Waterfall of village headman's waterfall park in Oji
1. Today's Walking Course
Today, I came to Oji, north part of Tokyo. I’ll visit the village headman’s waterfall park to see a waterfall.
2. Today's Photographies
There are some old-fashioned buildings on the way to the village headman’s waterfall park.
This shop is called Ishinabe-kuzumochi sweet shop and very famous for “kuzumochi”. I will stop by this shop to get “kuzumochi”.
This is a sweet called “kuzumochi”. It is made from wheat. First, protein is extracted from wheat and the remaining is fermented for one and a half year or two years into “kuzukiri”. We usually eat it with brown sugar syrup and yellow soy flour. This sweet is one of the most popular traditional sweets in summer.
photo by the shop's HP
After eating “kuzumochi”, I am heading to the village headman’s waterfall garden.
Here is the entrance of the garden.
Wow, how tranquil it is! I cannot believe that I am in Tokyo now.
The pavement is so unique. It is made of stones and roof tiles.
I’ve heard that Oji used to be so greenery and British people came to Japan in the 19th century called this area “Japanese Cotswolds”. Now I understand it.
Finally, I arrived at waterfall. It is so refreshing. The temperature around here is definitely much lower than outside! I guess local people often used to come to this garden to enjoy the cool during summer.
3. History
In the 19th century, the village headman called Sonpachi made this garden as private. That is why the garden is called “village headman’s waterfall garden”.
In 20th century, a business man who managed a trading company acquired and developed the garden. In 1938, Japanese company called Seiyoken bought the garden, built restaurant and pool inside and opened to the public.
The garden was destroyed by the air-raid during the World War Ⅱ. However, Tokyo metropolitan government opened to the pubic again in 1960.
There used to be seven waterfalls in Oji. Japanese famous painter, Hiroshige Utagawa painted one of those waterfalls in Oji as below.
Due to the urbanization of Oji, Six of seven waterfalls disappeared and the waterfall in the village headman’s garden is only remaining.
4. Information
・Closest station to the village headman’s waterfall garden is Oji Station, JR Keihin Tohoku Line. The garden is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The entrance fee is free.
・Ishinabe-kuzumochi sweet shop is open form 9:30am to 6:00pm from Monday to Friday and from 9:30 to 5:00pm on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. “Kuzumochi” is 510 yen.
If you are interested in Oji area, please check the following articles.
