Crossing the Oi River - Oigawa no Watashi

Japanese: 大井川の渡 - おおいがわのわたし

…The water from this river is also used for the Oigawa River Irrigation Project, which was implemented as a national and prefectural project, and is sent to the rice paddy areas on both banks of the river in the Shida, Haibara, and Nakaen districts. Furthermore, the abundant groundwater in the Kawajiri area of Yoshida Town near the river mouth is used for eel farming. [Matsumoto Shigeki]
[Oi River Crossing]
A popular song goes, "You can cross the Hakone 8 ri on horseback, but the Oi River is impossible to cross," and the Oi River, which flows along the border between Suruga and Totomi, was considered a difficult spot on the Tokaido. During the Edo period, no bridges were built, and people had to cross the river in palanquins or on shoulder carriages by Kawagoe laborers.

From Shimada City

…Most of the city is on the left bank of the Oi River, and the city area is located at the apex of the alluvial fan on the left bank of the Oi River, but the Hatsukura area, which has belonged to Hatsukura Manor since the end of the Heian period, is on the right bank. Shimada, in the center of the city, was a major post town on the Tokaido Road until the ban on ferries and bridges across the Oi River was lifted in the early Meiji period, and was known as a difficult place to pass because of the river being blocked. It is said that the Shimada hairstyle was first worn by the prostitutes of this post town. …

*Some of the terminology used in reference to "Oigawa Crossing" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…またこの川の水は，国･県営事業として施行された大井川用水にも利用され，左右両岸の志太（しだ）･榛原（はいばら）･中遠地区の水田地帯に送られており，さらに河口近くの吉田町川尻一帯では豊富な地下水が養鰻に利用されている。【松本繁樹】
［大井川の渡］
　〈箱根八里は馬でも越すが越すに越されぬ大井川〉と俗謡にうたわれているが，駿河･遠江の境を流れる大井川は東海道の難所とされた。江戸時代には架橋されず，渡河は川越（かわごし）人足によって輦台（れんだい）や肩車で渡河せねばならなかった。…