The Dosan canal was used to transport timber and stone building materials required for the construction of the castle from the Sumidagawa estuary up to the Edo Castle, and a funamachi (riverine port town) was built one both banks of the canal.
道三堀は墨田川河口から江戸城の傍まで、城の建造に必要な木材や石材を搬入するために活用され、道三堀の左右に舟町が形成された。