Kameoka (亀岡市) prospered as a port after the creation of the Sanin-dō Highway (山陰道) some time between the 7th-8thC.
Wood from the Yuge (弓削) and Yamaguni (山国) areas was sent by river through the mountains and out into the Kyōto basin via the Hozu-gawa (保津川).
It takes three men to navigate each flat-bottomed boat.
Each team takes a turn at the rudder, oar and a pole (used to guide the boat away from rocks and push it clear of the more dangerous parts of the river).
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