nntsuzu/KFTT huggingface dataset:
English: "Omine Okugake-michi (paths)" is the road of ascetic practices leading to Kumano Sanzan (three major shrines, Kumano-Hongu-Taisha Shrine, Kumano-Hayatama-Taisha Shrine and Kumano-Nachi-Taisha Shrine) and is one of Kumanokodo Road.
Japanese: 大峯奥駈道（おおみねおくがけみち）は、熊野三山（熊野本宮大社、熊野速玉大社、熊野那智大社）へと通じる修行道であり、熊野古道のひとつ。
English: Omine Okugake-michi, which was originally opened as the road for the place of the ascetic practices for Shugendo (Japanese mountain asceticism-shamanism incorporating Shinto and Buddhist concepts), connects Mt. Yoshino in Nara and Kumano Sanzan, and is the steepest route in Kumanokodo road.
Japanese: 大峯奥駈道は、奈良吉野山と熊野三山を結ぶ、もとは修験道の修行場として開かれた道であり、熊野古道の中で最も険阻なルートをなす。
English: Today, generally speaking of Mt. Omine, it refers to Mt. Sanjogatake, however "Omine" in Omine Okugake-michi refers to the area from Yoshino through Mt. Sanjogatake to the far deeper mountains, and all the paths for asceticism that course longitudinally through the Omine mountains which eventually lead to Kumano Sanzan.
Japanese: 今日、一般的に大峰山（大峯山）といえば山上ヶ岳を指すが、大峯奥駈道でいう「大峯」とは、吉野から山上ヶ岳を経てさらに奥の山々、そして最終的には熊野三山に至る大峰山脈を縦走する修行の道全体を指している。
English: Kyuya FUKADA introduced that he had traversed from Mt. Sanjogatake to the highest peak, Mt. Hachikyogatake in the one hundred top mountains of Japan.
Japanese: 深田久弥は日本百名山の中で山上ヶ岳から最高峰の八経ヶ岳までの峰々を縦走したことを紹介している。
English: It is said that Omine Okugake originally means that people head for nabiki (ascetic practice spot) beyond Ominesan-ji Temple.
Japanese: 大峯奥駈とは本来、大峯山寺より奥の「靡」に進むことを奥駈と云われていた。
English: Ascetic practice places are referred to as "nabiki," and each of them is given an individual number.
Japanese: 修行場は「靡」（なびき）と呼ばれ、ひとつひとつに番号が割り当てられている。
English: Namely, nabiki starts from Hongu Shojoden hall (No.1) of Kumano-hongu-taisha Shrine and ends at Yanagi no Shuku (No.75) at the riverbank of Kino-kawa River.
Japanese: すなわち、熊野本宮大社の本宮証誠殿（1番）にはじまり、紀の川河岸の柳の宿（75番）に終わる。
English: Since the number of nabiki has been arranged through history, Omine seventy-five nabiki has seventy five points, but there was a time when more than seventy five nabiki were established.
Japanese: この大峯七十五靡は75箇所を数えるが、これは歴史的に整理されてきた結果であり、もっと多くの靡が設けられていた時期もある。
English: One way is junbu, the mountaineering ascetic practice from Kumano to Yoshino, and the other way is gyakufu, the mountaineering ascetic practice from Yoshino to Kumano, and each of them is managed by a different sect.
Japanese: ひとつは、本宮から吉野に向かう順峯（じゅんぷ）、他方は、逆に吉野から本宮に向かう逆峯（ぎゃくふ）で、それぞれに主宰する宗派が異なる。
English: Junbu is led by Shogoin (Honzan school) of a branch of the Tendai sect and Gyakufu is led by Sanbo-in of Daigo-ji Temple (Tozan school) of the Shingon Sect line respectively.
Japanese: 順峯は天台宗系の聖護院（本山派）が、逆峯は真言宗系の醍醐寺三宝院（当山派）がそれぞれ主導する。
English: It was Honzan school of the Tendai sect line which controlled Kumano in the medieval period and served as the leader of pilgrimages to Kumano Sanzan.
Japanese: 中世の熊野を支配し、熊野詣の先達をつとめたのは天台宗系の本山派であった。
English: Although Honzan school was ahead of Tozan school in Omine Okugake, with decline of pilgrimages to Kumano Sanzan after the early modern times, entering from Yoshino has been considered to be common and legitimate for both schools since the Edo Period.
Japanese: 大峯奥駈についても本山派が先行していたが、近世以降の熊野詣の衰退に伴って、江戸時代から今日まで、両派とも吉野から入るのが一般的かつ正統的なものとされている。
English: However, junbu by a branch of the Tendai sect which led pilgrimages to Kumano Sanzan in the medieval period was revived by Seigando-ji Temple in Nachi-san Mountain; since this style is still performed today, junbu is not completely stopped.
Japanese: ただ、中世の熊野詣を主導した天台宗系による順峯は、那智山青岸渡寺によって復興され、今日でも行われているので、完全に途絶したわけではない。
English: In addition, since this area is short of watering places, it often happens that practitioner of austerities are not able to follow the route, the south of crossroad of ancient times (it is sometimes called minami okugake) in Zenki no Shuku (Zenki station) (Shimo Kitayama-mura, Nara Prefecture), and even now, temples which perform okugake practice (going through the entire distance of Omine seventy five nabiki) are limited.
Japanese: また、水場が乏しいこともあって、前鬼宿（奈良県下北山村）太古の辻以南の部分（南奥駈と呼ばれることもある）はたどられないことが一般的であり、現在でも大峯七十五靡を踏破する奥駈の行をおこなう寺院は限られている。
English: Suminoenotsu was located in the cove called Sumiyoshi no hosoe, the south of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine (Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City), which enshrines the sea gods, Sumiyoshi Okami (the great gods of Sumiyoshi).
Japanese: 海の神である住吉大神を祀る住吉大社（大阪市住吉区）の南の住吉の細江と呼ばれた入り江にあった。
English: Before Japanese envoys to Sui and Tong Dynasties China left from Suminoenotsu, they gave a prayer to Sumiyoshi Okami at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, and went toward Kyushu through currently called Seto Inland Sea (it was in the Meiji Period when the idea of Seto Inland Sea came out) via Naniwa no tsu (Naniwa Port).
Japanese: 遣隋使や遣唐使は、住吉大社で住吉大神に祈りを捧げた後、住吉津から出発し、難波津を経由して現在で言うところの瀬戸内海（瀬戸内海の概念が生まれたのは明治期である）を九州へ向かった。
English: The fairy tale "Issunboshi" (The Inch-High Samurai) is a story in which Issunboshi sets off from Suminoe no hosoe, gets to the sea of Suminoe (present-day Oosaka bay), and then goes up the Yodo-gawa River toward Kyoto.
Japanese: おとぎ話の「一寸法師」は、住吉の細江から出発し、住之江の海（現在で言うところの大阪湾）に出た後、淀川を上り、京都へ向かう話である。
English: Mt. Yamato Katsuragi is located in the boundary between Gose City, Nara Prefecture and Chihayaakasaka-mura, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture.
Japanese: 大和葛城山（やまとかつらぎさん）は、奈良県御所市と大阪府南河内郡千早赤阪村との境に位置する山。
English: Since Mt. Yamato Katsuragi is more famous than Mt. Izumi-Katsuragi as a tourist spot on the Kinki Nippon Railway, it is sometimes simply referred to as Mt. Katsuragi.
Japanese: 近畿日本鉄道沿線の観光地として和泉葛城山よりも知名度が高いため、単に葛城山と呼ばれることもある。
English: This mountain is located in Kongo Ikoma Kisen Quasi-National Park, and is one of the mountains in Kongo mountainous district which forms a range of mountains together with Mt. Nijo in north (Nara Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture) and Kongo-san mountain in south (Kongo mountainous district).
Japanese: 金剛生駒紀泉国定公園内にあり、北の二上山(奈良県・大阪府)、南の金剛山(金剛山地)とともに連峰をなしている金剛山地の山の一つ。
English: The most commonly used pass up the mountain is the route from Gose City, Nara Prefecture to the mountaintop, the starting point of which is conveniently located in terms of public transportation.
Japanese: 一般的に利用される登山道は、登山口までの交通の便がよい奈良県御所市から山頂に至る道である。
English: The Kintetsu Katsuragi Ropeway Line of Kinki Nippon Railway Company connects the starting point for a climb at the foot of the mountain and the point near the mountaintop, and this ropeway line follows almost the same course as the route for walking.
Japanese: 近畿日本鉄道の近鉄葛城索道線が山麓の登山口から山頂付近を結んでおり、ほぼそのコースに沿っている。
English: Take the train bound for "Nara Kotsu Bus Lines Katsuragi Ropeway mae" from Kintetsu Gosho Station of the Kintetsu Gosho-line, and get off at "Kintetsu Katsuragi Ropeway Line Katsuragi Ropeway mae."
Japanese: 近鉄御所線近鉄御所駅より奈良交通葛城ロープウェイ前行き乗車、近鉄葛城索道線葛城ロープウェイ前下車。
English: The skunk cabbage community of Imazu is a habitat for the plant located in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture.
Japanese: 今津のザゼンソウ群落（いまづのざぜんそうぐんらく）は、滋賀県高島市にあるザゼンソウの群生地。
English: It was designated Specific Plant Community under the Environment Agency's National Survey on the Natural Environment in 1986 and was named Green Preservation Zone under the Nature Conservation Regulation in Shiga Prefecture in 1989.
Japanese: 環境庁の自然環境保全基礎調査の特定植物群落に選定（1986年）、および滋賀県自然環境保全条例の緑地環境保全地域に指定（1989年）されている。
English: Nishiyoshino Onsen Hot Spring is a hot spring which is located in Jodo, Nishiyoshino Town, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture (former Nishi-yoshino Village) (Yamato Province, old province).
Japanese: 西吉野温泉（にしよしのおんせん）は、奈良県五條市西吉野町城戸（旧西吉野村）（旧国大和国）にある温泉。
English: By car: Take National Route 168 from the Central part of Gojo City (Honjin Crossing: the point of intersection of National Route 24, 118 and 310) and go south toward Totsu-kawa River.
Japanese: 車：五條市中心部（本陣交差点＝国道24号、国道168号、国道310号交点）から国道168号を十津川方面へ南下。
English: By bus: Take a bus of the Nara Kotsu Bus Lines bound for Nishiyoshino Onsen Hot Spring (via Jodo on the bus-dedicated road) from Wakayama Line Gojo Station of the West Japan Railway Company (Nara Prefecture) for approximately 30 minutes, or take the bus bound for Totsu-kawa River (for Jodo, Shingu Station, etc.) for approximately 30 minutes and a 20-minute walk after getting off at the Kido bus stop.
Japanese: バス：西日本旅客鉄道和歌山線五条駅(奈良県)から奈良交通西吉野温泉（専用道城戸経由）ゆきバスで約30分、もしくは十津川方面ゆき（城戸行き、新宮駅行きなど）バスで約30分、城戸停留所下車徒歩約20分。
English: There are a few hot-spring hotels, public accommodation facility 'Nishiyoshi no So Inn' and public day visit hot spring 'Seminar House Kisumikan.'
Japanese: 数件の温泉宿、公営の宿泊施設「にしよしの荘」および公営の日帰り温泉施設「セミナーハウスきすみ館」がある。
English: Nishiyoshino Onsen Hot Spring has a long history, and it is said the in the period of the Northern and Southern Courts (Japan), the Emperors stopped in to get rid of travel fatigue on their way to Yoshino.
Japanese: 西吉野温泉の歴史は古く、南北朝の時代には、吉野へと向かわれる途中の天皇が立ち寄られ、旅の疲れを癒されたということが伝わっている。
English: Since the end of Edo Period, a few hot-spring hotels have stood in a row to be a good posting station for travelers coming in and going out on the road.
Japanese: 幕末の頃から温泉宿がいくつか並び、街道を往来する旅人の良い宿場となっていた。
English: Tennokawa Onsen Hot Spring is a hot spring which is located in Amakawa Mura, Yoshino County, Nara Prefecture (old province, Yamato Province).
Japanese: 天の川温泉（てんのかわおんせん）は、奈良県吉野郡天川村（旧国大和国）にある温泉。
English: By car: Take National Route 309, and just after passing through Shinkawai Tunnel, take Nara Prefectural Road NO. 53 Koya Tenkawa Line from Kawai Crossing toward Nishiyoshino.
Japanese: 車：国道309号新川合トンネル越えてすぐ、（）川合交差点から奈良県道53号高野天川線を西吉野方面へ。
English: Although this is not the hot springs resort area, small Japanese inns, Minshuku (private home that runs inn providing room and board) and camp sites are dotted along Tennokawa.
Japanese: 温泉街ではないが、天ノ川沿いに小さな旅館、民宿、キャンプ場が点在している。
English: Higashi-yoshino Onsen Hot Spring is a hot spring which is located in Higashiyoshino-mura, Yoshino gun, Nara Prefecture (old province, Yamato province).
Japanese: 東吉野温泉（ひがしよしのおんせん）は、奈良県吉野郡東吉野村（旧国大和国）にある温泉。
English: Hot spring areas in Higashiyoshino-mura are dispersed into three areas and are referred to as 'Higashi-yoshino Onsen Hot Spring', 'Takasumi Onsen Hot Spring' and 'Yahata Onsen Hot Spring,' respectively.
Japanese: 東吉野村内の温泉地は3ヶ所に分散していて、それぞれ、「東吉野温泉」「たかすみ温泉」「やはた温泉」とよばれている。
English: By car: Go through National Route 369 and 166 at Meihan Kokudo Hari Interchange,
Japanese: 車：名阪国道針インターチェンジから国道369号・国道166号を経由し、
English: Takasumi Onsen Hot Spring (Shimohirano district): Take Nara Prefectural Road No.28 Yoshino-Muroji-Hari Route to the north from around Deai, Higashiyoshino Village.
Japanese: たかすみ温泉（下平野地区）：東吉野村出合付近から奈良県道28号吉野室生寺針線を北へ。
English: Yahata Onsen Hot Spring (Mameo district): Go through Nara Prefectural Road No.16 Yoshino-Higashiyoshino Route from around Washika, Higashiyoshino Village, and then go along the Shigo-gawa River from Ogawa District (around the village office).
Japanese: やはた温泉（大豆生地区）：東吉野村鷲家付近から奈良県道16号吉野東吉野線を経て、小川地区（村役場付近）から四郷川に沿ってのぼる。
English: There is no so-called 'hot springs resort area', but there are day visit spas using water directly from the source of each of the hot springs.
Japanese: いわゆる「温泉街」はなく、それぞれの源泉の元湯として日帰り入浴施設がある。
English: Kamikitayama Onsen Hot Spring is a hot spring which is located in Kamikitayama-mura, Yoshino-gun Nara Prefecture (old province, Yamato province).
Japanese: 上北山温泉（かみきたやまおんせん）は、奈良県吉野郡上北山村（旧国大和国）にある温泉。
English: By car: Go through National Route 24 and 309 from Nishimeihan Jidoshado Expressway Koriyama Interchange (Nara Prefecture), and then take National Route 169 from Oyodo Town toward Kumano.
Japanese: 車西名阪自動車道郡山インターチェンジ(奈良県)から国道24号国道309号を経て、大淀町から国道169号を熊野方面へ。
English: Or go National Route 369 down south from Meihan National Route Hari Interchange, and go through National Route 370, and then take National Route 169 toward Kumano.
Japanese: または名阪国道針インターチェンジから国道369号を南下し、国道370号を経て国道169号を熊野方面へ。
English: By railway: Take Nara Kotsu Bus bound for Yumori Hot Spring Sugi no yu from Kintetsu Yoshino line Yamato-Kamiichi Station, and change at the last stop for Ikehara.
Japanese: 鉄道近畿日本鉄道吉野線大和上市駅から奈良交通バス湯盛温泉杉の湯行きで終点乗り継ぎ、池原方面行きで約2時間。
English: There is a day visit spa 'Yakushiyu hot spring' along the Kitayama-gawa River, a little north of Kawai village, and next to the spa, there is a 'Fureainosato Hotel Kamikita'.
Japanese: 河合集落の少し北、北山川筋に日帰り入浴施設「薬師湯」があり、隣に「ふれあいの郷ホテルかみきた」がある。
English: Development of hot springs in this area had started in 1987, and after the source of hot spring was developed by boring, hot spring facilities were built.
Japanese: 温泉として開発が行われたのは1987年で、同年にボーリングを行って源泉開発した後、温泉施設ができた。
English: Nara Kitamachi is the area which refers to the old urban district to the north of Naramachi in Nara City, Nara Prefecture.
Japanese: 奈良きたまち（なら-）は、奈良県奈良市のならまちより北側の古い市街地を指す地域。
English: In Nara Kitamachi, an old townscape from the Edo to Showa periods still remains and you will find a traditional townhouse using the style called 'horen-goshi lattice,' the Nara juvenile prison of Western-style architecture, the Memorial Hall of Nara Women's University which is an important cultural property, and so on.
Japanese: 江戸～昭和期の町並みが残り、「法蓮格子」と呼ばれる様式を用いた町家や、洋風建築の奈良少年刑務所、重要文化財の奈良女子大学記念館などがある。
English: In the Edo Period, the Nara Kitamachi area flourished centering on Nara-Kaido Road leading to Kyoto as a north gateway of Nara to Todai-ji Temple, etc., in which hatago (inn with meals) and shops stood side by side.
Japanese: 江戸時代、東大寺などに向かう、奈良の北の玄関口として旅籠や商店が並び、京都へ通じる奈良街道を中心に栄えた地域。
English: Nearby Ichijo-dori Street flourished as sando (an approach to the temple) leading to Todai-ji Temple from the station of Daibutsu Railway (Daibutsu Tetsudo) at one time in the Meiji Period.
Japanese: 近くの一条通りは明治の一時期、大仏鉄道の駅から東大寺へ向かう参道としても栄えた。
English: Tamonyama-jo Castle which commands a panoramic view of the town was built by Hisahide MATSUNAGA in the middle of the16th century, and has the four-layered tenshu (main keep or tower of a castle) which became a model for modern castles.
Japanese: 町を一望した多聞山城は松永久秀が16世紀半ばに築き、近世城郭のモデルとなった四層の天守を備えている。
English: In August, 1998, 'Nara Kaido Machizukuri Kenkyukai' (Nara-kaido Road Community-Planning Society) was established, and its members have operated under the catchphrase of 'the town full of joy', 'the nostalgic town', and 'the town that people wish to come again' (Kitamachi).
Japanese: 1998年（平成10年）8月、「奈良街道町づくり研究会」を設立し「喜び多い街」、「何か懐かしい来たことのある街」、「また来たい街」（きたまち）をキャチフレーズに活動を行う。
English: In 2004, Nara Kitamachi was approved as 'Nara Machikado Museum' by Nara City, and thirteen facilities are opened to the public.
Japanese: 2004年（平成16年）、奈良市より「奈良まちかど博物館」の認可を受け、13箇所の施設を一般公開している。
English: Mt. Nijo is a mountain that stretches over Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture, and Taishi-cho, Minamikawachi County, Osaka Prefecture.
Japanese: 二上山（にじょうざん）は、奈良県葛城市と大阪府南河内郡太子町(大阪府)を跨いでいる山。
English: Strictly speaking, it has two peaks, namely, Odake in the north (altitude: 517 m) and Medake in the south (altitude: 474 m).
Japanese: 厳密には北方の「雄岳」（517m）と、南方の「雌岳」（474m）の2つの山頂がある。
English: The Kintetsu Osaka Line, the Kintetsu Minamiosaka Line and the National Route 165 (Nagao-kaido Road) run through its vicinity.
Japanese: 付近には、近鉄大阪線・近鉄南大阪線・国道165号（長尾街道）が通っている。
English: The area near Taishi-cho (Osaka Prefecture) on its west side is called 'Chikatsu Asuka' (Kawachiasuka).
Japanese: 西側、太子町(大阪府)付近は、「近つ飛鳥」（河内飛鳥）と呼ばれている。
English: Mt. Nijo provides hiking trails including 'Chikatsu Asuka' and 'Taima-dera Temple.'
Japanese: 二上山は、「近つ飛鳥」や「当麻寺」を絡め、ハイキングコースとなっている。
English: The south side of Medake commands a panoramic view of Mt. Yamato Katsuragi and Mt. Kongo (Kongo mountainous district).
Japanese: 雌岳の南方からは、大和葛城山・金剛山(金剛山地)の山並みを一望することができる。
English: As Mt. Nijo is an extinct volcano, there is no possibility of an eruption in the future so that it is not classified as a volcano on a map.
Japanese: 二上山は死火山で、今後、噴火可能性はなく、地図で火山として分類されることはない。
English: As we can see the sun going down between Odake and Medake, people have worshiped it as a holy mountain since ancient times.
Japanese: 古来より、雄岳・雌岳の間に日が沈む様子から、神聖な山岳として、人々から崇められてきた。
English: There were important routes from hinges of marine traffic such as Osaka Bay, Suminoe no tsu (Suminoe Port) and Naniwa no tsu (Naniwa Port) to Asuka region, the center of politics, on the periphery of Mt. Nijo from the Kofun period (tumulus period) to the Asuka period.
Japanese: 古墳時代から飛鳥時代にかけて、二上山周辺は、海上の交通の要所、大阪湾・住吉津・難波津から、政治の中心の舞台である飛鳥地方への重要ルートとなった。
English: There is the grave of Prince Otsu, who committed a suicide after being suspected of rebelling in the above-mentioned period, near the top of Odake.
Japanese: 前記の時代に謀反の疑惑をかけられて自害した、大津皇子の墓が雄岳山頂付近にある。
English: Village people in Yamato Province who had used the water from Mt. Nijo for agriculture since ancient times climbed Mt. Nijo in the spring, which is referred to as 'Okanobori.'
Japanese: 古くから、二上山の水を農業に使っている大和国側の村人が、春に「岳のぼり」と称し、二上山に登っていた。
English: It can be reached through a hiking trail from each of Kaminotaishi Station, Nijozan Station, Nijojinjaguchi Station, and Taima-dera Station on the Kintetsu Minamiosaka Line.
Japanese: 近鉄南大阪線の上ノ太子駅・二上山駅・二上神社口駅・当麻寺駅のいずれかからハイキングコース。
English: Amakashino-oka Hill is a hill located in Toyura, Asuka-mura, Takaichi County, Nara Prefecture.
Japanese: 甘樫丘（あまかしのおか）は、奈良県高市郡明日香村豊浦にある丘陵のこと。
English: An observation deck at the north side of the hill offers a view of Three Mountains of Yamato, Fujiwara-kyo (the imperial capital of Japan for 16 years between 694 and 710), etc.
Japanese: 丘の北側に展望台があり、大和三山、藤原京などの風景を望むことができる。
English: SOGA no Emishi and SOGA no Iruka, a father and a son, are said to have had a residence at the foot of the hill to show off their power before the Taika Reforms took place.
Japanese: 大化の改新以前に、蘇我蝦夷と蘇我入鹿の親子が権勢を示すために丘の麓に邸宅を構えていたという。
English: It was announced on February 1, 2007 that remains of structures and stone walls, which are estimated to date back from the early to mid-seventh century, were discovered at the Toroku site, and the unearthed objects are drawing attention as possible remains of Soga clan's residence.
Japanese: 2007年2月1日、東麓遺跡において7世紀前半から中頃のものと見られる建物跡や石垣を発見したと発表され、蘇我氏の邸宅跡ではないかと注目されている。
English: On the side of the hill, there is a stone monument on which a Manyo poem (a poem included in "Manyoshu" [Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves]) (by Prince Shiki; Volume 1, No. 51) is inscribed in calligraphy by Takashi INUKAI who worked for the conservation of the Asuka village.
Japanese: 山腹には明日香村の保全に尽力した犬養孝氏揮毫の万葉歌碑（志貴皇子（巻1-51））がある。
English: Hachiman-bori Canal is located in Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, and measures approximately 15m wide and 6km long.
Japanese: 八幡堀（はちまんぼり）は、滋賀県近江八幡市にある幅員約15メートル、全長6キロメートルに及ぶ運河である。
English: When Hidetsugu TOYOTOMI built Yawata-jo Castle during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period, the canal was built as part of development of a castle town to serve both the military function of castle defense and the commercial function of water transport in the Lake Biwa area (as a logistics center during the period).
Japanese: 安土桃山時代に豊臣秀次が八幡城を築城した際、城下町の都市計画として整備され、城を防御する軍事的な役割と琵琶湖の水運（当時の物流の要）を利用する商業的役割を兼ね備えた。
English: In the Edo Period, it contributed to the development of the city by Omi shonin (Omi merchants), i.e. Hachiman shonin (Hachiman merchant).
Japanese: 江戸時代には、近江商人（八幡商人）による町の発展に大きな役割を果たした。
English: The canal is lined with storehouses with white earth and mortar walls and merchant homes and is designated as a part of 'Omi Hachiman City Preservation District for Groups of Historic Hachiman Buildings,' together with 'Shinmachi-dori,' 'Nagahara-cho dori' and 'Himure-hachimangu Shrine.'
Japanese: 堀沿いには白壁の土蔵や旧家が建ち並び、「近江八幡市八幡伝統的建造物群保存地区」として「新町通り」・｢永原町通り｣・「日牟禮八幡宮境内地」と共に重要伝統的建造物群保存地区に選定されている。
English: With military success in the Shikoku Conquest in 1585, Hidetsugu TOYOTOMI was given Omi, a 430,000-koku fief (feudal domain estimated to produce 2.15 million bushels of rice annually), where he built the Hachiman Castle in Mt. Hachiman and opened a castle town.
Japanese: 1585年（天正13年）、四国征伐で軍功を挙げた豊臣秀次は、近江43万石を与えられ、八幡山に八幡城を築城し、城下町を開町した。
English: In the drive to create a free commercial town, he encouraged merchants and artisans living close to Azuchi-jo Castle to relocate and created a residential area that was divided into squares.
Japanese: 自由商業都市を目指し安土城下などの商人・職人を呼び寄せ、碁盤上に区切った城下町に居住区を設けた。
English: Samurai families were to live on the north side of the canal, and the common folk were to be located on the south side, which was divided further, with merchants on the western part of the area and artisans on the northeastern side.
Japanese: 堀の北側を武士、南側を町人の居住区域とし、さらに、町人の居住区の西を商人、東北を職人の居住区とした。
English: The canal served both as defense for Hachiman Castle and also as a route for transportation in Lake Biwa, contributing hugely to the growth and prosperity of the town.
Japanese: 堀は、八幡城の防衛と湖上交通による物流の役割を兼ね備え、城下町の発展・繁栄に大きく寄与した。
English: Although the castle was closed in 1595 with Hidetsugu committing suicide, the town continued to thrive, reaching a peak of prosperity with commercial operations of the Omi merchants.
Japanese: 1595年（文禄4年）、秀次自害により八幡城は廃城になったが、城下町は存続し、近江商人により繁栄を極めた。
English: Taking advantage of Hachiman-bori Canal's geographical advantage, Omi merchants adopted a trade scheme called 'Shokoku Sanbutsu Mawashi (circulation of goods among regions)' in which they shipped local goods (tatami straw mats, mosquito nets, rice, rice wine and others) via land and water and returned with goods from other regions, which in turn were shipped elsewhere, and through this cycle contributed to industrial development in various parts of the country.
Japanese: 近江商人は八幡堀の地の利を活かし、地場産物（畳表、蚊帳、米、酒など）を陸路や水路を利用して各地へ搬出し、各地の産物を持ち帰り、再び各地へ送り出すといった「諸国産物回し」と呼ばれる商法によって、各地の産業振興に貢献した。
English: The regional merchant culture gave birth to the 'Sanpo-yoshi' principle ('good in three directions' meaning that commerce should not only benefit the buyer and the seller but also society as a whole) -- a business concept that emerged from the experiences of the merchants who engaged in trade with other regions of the country.
Japanese: また、近江商人の商売哲学「三方よし（買い手よし、売り手よし、世間よし）」は、他国での商売を通じて生まれた概念である。
English: In the Showa Period, the practice of 'kawa-zawae (river dredging)' to remove sludge disappeared with the decline of Hachiman-bori's importance as a canal and resulted in sludge sedimentation on the canal bed and foul odor in the area.
Japanese: 昭和になると、運河の機能を失った堀は、汚泥を掬い上げる「川ざわえ」が廃れ、川底にヘドロが堆積し、悪臭を放つようになった。
English: In 1970, the local community association petitioned the municipal government for a plan to renovate the canal, in which the canal was to be filled and turned into a park and parking space.
Japanese: 1970年（昭和45年）、地元自治会は堀の改修計画を市に陳情し、堀を埋め立てて公園と駐車場にする計画が立てられた。
English: However, the Omihachiman Youth Chamber of Commerce sought to restore the canal as the pride of Omihachiman and pressed for reconsideration of the plan, organizing a petition drive and volunteer cleaning campaign aimed at the restoration of the canal.
Japanese: しかし、近江八幡青年会議所は堀を近江八幡の誇りとして蘇らせようと、改修計画の見直しを迫り、八幡堀復活を求めて署名運動・自主清掃活動を行った。
English: In 1975, the 'Yomigaeru Omihachiman no kai (Association for Restoring Omihachiman)' was formed, and the canal preservation and restoration movement grow in scale to involve the citizens at large.
Japanese: 1975年（昭和50年）、「よみがえる近江八幡の会」が設立され、堀の保存修景運動は、市民全体の運動へと展開した。
English: In 1976, full-scale dredging works started, and the project was completed in 1979.
Japanese: そして、1976年（昭和51年）、堀の全面浚渫工事が着工され、1979年（昭和54年）に工事が完成した。
English: In 1982, the canal was named 'City of Water and Greenery Model District Development Project' supervised by National Land Agency, under which the canal's stone embankments were restored and pedestrian walkways and waterfront plazas were created.
Japanese: 1982年（昭和57年）、国土庁の「水緑都市モデル地区整備事業」に指定され、堀の石垣が復元され、堀沿いに遊歩道・親水広場が作られた。
English: In 1988, the 'Group to Preserve Hachiman-bori Canal' was formed, and its members engaged in weeding for improvement of the canal.
Japanese: 1988年（昭和63年）、「八幡堀を守る会」が結成され、会員による除草作業が行なわれるようになった。
English: In 1992, the canal was designated part of 'Omihachiman City Preservation District' for Groups of Historic Hachiman Buildings, together with 'Shinmachi-dori,' 'Nagahara-cho dori' and 'Himure-hachimangu Shrine.'
Japanese: 1992年（平成4年）、「八幡」として「新町通り」・｢永原町通り｣・「日牟禮八幡宮境内地」と共に国の重要伝統的建造物群保存地区に選定される。