The large watermill standing on the shore of swamp connected to Lake Biwa

I would like to introduce the large watermill standing on the shore of swamp that is connected to Lake Biwa, the largest lake of Japan, by waterways and water gates. This watermill is located at Notogawa Town (currently Higashi-Omi City), Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

 The history of watermills of this area (Notogawa) goes back a long way; it is said that their prototype was brought to Japan—and the Notogawa area as well—in the first half of the 7th century by the priest from the Korean Peninsula.

In this area, many watermills utilizing the clear flow of rivers had been installed and used for tasks such as rice polishing and milling.

However, as machine-based rice milling became widespread, watermills disappeared from the rural landscape in 1960's.

In recent years, as part of the Hometown Revitalization Project promoted by the government, the town's iconic watermill (13 meters in diameter) was installed in 1991 at this place. This first watermill had been working until 2004. Then the second watermill became the successor.

However, due to deterioration, the second watermill could not work eventually around 2020.

Many people were hoping for its revival, so a decision was made to build a new one, then the current third watermill was completed in August 2025.

Actually, I've known about the road sign pointing the large watermill for many years, but I wasn't particularly interested, so I never went to see it. However, even if I had gone to see it, it had been out of order and stopped working since May 2020, so I'm glad I was able to see the new watermill this time.

 

This waterfront park features a large watermill, a watermill museum, a lawn area, and canoe rentals, making it a popular spot for families.

This is the watermill (diameter 6m) installed at the Watermill Museum.

Using the power of a waterwheel, a pestle is lifted and dropped to mill the brown rice.　This is the reproduction of an old watermill, but the stone mill in front is one that was actually used until 1950's.

This is the swamp named *Iba-lake*, about 49 ha, and this large watermill is in operation near here. Last year, the canoe competition of the National Sports Festival was held here, and the dragon boat race is held in the early summer. Floating dock for canoes right in front and a canoe can be seen paddling out in the distance.  

Many large carps, *Koi*, are swimming in the park's waterways, and they all gather at once when fed.

When I threw some carp food into the pond, they gathered and started fighting over the food.

This is the *azumaya* installed in this waterfront park.

An *azumaya* is an open-air rest house —consisting solely of pillars and a roof—found in places such as gardens and parks.