Oct 18, 2013 - 1 min read

Tamagawa's Scenic Charm

A getaway from the hustle & bustle of Tokyo city life

Community writer

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The day after Typhoon Wipha, I took advantage of the sunny weather to take a walk around Tamagawa, or Tama River. On the map, the big patch of green looked promising to a nature lover like me.

It is surprising to see the vastness of the green space available for kite-flying, baseball and other sports activities given the scarcity of space in Tokyo. The Tamagawa certainly offers a spacious break to any city rat.

There is also a golf practice range nearby. Golf enthusiasts, here is the place to practice your swings to your hearts' content!

As it was late morning, the playground was still empty Apart from the occasional train chugging by, the playground area is an idyllic little spot to relax. I indulged myself on the swing, soothed by the momentum.

If you know some Japanese, public signs could be of interest to you. This one says, "do not unleash your dogs," another says, "do not barbecue here," yet another, "hold your rubbish and bring it back."

If you were feeling energetic and ambitious, you could even walk on the Rokugobashi, or Rokugo Bridge all the way to Kawasaki. It's only less than 2 km and would probably take around half an hour to do so.

Near the Rokugobashi, is this old temple, Kitano shrine. You can stop your bad luck by praying here. The old caretaker told me it has 300 years of history!

A walk around the Tamagawa River offers a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo's city life. At the banks of the Tamagawa River, big green spaces are available for various sports activities like cycling, jogging, baseball and kite-flying. There is even a golf practice range! The best weather to go to the Tamagawa River is probably in early autumn. Anyone needing exercise or some peace and quiet could head to the Tamgawa River. Nearest station to the Tamagawa is Rokugodote, or for me it's simply a leisurely 15 minutes walk from Zoshiki station, which is where my apartment, Oakhouse Kamata 260 is located.