The Wall: Fluvial terrace and Sagamihara Dohogawa Park 道保川公園 II

 

Coming down to the riverside, first we meet with a well-maintained trekking road running north-south. The design of strolling paths for Dohogawa Park is roughly excursion style along the river (stream?). You can choose from one direction and return to the same point in the end. The northern part of the route from here runs in the mountain side, a bit higher than the river. Today, let’s take this route first. I guess it is the original commuter road for locals of yesteryears. It is still well- maintained and the trees surrounding the route are carefully taken care of. Dohogawa Park itself is along a popular 21st century commuter road where cars are buzzing. We inevitably hear the mechanical noise even on this mountain-side road. Still, the atmosphere of serenity prevails. The light from the canopy comes down to our foot not that menacingly even in midsummer. The murmur from water stream somewhere calms down the sweltering heat and feeling. It’s a good strolling path.

Coming down from the plateau

The path running north from our start.
It’s amazing for such atmosphere of “deep” forest
from the Park which is actually thin strip
of greenery along a car road.

When we go north, in less than 10 minutes, the route meets with the dead end with fence. Roughly 1 ha of the Park is currently off-limit for visitors. From there, there are steps which bring us to the path going south along the stream. Riverside road is far wider, capable for wheelchairs. Dohogawa Park is famous for dances of fireflies from the end of May to early June. Such a roomy promenade must be popular among locals coming to admire bugs’ show. Eventually we meet with a crossing, to the left, the right, or straight ahead. To the right, we walk along the car road. Going straight, we cross a small bridge to move to the west bank of the river. All the routes to the south end with the south gate of the Park where the admin office and toilets reside. Turn to the left, we return to the point we came down. But before returning to the starting point, there will be another diversion that brings us a wide dead end of a valley.

The first dead end.
Coud you see the road is u-turning over there?

We can descend to the river side with these steps.

The path along the stream is wide.

Actually, the path brings us small bridges many times.

The direction to “Wasabi field.”
Could you see the dead end there?

The dead end is one of the water sources of Dohogawa River 道保川. I guess this was the place once Wasabi field was held. Water seeps out from the bottom of the cliff to create a water stream little by little. I don’t know if the amount of water was more before the upper place has rows of houses. Certainly, the current volume of water in this basement is not enough for Wasabi cultivation, even for my amateur eyes. Even though, the light coming from above and the atmosphere in this small valley are like Wasabi places of Izu Peninsula 伊豆半島. I was impressed by the height of the ledge. Actually the cliff is effectively showing the inside of the Sagamihara Plateau. Come to think of it, Dohogawa River flows a bit higher place than Sagami River 相模川. When we calculate the difference of altitude between Sagami River and the Plateau, the difference of elevation must be much more. The river has eroded that much of land, and created the waterless Plateau … Impressive. The amount of water declining for Dohogawa River could be a process of creating waterless Plateau. Wow.

This part of the Park has the route of wooden walkway.
The slope over the stream next to the path is
the beginning of Sagamihara Plateau.

The steep slope is covered by broad-leaved trees.
We can see the ridge way,
but over there is an expansion of suburbia.

Now returning to the main excursion route from Wasabi place, we first meet with a small clump of reeds in the river. Soon, there is a pond where turtles sunbathe on the shore. A nice bridge of traditional design connects the east and west banks of the pond. When you Google Dohogawa Park, the photo you find is normally taken somewhere around the traditional bridge. This is a small lake beloved by locals to stroll on weekends. The vegetation along the bank is more for a horticultural Japanese garden, and well taken care of. The water is known for migratory birds congregating during winter. When weather is gentler, like in spring or autumn, it will be a good place for your grandma holding weekend picnic. The very end of the pond is an admin office and toilet for the Park. Parking is also near to the pond. If we visit the place by car, access to the Park from the pond would be more standard.

Reeds. Fireflies make such a place their home.

The path to the pond is wide and gentle.

It becomes more “garden” like.

The pond

Admin Office and toilets

Dohogawa Park is a quiet and relaxing place. Moreover, we could experience gigantic work of water and land producing a plateau. It’s so interesting we can see how the planet earth handles its daily business just around the corner of Tokyo’s suburbs. Maybe, it’s the thrill to be in suburbia. 😉

If you find environmental issues in Sagamihara’s City Parks, please make a contact with

Management Office of Dohogawa Park
道保川公園管理事務所

1359 Kamimizo, Chuo-ku, City of Sagamihara 252-0243
〒252-0243　神奈川県相模原市中央区上溝1359
Phone & FAX: 042-776-6484

You can email an enquiry to 

info-dohogawa-slcg@yokohamaryokuchi.com