Why go
The pond and adjoining woodland provide a green counterpart to Kichijoji's shopping streets.
Field Notes
The pond was once essential infrastructure for Edo, supplying water through the Kanda system to the city and castle. That role ended in 1898 as modern waterworks took over. The Kanda River still begins within the park, so finding its starting point gives the walk a connection to the wider geography of Tokyo rather than treating the pond as an isolated ornamental lake.
Names around the water preserve further clues. Nanai Bridge recalls the pond’s many former spring outlets. At the western end, Ochanomizu marks an area once fed by clear spring water from beneath the Gotenyama plateau; the water there is now pumped from a well. Gotenyama’s wooded higher ground also takes its name from a resting place associated with shogun Iemitsu’s falconry outings. Moving between low waterside paths and the higher woodland thus reveals both a useful water source and a landscape enjoyed long before the public park opened.
Planning Notes
Suggested time on site: 2–3 hours. Keep travel and waiting time separate from that estimate.
Timing noted for this stop: Morning; spring blossoms or autumn color.
Access reference: Kichijoji Station, about 5 minutes; Inokashira-koen Station, about 1 minute. Check the final walking or connecting leg when choosing your route.
Location
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