Kuhonbutsu River（九品仏川）March 31, 2025
Did camellias bloom at the same time as cherry blossoms? I thought camellias bloomed in a colder season. An impressive view unfolds in a quiet place along the winding path.
Where I Walked
It wasn’t the best weather, but I went out to explore.
The news said that the cherry blossoms in Tokyo are now in full bloom, but unfortunately, today has been cold like winter, with occasional light rain.
I had hoped to take photos of the blossoms against a clear blue sky, but it just wasn’t the day for it.
I began my walk at the point where the Kuhonbutsu River, a tributary, joins the main flow of the Nomi River.
There’s a confluence just behind the black curtain, but it’s not visible from the outside. Upstream from this point, the Nomi River becomes a covered waterway.
The strip of land with cherry trees and other plants follows the path of an old river.
Car barriers like bollards are a typical sight along covered river routes.
The river passes under the railway tracks just ahead. At the entrance, there’s a statue of a giraffe — perhaps acting as a playful car barrier.
I crossed the railway and came to the spot where the river passes underneath it, from the upstream side. There’s a piece of playground equipment for toddlers placed nearby.
The river crosses under the roadway, flows beneath the cherry trees beside Midorigaoka Station, and continues toward the railway overpass.
The river flows between cherry trees and passes underneath the Oimachi Line.
The cherry blossoms stretch on.
From around here, camellias begin to appear alongside the cherry trees, taking turns as if in harmony — adding even more color to the spring scenery.
On these car-free ankyo paths, children often find a safe place to play.
A sign hanging from a camellia tree reads, “It’s 5 o’clock — time to go home.”
Once again, the Kuhombutsu River disappears beneath the railway tracks.
A view from the upstream side, after crossing the railway tracks.
Up to this point, many of the cherry trees seemed to have been pruned, perhaps due to age,
but this one still had a relatively strong and graceful shape.
Jiyugaoka Station is getting close.
On a usual day, the benches here would be full of people — but today, as expected, no one is sitting.
The river passes quietly under Jiyugaoka Station.
Today’s exploration ends at Jiyugaoka Station.
I started walking toward the station, ready to take the train home — but then I stumbled upon a narrow alley.
Of course, I couldn’t help myself… I had to take a look.
Yokocho（横丁）: A narrow alley lined with small restaurants and bars — a typical sight in many Tokyo neighborhoods. Sadly, there aren’t as many of them as there used to be.
A quiet dead end — but I imagine it would feel much more alive at night, with the lights glowing.