The boat you ride is exactly the same as those of the Edo Period. It is known as a “flatboat,” and it is uniquely suited to the slenderness and steepness of the Hozugawa River.

Conventional wisdom dictates you’d consider building large boats to ferry large quantities of rice and vegetables. However, the Hozugawa is narrow and shallow to boot, making it impossible to simply build bigger boats. The optimal solution to that problem is this boat: meticulously engineered in the Edo Period, it features a long, narrow shape with a raised prow to break oncoming waves and save the cargo from the water.