Sarusawa Pond

Sarusawa Pond, with a circumference of 360 meters, is located in Nara Park. The five-story pagoda of Kofukuji Temple and the willows in the pond are reflected on the surface of the water, creating a beautiful scene.

Because of its beauty, the pond was selected as one of the eight scenic spots in the southern part of Nara.

Sarusawa Pond is a man-made pond created by Kofukuji Temple in 749. It is a release pond for the “Hosei-kai” religious ceremony, in which captured creatures are released into the wild in a gesture of compassion for all life.

On the north side, there are 52 stone steps, the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple, and the Slip Slope, which is designated as a scenic asset of Nara Prefecture.

On the day of the harvest moon in mid-autumn, a spectacular event called “Saime Festival” is held. While gagaku (traditional Japanese court music) is played, a kangen boat carrying a two-meter-long hana-fan decorated with the seven autumnal flowers, a hana-senshi (fan), Miss Unume, and Miss Nara travels around Sarusawa Pond, and finally the fan is thrown into the pond.

The pond is also known as the mysterious pond of the mysterious Seven Wonders.

It is said, “It is not clear, it is not muddy, it does not come out, it does not go in, it does not have frogs, it does not have algae, and it has seven parts fish and three parts water.

The water in Sarusawa Pond is never clear or muddy, and although there are no rivers flowing in or out, the amount of water is always constant.

Although the number of fish released into the pond increases every year, the pond never seems to be overflowing with fish. The pond looks as if it could have more fish than water.

In fact, there is upstream and downstream through a buried channel, and recently the water has turned green due to the constant occurrence of algae blue-green algae in the pond.

Sarusawa Pond Park is close to the city center and is a favorite place for citizens to relax.