The Japanese proverb 'isogaba maware (more haste, less speed)' originated from a waka that was written about a ferry called the 'Yahashi no Watashi' connecting the present-day Kusatsu City and Otsu City.
なお「急がば回れ」という諺は、現在の草津市と大津市の間を結んでいた「矢橋の渡し」を詠んだ和歌が語源となっている。