Komagome

（Bunkyo Ward/Kita Ward）

Around Komagome Station the famous places are Rikugen, which is a park, and Kyufurukawatein Park, which is a garden park. It takes a couple of hours to walk around this grand scale park.

Rikugen represents a garden in the Metropolis that attracts many tourists. In the first half of the Edo Period (1603-1868) the Shogunate’s assistant Yanagizawa Yoshiyasu sang songs about the garden. Now when people hear the songs they are reminded of this place. The Azalea’s inside the park are beautiful, when one mentions Komagome the main image is of Azaleas.

Kyufurukawatein Park is definitely worth visiting because it mixes Western-style gardens, Japanese-style gardens, Western-style houses, waterfalls and ponds in a friendly manner. The pond has Koi Fish and turtles in it. When people approach the pond the fish and turtles think they will be fed, therefore they will approach the visitors. You can easily catch a glimpse of a turtle resting upon a rock.

There is also a Tea Room where you can enjoy Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. There is also a room where you can learn Tea Ceremony. Next to the Western-style house there are a variety of roses. The roses are named after something famous; in the garden you will find yokan (sweet bean jelly) that has rose petal inside of it for sale. This would make a very unusual gift.

After exiting the station if you go in the direction of the crosswalk you will see Ookuni Shrine. Many places in the town have small statues of the Jizo (deity of guarding children) and shrines. There are many shops dealing with Japanese-style accessories; there are also stores that will make new clothes from kimono fabric.

There are many small restaurants, super markets, and kimono shops; the town has a very calm disposition.

If you go in the direction of Tabata you will see the Tabata Literary Town Memorial; this area is famous for Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, Murou Saisei, and Hagiwara Sakutarou 3 people who represent Japanese literature who lived in this area. If you have an interest in Japanese Culture you should defiantly have a look.

Sightseeing Spots:
Rikugen Park
Kyufurukawatein Park

Access:
Komagome Station　ＪＲ Yamanote Line
Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line

Buses from Komagome Station:
From the South Exit there are buses that go to Akihabara and Ochanomizu.