Sarusawa-Ike Pond Park
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Kintetsu-Nara Station · 5 min walk (Kintetsu Nara Line)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 15–30 min
- Best time to go
- Evening, especially during the Mid-Autumn Moon (September or October) for the lantern-lit Uneme Matsuri, or dusk when the pond banks and weeping willows are softly illuminated.
About
Sarusawa-Ike Pond is a scenic, historic oasis in Nara offering one of the city's most iconic views: the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple perfectly mirrored in its waters. It is a fantastic, free spot to unwind, watch the resident turtles sunbathe, and capture classic photos. Expect a peaceful, slow-paced atmosphere that serves as a perfect transition between Nara Park and the historic Naramachi merchant district.
What Japanese guides note
Visitors frequently treat Sarusawa-Ike Pond merely as a quick photo backdrop, but it historically served as the formal approach to Kōfuku-ji via the 52 stone steps leading to the former South Gate site. Because Kōfuku-ji's five-story pagoda is currently enclosed within scaffolding for long-term conservation through 2031, travelers should adjust expectations regarding the mirrored pagoda view. Feeding bread or non-standard food to the pond's resident turtles and carp is discouraged to maintain water balance in this enclosed basin. The pond perimeter serves as an unhurried pedestrian threshold directly connecting the Sanjo-dori shopping street to the merchant quarter of Naramachi.
Details from local sources
- Sarusawa-Ike Pond was artificially excavated in 749 AD (Tenpyō 21) as a ritual release pond (hōjō-chi) for Kōfuku-ji Temple's animal-releasing rites. [source]
- The pond is traditionally defined by the Seven Mysteries of Sarusawa, noting that its water neither fully clarifies nor muddies and has no apparent river entry or exit. [source]
- Uneme Shrine on the northwest shore is built facing away from the water and its entrance gate because the maiden was said to be unable to bear looking at the pond where she drowned. [source]
- The annual Uneme Matsuri culminates at night on the Mid-Autumn Moon when two dragon-headed boats (kangen-sen) circle the pond while musicians perform classical gagaku. [source]
Insider Tip
Visit at dusk to see the pagoda beautifully illuminated and reflected in the water, long after the daytime crowds have departed.
Frequently asked
Can I see Kōfuku-ji's five-story pagoda reflected in the pond right now?
Kōfuku-ji's national treasure five-story pagoda is undergoing its first major conservation in 120 years. The entire wooden tower is encased within a massive steel temporary shelter scheduled through approximately 2031. Consequently, the classic open view of the pagoda reflected across Sarusawa-Ike Pond is temporarily unavailable during these preservation works.
How long does it take to walk around Sarusawa-Ike Pond?
The pond has a perimeter measuring approximately 360 meters lined with willow trees. Walking the flat, paved perimeter path at an easy pace takes roughly 5 to 10 minutes. Most visitors spend between 15 and 30 minutes relaxing on lakeside benches or watching the resident water turtles and carp.
What is the legend of Uneme Shrine beside the pond?
According to the Heian-period Yamato Monogatari, an imperial serving maiden (uneme) drowned herself in Sarusawa Pond after losing the emperor's favor. Kasuga Taisha established this sub-shrine to console her spirit. Uniquely, the sanctuary faces away from the water because her ghost supposedly refused to look back upon the pond.
How do you get to Sarusawa-Ike Pond from the train stations?
From Kintetsu-Nara Station, walk south through the Higashimuki shopping street or down Sanjo-dori for approximately 5 minutes. From JR Nara Station, walk straight east along Sanjo-dori for about 15 to 20 minutes. The pond sits at the eastern end of the shopping street, right beneath the steps to Kōfuku-ji.
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