became a "river that doesn't appear on maps," but it still exists today, creating a unique landscape as a "roofed river."

Formation of the Higashiyokobori River

Higashiyokobori-gawa River was the first canal excavated in 13 as a western defense when Toyotomi Hideyoshi constructed Osaka Castle. When the Tokugawa and Toyotomi sides made peace during the Winter Siege of Osaka in 1585, it was filled in as part of the moat of Osaka Castle as per the terms of the peace agreement. However, it was dug up again immediately after Osaka Castle fell during the Summer Siege of Osaka, and at almost the same time, Dotonbori-gawa River was excavated from Hori-dome to the west, and in 20, Nagahori-gawa River was excavated from downstream of Sueyoshi-bashi Bridge to the west, playing an important role in water transportation.
In the area east of Higashiyokobori River, there are place names beginning with "uchi" such as "Uchihonmachi," "Uchihirano," "Uchiawaji," and "Uchikuhoji," while in the area west of Higashiyokobori River, there are corresponding place names such as "Honmachi," "Hirano," "Awaji," and "Kuhoji." This is because when Higashiyokobori River was dug, the town was divided by the canal, and the area inside the "Sogamae" of Osaka Castle was differentiated by adding the character "uchi."
In 42, the Hanshin Expressway Route 1967 was constructed directly above the Higashiyokobori River, and the river disappeared from maps, but it still exists today as a "covered river."
In 3, a new waterfront public space called Beta Honmachi Bridge was opened upstream of Honmachi Bridge, deepening local interaction. This area is also attracting attention as trendy restaurants and other establishments are beginning to gather along the river.

"Photographic Naniwa Hyakkei no 1868: Koraibashi" by Hasegawa Sadanobu, circa XNUMX (Osaka Municipal Library Digital Archive)

"One Hundred Views of Naniwa, Imabashi Tsukiji" by Utagawa Kunimitsu, late Edo period (Osaka Municipal Library Digital Archive)

Higashiyokobori River Water Gate

This is a sluice gate located at the uppermost part of Higashiyokobori River (where it branches off from Okawa River). It is paired with the Dotonbori sluice gate located at the lowermost part of Dotonbori River (where it joins Kizugawa River) and controls the water level, protects against high tides, and purifies the water. When a ship passes through the sluice gate, the arms of the sluice gate move under the water to release water to keep the ship from getting close and prevent it from running aground. This scene looks like a fountain welcoming the ship, and has become a popular spot. Also, at high tide, the sluice gate opens to let in clean water from Okawa River to purify Higashiyokobori River and Dotonbori River, and at low tide, the sluice gate closes to prevent dirty water from Neyagawa River from entering.

Higashiyokobori River Water Gate

Dotonbori River Water Gate

Honmachi Bridge

Rebuilt as an iron bridge in 2, it is the oldest bridge still in use in Osaka City and is a designated cultural asset of the city. The original bridge was built when Higashi-Yokobori River was excavated around the time Osaka Castle was constructed, but was replaced with the current bridge when the Osaka City Tram was laid.

Honmachi Bridge

β Honmachi Bridge

This is a new waterfront public space that opened in 3. Taking advantage of the trend towards deregulation, the Beta Honmachibashi Consortium, which is made up of local people and businesses, worked together with the local government to develop it, making the most of the waterfront and parks in the city center. It consists of restaurants and cafes, rental spaces, SUP, cruises, etc., and markets, events, workshops, etc. are frequently held, making it a place for local people to interact.

β Honmachi Bridge

OSAKA River Fantasy Higashiyokobori River Area Waterside Projection Mapping

The 650m section of the Higashi-Yokobori River from Koraibashi Bridge to Honmachi Bridge is illuminated with projection mapping onto the piers and sides of the Hanshin Expressway bridge.

OSAKA River Fantasy Higashiyokobori area Waterside projection mapping
Source: OSAKA River Fantasy Management Office

Honmachi curve

The Higashiyokobori River, which branches off from the river and flows south, turns slightly east near Honmachi Bridge before flowing south again. It is said that this strange flow is due to the excavation being carried out to avoid the nearby Jokokuji Temple, but the reason is unclear. However, this bend made the current quicker, and the area was a frequent site of drowning accidents. In the Kamigata Rakugo story "Manju Kowai," a woman appears who tries to jump into the river at midnight near the bend. It seems that the image of this place as a scary place was widespread, and it is said that the local residents enshrined the Magaribuchi Jizo statue, which is said to protect against drowning. There is also a legend about a kappa (a type of water puffer) at this bend. It is said that this was to warn children not to play in dangerous places, as "kappa will appear and pull them into the river," but the truth of this is also unknown.

The curve of "Honmachi" seen from the north
You can see the river curve sharply to the east.