Take a Walk on Tokyo’s Quiet Side in Higashikurume: Explore a Bamboo Forest, Serene Shrine, and Natural Spring Waters

Chikurin Park, Ochiai River & Minamisawa Springs, Minamisawa Hikawa-jinja Shrine

Your current location:

東京郊外

西東京

As overtourism becomes a growing problem worldwide, attention is shifting toward more tranquil destinations. Go on a day trip to Higashikurume City, just a 30-minute train ride from Ikebukuro, take in the refreshingly crisp air there, and bask in the serenity of Japan's rich nature and culture.
For a relaxing trip you won't soon forget, wander through Chikurin Park's lush Moso bamboo grove, stroll along the Ochiai River and the Minamisawa Springs—Tokyo's only entry among Japan's 100 most significant bodies of water in the Heisei era (1989-2019)—and honor the guardian deity of said springs at Minamisawa Hikawa-jinja Shrine. Also, don't miss this year's special Minamisawa Shishimai lion dance, a traditional ritual held every four years.

*Be sure to bring drinks, sunblock, protective clothing, and plenty of bug spray. Due to limited public parking in the city, we recommend walking or biking (an experimental bike share system is currently in place) between spots. Car parking is not available on the grounds of Minamisawa Hikawa-jinja Shrine or in its vicinity.

A peaceful bamboo forest off the beaten path — Chikurin Park

The first spot on this Higashikurume itinerary is Chikurin Park, a tranquil bamboo grove home to around 2,000 Moso bamboo trees, which you can stroll through in roughly 15 minutes. Follow the path winding through the trees and a clear stream fed by the local springs will come into view. The gentle rustling of bamboo leaves and the sound of flowing water create a serene atmosphere, making the experience of exploring a lush bamboo forest within Tokyo all the more enchanting.

Chikurin Park is especially beautiful in autumn, providing a refreshing retreat amid the lingering heat of summer. During this time, the bamboo trees experience a second wind. Their leaves turn a verdant green with light filtering beautifully through the grove, evoking autumnal aesthetics that will put your mind at ease and make for the perfect bamboo photo shoot. There are also a variety of highlights in other seasons, including fresh green bamboo shoots in spring, fireflies dancing over the water in summer, and the occasional snowfall in winter with the ethereal scenery it creates.

Unlike some of the bamboo forests on the well-trod tourist track, Chikurin Park offers a quiet oasis with no buildings in sight, where you’re more likely to hear birdsong than other visitors, especially on weekdays. This is a must-visit for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone craving a “forest bathing” escape from city life.

A spring-fed river that nourishes natural life and the community — Ochiai River & Minamisawa Springs

After exploring the bamboo forest, continue your stroll along the crystal-clear Ochiai River, where the unpretentious natural scenery of Tokyo blends seamlessly with the everyday lives of the community. The riverside is a local hub for a myriad of activities, from picnicking and jogging to fish and bug catching. Dip your hands into the refreshing water, watch tiny minnows swim by, and unwind as a one-day member of the community.

The Minamisawa Springs breathe life into the river, supplying it uninterruptedly with around 10,000 tons of pristine groundwater daily. In autumn, red dragonflies flit through the air, and visitors can also spot kingfishers showing off their jade-green plumage in style along the river. Together, the Ochiai River and the Minamisawa Springs represent the only spot in Tokyo to rank among the top 100 most significant bodies of water of the Heisei era (1989-2019) chosen by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment—a testament to the abundance and quality of Higashikurume's spring water.

The springs also nourish the surrounding Minamisawa Green Conservation Area, a preserved woodland with walking paths shaded by dense trees. According to the Higashikurume Nature Fureai Volunteers' Masami Toyofuku and Hiroyuki Shimomura, they've been safeguarding the springs and green space for at least two decades to pass down their beauty to the children of tomorrow. The pair led us around the Minamisawa Green Conservation Area, explaining the importance of the Minamisawa Springs and how the people of Higashikurume actively work to protect the natural environment as we went.

"Throughout the year, we engage in all sorts of activities, including tending wild vegetation, managing bamboo groves, removing fallen tree branches, clearing undergrowth, and maintaining the path fencing. We hope visitors will come and enjoy the nature the community has nurtured, too."

Photo courtesy of the Higashikurume Nature Fureai Volunteers

A shrine that has safeguarded the springs — Minamisawa Hikawa-jinja Shrine

According to its head priest Takehito Kurihara, Minamisawa Hikawa-jinja Shrine sits between two rivers and protects the springs as the local guardian deity. Step through its torii gate and you'll be enveloped in crisp, clear air. Its brilliantly vermilion-lacquered shrine building awaits you at the top of a set of stairs shaded by a thick canopy. Although the exact date of its founding is unknown, a wooden plaque on site is marked "1654," with local lore tracing the shrine's origins back to the Heian period (794–1185).

After an eight-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedicatory Minamisawa Shishimai lion dance will be returning in 2025. A designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Higashikurume City, it has been performed at Minamisawa Hikawa-jinja Shrine since the early Edo period (1603–1867), as well as at the nearby Tamonji Temple, to bring good harvests and ward off disease. While most Japanese lion dances feature only a single act (the dance itself), the Minamisawa Shishimai consists of six main performances: a ceremonial procession and entrance, a flashy "tachi" swordplay bout, a ritualistic "kagura" dance, a Kabuki-style interlude, and the central three-lion lion dance, as well as a "manzai" comedy show performed in old-timey Japanese exclusive to Tamonji Temple. During the actual lion dance, three performers in elaborate lion-head costumes with drums strapped around their waists dance to songs and music passed down for centuries. The performers are all members of the community who have upheld this local tradition for generations.

Keeping traditional events alive has many challenges. Despite that, Kurihara expressed his resolve to continue working with the community to pass down the Minamisawa Shishimai tradition to future generations and preserve it as a time-honored piece of local culture.

Performers only rehearse for one week each year. The choreography isn't documented, so these rehearsals are the only way to learn the dances. Their costumes have been carefully repaired and maintained by generations of local parishioners, allowing them to be handed down through the ages. For 2025, experience this piece of living history at Tamonji Temple on Saturday, October 11, and at both Minamisawa Hikawa-jinja Shrine and the temple on Sunday, October 12, and discover why the community has long been waiting for its return.