Saruzawa Pond in Nara is teeming with turtles. You won't see them in winter, but in summer they come out to play - or rather, sunbathe, swim and eat. If you are lucky you can also see dragon boats, or maybe they are phoenix boats. Kozen-in and the pagoda of Kofukuji stand on the hillside above the pond, and a small, picturesque restaurant is built out over the water at one end.
- 1 min read
Saruzawa Pond in Nara
Sunbathing turtles overlooked by Kofukuji Pagoda
![Cathy Cawood Cathy Cawood](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/u/1713/240x240!/61d020bdef751f611f5e3c02.jpg)
By Cathy Cawood
Community writer
![Festival boats on the pond](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88549/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88549.jpg)
Festival boats on the pond
![View across the pond](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88547/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88547.jpg)
View across the pond
![Just swimming around](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88539/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88539.jpg)
Just swimming around
![Lunch buddies?](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88538/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88538.jpg)
Lunch buddies?
![Sunbathing on a log](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88540/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88540.jpg)
Sunbathing on a log
![Kofukuji's pagoda rising from the trees ](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88537/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88537.jpg)
Kofukuji's pagoda rising from the trees
![Who's the handsomest turtle here?](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88544/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88544.jpg)
Who's the handsomest turtle here?
![Log party](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88551/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88551.jpg)
Log party
![Steps lead to up to Kozen-in](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88545/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88545.jpg)
Steps lead to up to Kozen-in
![Where did that shrimp go?](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88550/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88550.jpg)
Where did that shrimp go?
![Pretty little restaurant on the pond's edge](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88542/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88542.jpg)
Pretty little restaurant on the pond's edge
![Relaxing with the pigeons](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/14886-88548/1000/nara-saruzawa-pond-88548.jpg)
Relaxing with the pigeons
Join the discussion
Radica Sooknarine
9 years ago
I absolutely adore those turtle photos!
Thanks, Radica. I can never resist trying to take photos of local wildlife, but I think these are my best ever turtle photos.
2 comments in total
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