A kilometre-long vein of green follows the course of an old river
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Eine deutsche Version dieses Artikels finden Sie hier.
A German version of this posting you can find here.
No one will be surprised to learn that the city of Tōkyō, partially located only a few metres above sea level and blessed by quite a number of large rivers on its territory, is also criss-crossed by countless small watercourses. These originate from tributaries and canals that serve both water supply and drainage purposes. Another one of the many examples you can find here:
Kitazawa River Green Way (北沢川緑道), Setagaya (世田谷)
– Rural idyll in the middle of the big city
While at the Kitazawa River in Setagaya part of the old river course was used to create an elongated park landscape with a picturesque stream running through it, the “Momozono River Green Way” (桃園川緑道 / ももぞのがわりょくどう) is merely a green strip stretching over several kilometres. Originally, the Momozono River (桃園川 / ももぞのがわ) was an artificially created diversion of the Zenpukuji River (善福寺川 / ぜんぷくじがわ) in Ogikubo (荻窪 / おぎくぼ), which was built in the mid-19th century to supply water. The river flows into the Kanda River (神田川 / かんだがわ) at what is now Higashi Nakano (東中野 / ひがしなかの) and still flows into the river today, although it is not visible.
Please also have a look at this:
Zenpukuji & Igusa Hachimangū (善福寺/井草八幡宮)
– Architectural liberty & shintō sense of style
Between 1923 and 1931, the course of the river was radically straightened. However, in the period that followed there were still repeated floodings. In addition, the river had long lost one of its original purposes of irrigating rice paddies, as the proliferation of the megacity continued. In the second half of the 1960s, the already canal-like river was covered and gradually “upgraded” with playground equipment and plantings.
Between 1984 and 1994, the green spaces linging the path were further „spruced up“. And in 2011, the path was finally declared a “park”. Today, it streched from near Asagaya station (阿佐ヶ谷駅 / あさがやえき) in the west to the Kanda River (神田川 / かんだがわ) in the east for a length of about five kilometres without any significant interruption. A space for extended walks through a varied residential area – undistrubed by motor traffic – covering three districts (Nakano in Nakano-ku, Kōenji and Asagaya in Setagaya-ku).
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
It is being said, that the name of the river (or the green way respectively) to go back to an order by the Shōgun, who demanded that the name should reflect the fact that there numerous peach plantations in this region in the early Edo period: “momo” (桃) = peach / “zono” (園) = garden.
On the route of the “Momozonogawa Green Way“”, you not only pass the small Miyamae Park (宮前公園 / みやまえこうえん) in Nakano 2-Chōme…
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道) / Miyamae Park (宮前公園)
https://goo.gl/maps/3jr21wxmS4cQvc2c7
. but you will find diversely designed bridges and access barriers. And if you want, you can enjoy the the footpath pictorially decorated by tiles in several sections. A particularly child-friendly informative series of pictures tells the story of “Momotarō” (桃太郎 / ももたろう). If you want to have a look:
1st Picture
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道) / Momotarō“(桃太郎)
A long, long time ago, an old man and his wife lived childless and a little lonely in Japan. One day, while the old woman was washing her clothes in the nearby stream, a huge peach came floating downstream. She picked it up with difficulty – it was so big and heavy – and took it home with her.
2nd Picture
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道) / Momotarō“(桃太郎)
The old woman waited until her husband came home before she started eating the peach. Then she took a knife, stabbed the juicy peach and exclaimed, “What a treat!” At that moment, the peach split in halves and a loud yelp, a sweet little boy sprang out. At first the couple was startled, then overjoyed to be blessed with a child.
3rd Picture
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道) / Momotarō“(桃太郎)
The named him Momotarō (桃太郎 / ももたろう) (we already know: “momo” means “peach” – and Tarō is a common Japanese boy’s name) and raised him with loving care. Momotarō grew up strong, vigorous and friendly. In no time at all the had become the strongesst in the village.
4th Picture
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道) / Momotarō“(桃太郎)
One day, Momotarō heard about the demons on Onigashima (鬼ケ島 / おにがしま) (Island of Demons), that spread fear among his countrymen. He set off in a good mood. On the way, he met a dog, a pheasant and a monkey, whom he managed to convince to go with him. The four companions succeed in subduing the leader of the demons with a surprise attack.
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Momozono River Greenway (桃園川緑道)
Irrespective of whether you walk the “Momozono River Green Way” from east to west or vice versa, take the chance at Asagaya station not only to stroll the new shopping passage under the rail tracks of the Japan Rail lines running in eastern/western directions…
Asagaya “al:ku”
Asagaya “al:ku”
Asagaya “al:ku”
Asagaya “al:ku”
… but also to pay your respects to one of the prettiest shrines in the city:
Asagaya Shinmeigū (阿佐ヶ谷神明宮) (Pictures)
– A gem in the middle of Tōkyō – where one would hardly suspect it
The “Momozono River Green Way” is open around the clock all year round.