Sarusawa Pond, Historic pond in Nara Park, Japan.
Sarusawa Pond is a rectangular artificial pond in Nara Park with a perimeter of about 360 meters. A low wall of fitted grey and brown stones borders the far bank, and willows and pines line the shore. The five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji and its surrounding willows are reflected on the water surface, a view counted among the Nanto Hakkei, Nara's Eight Views.
The pond was created in 749 during Japan's Nara period and stands among the oldest features of the park. It has remained central to the landscape for more than a thousand years, defining the character of the area.
Each April, Kōfuku-ji temple holds a hōjō-e ceremony here, releasing captured animals as an act of offering. The pond's name is said to derive from the Miko Pond of Vaiśālī in India, or from a monkey pond, referring to a large or short-tailed monkey. The Uji Shūi Monogatari tells of a monk who mischievously posted a sign reading 'a dragon appears in Sarusawa Pond'; Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's story 'Ryū' draws on this tale.
The pond is easily reachable on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station and sits within the main park area. Good walking shoes are recommended since paths around the water are paved, and different viewpoints offer different perspectives of the water's reflections.
The water's surface mirrors the five-story pagoda of the neighboring temple and forms part of Nara's Eight Views. These reflections are sharpest during calm weather, making certain spots along the shore popular for photographs.
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