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

Upstairs, Downstairs: Fluvial terrace and Sagamihara Dohogawa Park 道保川公園

 

In yesteryears, Sagamihara plateau was a place difficult to have thriving agricultural communities, due to the scarcity of water. But the plateau is sandwiched between Sagami 相模川 and Sakai 境川 Rivers. There were old villages along the rivers for centuries. Villagers there could use water from the river. They could cultivate rice. In the 21st century, the difference for the access of water is not much between the two areas. But the forests are different. Today, I tell you my adventure in a forest near Sagami River of Sagamihara City. It’s Dohogawa Park 道保川公園 of 7.7ha.

A map of Dohogawa Park, shown on site

To know how the two areas of Sagamihara are different, I recommend you using commuter bus services from JR Sagamihara Station 相模原駅 or Odakyu Sagami-ohno Station 相模大野駅. Otherwise, please walk from JR Kamimizo Station 上溝駅 for 20 minutes. There are lots of bus services from Sagamihara Station South Exit by Kanachu-bus of Sou 相 - 21, 25, 7, 28, and 29 (; checking timetables is from here), or of Oo 大 - 25 from Sagami-ohno Station (North Exit; the timetable is from here). A bus-ride from Sagamihara Station is about 10 minutes, whereas from Sagami-ono is 35 minutes. Whichever you take, please get off the bus at Nishi-hikarigaoka 3-chome Stop 西光が丘三丁目. You’ll see Family Mart Convenience Store near the stop. From the corner of the Fami-ma, there is a residential road going straight to the west. Please dive in, and about 5 minutes from Fami-ma, there is Yokodai 陽光台 Community Centre on your left. Keep on going, and you reach to an open space named “Jo-dan Hiroba 上段広場” of Dohogawa Park. It means “upper-part open space.” Very apt. So far, we walked Sagamihara Plateau, flat with lots of houses and commercial premises but very few greeneries. The open space we’ve just arrived is at the edge of the plateau, with trees!

Bus terminal from the South Exit of Sagamihara Station

The stop for bus services from Sagami-ohno Station,
going near Dohogawa Park

The bus stop Nishi-hikarigaoka 3-chome
you should get off if you come from Sagamihara Station.

Nishi-hikarigaoka 3-chome stop if you come from Sagami-ono.
Oh, if you use these services for going home
with the same service to Sagami-ono,
the stop you’ll take is the above photo.
Or to Sagamihara Station, vice versa.

Family Mart with an ample parking space

Now, to the Park go straight.

Yokodai Community Centre

Keep on going. Could you see trees over there?

We’ve arrived Jo-dan Hiroba of Dohogawa Park.

“Dohogawa” means “Doho River.” It’s a tributary of Sagami River joining the mainstream at about 5km down from the Dohogawa Park. The Park is spreading along the water source of Dohogawa. i.e. It‘s a park of natural water, very different from the plateau forests like Komorebi-no-mori Forest こもれびの森 (; my post for July 14 and 21, 2024), or Sagamihara Park 県立相模原公園 (; my post for January 25, 2019). From the open space we arrived, on our right a steep slope goes down directly to the riverside of Dohogawa. Let‘s go down to the river. It is steep, I tell you. The slope, or the cliff, is covered by both broad leaved and coniferous trees. I was impressed by the geology Sagami River created. It is an experience to feel the fluvial terrace.

Walking in the open space ...

At the beginning of the steps going down,
there is a gate and these notice boards.

Beginning of the steps

We‘ve gone down this much!

The forest of Dohogawa Park is acted as a water source forest for Dohogawa River. The scenery is definitely different from the residential area we went through from the bus stop. Plateau part had rows of homes, with not much garden or greenery. In yesteryears the area was probably grass land or forest consisted of drying-resistant trees. But if we come near the river, broadleaved trees that love moisture, such as maple trees, appear. It is said that previous landlords of the Dohogawa Park engaged in Wasabi cultivation which requires lots of water. With the greenery at the plateau table and the forest spreading over the slope retaining rainwater, once the river had enough H2O for the business. Alas, the residential development dramatically reduced the expansion of water source greenery, and now the river flow is not much, unsuitable for Wasabi. The municipal park was opened in 1990. For opening, the civil engineers were worried if the park could maintain the sufficient amount of water for the river. So, before the inauguration, the City of Sagamihara dug 6 wells. The water from the wells is released to Dohogawa River and keeps the water level. Although the river looks running naturally, it has a huge boost by human hands. Next week, I tell you my adventure more in Dohogawa Park. Please stay tuned! 😊 Oh, by the way, Dohogawa Park has parking spaces along the river. Map of the Park and the parking is here.

Large Japanese Bird Cherry near Dohogawa River.
This tree loves humid environment.

Parking space for Dohogawa Park

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