Entering the kofun (tumulus) period, a canal was dug out between Seto Inland Sea and the Kawachi-ko lake considering convenience of water transport, and was named Naniwa no Horie.
古墳時代に入ると、人々は水運の利便性を考えて瀬戸内海と河内湖の間に運河を掘削し、これを難波堀江(なにわのほりえ）と名付けた。