Through the month of November, visit Lake Kasumigaura any Saturday or Sunday afternoon between 1 and 3 pm, and you likely will see the single, massive, billowing sails of the Hobikisen fishing boats as they glide gracefully across the lake. Hobikisen have been aptly compared to swans.
As one who is endeared to sailing, I am amazed that these boats with their billowing sails were designed to sail sideways. Why don't they tip over? The horizontal boom at the top of the mast holds lines that are attached to fishing nets. The resistance of the nets as they are dragged through the water helps to stabilize the boat. Hobikisen were used commercially to catch whitebait and freshwater smelt from the 1880s until 1965, when trawlers took over.
How did Lake Kasumigaura form? Centuries ago, it existed as a large river delta. Earth and sand sediment carried by the river settled along the creek bed. Flood control measures instituted in the early Edo period narrowed the mouth of the inlet, creating the approximate shape of the lake that we see today. Sedimentation has created a lake that averages a mere 4 meters deep and has a maximum depth of only 7 meters. This is very shallow compared to Lake Kasumigaura's area of 220 square kilometers. Lake Kasumigaura's size is second only to that of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture.
Lake Kasumigaura is a significant natural landmark in Ibaraki Prefecture, and Hobikisen represent one of the ways in which humans historically have responded to this natural resource. Whether from shore or out on the water, visitors to Lake Kasumigaura are always able to find something to tickle their fancy.
Topics: Recreation, Attractions
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