Tokyo Shinobazu Pond

It is known that long, long time ago, the pond that stands in the middle of the Ueno Park was and inlet of the Tokyo Bay, directly communicating to the delta of the Sumida river. The green area surrounding the Shinobazu pond was declared public park immediately after the Meiji Restauration, and today is one of the largest parks of Tokyo.

The temple visible in the photo, dedicated to the goddess Benten, was originally built at the beginning of the 17th century, on an artificial island. During the WWII, the entire lake became a rice paddy, and the temple was destroyed by bombings. After the war, both the temple and the Shinobazu pond were restored, and today the entire area offers a spectacular view during the lotus blooming season.