Kōmyō Pond, Irrigation reservoir in Minami-ku, Japan
Kōmyō Pond is an irrigation reservoir in the Izumi district of Minami-ku, Osaka, built to supply water to the farmland around it. The water sits in a flat, open setting, with dirt paths running along the edges that let you see the full extent of the pond.
The pond was completed in 1936, during a period when Japan was investing heavily in rural infrastructure to support farming. Korean laborers were brought in to carry out the construction, a fact that the memorial stone on site still marks today.
A memorial stone near the water's edge honors the Korean laborers who built the reservoir. The stone is easy to find and gives the site a human dimension that goes beyond its function.
The reservoir can be visited at any time of year, and the paths along the banks are easy to walk. Water levels tend to be lower in the driest months, which changes how the site looks but does not affect access.
The name Kōmyō translates literally as 'light of truth', a term rooted in Buddhist tradition that appears in several place names across the region. A nearby train station shares the same name and has grown into one of the main transit points for the surrounding area.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
