Study on the shipping route of the Ishikari inland waterway

Most Japanese rivers have steep gradients and experience large seasonal flow variations. Due to these topographical characteristics, Japanese rivers are not typically used for inland waterway transport. However, the gentle gradient found throughout the middle and lower reaches of Hokkaido's Ishikari River, Japan's third longest river and second largest in terms of basin area, gives the Ishikari River potential as an avenue for inland transport. Large cities dot the Ishikari River basin, but despite this, logistics based on inland waterway transport have not developed in Hokkaido. Instead, these basin cities generally rely on trucks to move goods to and from nearby ports, a fact that is behind the mounting pressure for reduced transportation costs. This study examines the possibility of using the Ishikari River for inland waterway transport by looking at the river's physical suitability