Minuma Tsūsen-bori

Minuma Tsūsen-bori

Minuma Tsūsen-bori (見沼通船堀) is a lock that connected Minuma Irrigation Canal and the Shiba River. It was constructed in 1731. It served a significant role in transportation from the latter half of the Edo period till the end of the Meiji period, but it has not been used since 1931. The restored structure is located in Midori-ku, Saitama.

The lock was constructed for the purpose of transporting rice from the surrounding region to Edo. Ships that leave Minuma were to first enter the Shiba River, then travel to the Arakawa River, and eventually to the Sumida River, which runs through the former city of Edo. Since the level of the Minuma Irrigation Canal is three meters higher than that of the Shiba River, the lock was constructed under the command of Izawa Yasobei (井沢弥惣兵衛) in 1731.

Of the four separate gates which were originally built, three were reconstructed between 1994 and 1997.

Coordinates: 35°51′50.01″N 139°42′49.73″E / 35.8638917°N 139.7138139°E