Shimizu-Kubo Spring Stream（清水窪湧水の流れ）June 15, 2025
Hydrangeas blooming beside the flow from Shimizu-Kubo, which feeds into Senzoku Pond.
Where I Walked
For the first time on my ankyo walks, I found a natural source.
I went to explore a small stream that flows into Senzoku Pond, the source of the Senzoku Nagare I followed the other day.
With the summer solstice approaching, there was still plenty of daylight after work — enough time for a good walk.
Still, it felt a bit hot for June.
This is the lowest overpass in Tokyo’s 23 wards — only about 1.5 meters high.
I came across a book that said the Senzoku Nagare originally flowed through this very spot.
It does feel plausible — the path doesn’t seem like something made just for people to walk.
I walked along the side of the pond to the spot where the stream from Shimizu-Kubo flows into Senzoku Pond.
After walking a bit from the pond, I reached the point where the stream disappears underground and becomes an ankyo.
The river gently meanders through the residential neighborhood.
I came across a hand-pumped well at the entrance of a house along the old waterway.
There’s a tiny park built over the river, and just ahead, the river passes underneath the train tracks.
To cross the railway, I had to take a detour.
When I looked back, I could clearly see the valley carved out by the river.
Descend into the valley.
It flows gently, curving beneath the cliff where the elementary school stands.
The waterway turns left at the upcoming intersection.
The source is just ahead.
At the time, I had no idea there was a water source hidden in a place like this.
The grove of trees marks the water source.
Shimizukubo Benzaiten
Benzaiten is a goddess of water, music, the arts, and prosperity. She originally comes from the Indian river goddess Sarasvati and was introduced to Japan centuries ago.
You’ll often find her shrines near ponds, rivers, or springs.
In places like Shimizukubo, having a Benzaiten shrine near the water source may be a way of honoring and giving thanks for the gift of fresh water.
I can hear the sound of flowing water!
While the water here seems to be circulating through a man-made system, I’ve heard that natural spring water still seeps out from beneath the trees.
Can you see the turtles in the pond?
This spot is actually one of the “57 Famous Springs of Tokyo.”
Now I’m feeling inspired to visit some of the others, too.