Lake Tama

Lake Tama is an artificial lake in Higashiyamato City, in western Tokyo, right at the border with Saitama Prefecture. It was formed by damming up a river running through the Sayama valley, a project started in 1916 and completed in 1927. The lake now serves as a water reservoir for the residents of Tokyo.

The lake is surrounded by parks and forests and there is a popular cycling course extending from Nishitokyo City to Lake Tama. North of the lake towards Lake Sayama lies the Seibu Dome, home of the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team. Also worthy of a visit are the buddhist Yamaguchi Kannon Konjoin (山口観音 金乗院) and Sayama Fudoson (狭山不動尊) temples.

Above, on the cycling road outside the Musashi-Yamato station.

Above, forest in the Metropolitan Sayama Park.

Above, gate leading to the Lake Tama dam.

Above, the eastern dam.

Above, the Seibuen Amusement Park.

Above, on the cycling road circling the lake.

Above, the Seibu Dome.

Above, on the western dam.

Above, leaving Tokyo and standing in Saitama Prefecture.

Above, gate to the Yamaguchi Kannon Konjoin Temple.

Above, the temple seemed to have a dragon theme.

Aboe, the Mizuko Jizo terraces. The statues serve as memorials for miscarried or aborted fetuses.

Above, red five-story pagoda. The inside of the pagoda was closed when I was there but it can be visited.

Above, entrance to an underground statue gallery.

Above, statue of Kannon, the buddhist goddess of mercy.

Above, a horse statue near the entrance of the temple.

Above, entrance to the Sayama Fudoson Temple.

Above, main gate to the Sayama Fudoson Temple.

Above, the nearby Seibu Dome.

Above, the indoor Sayama Ski Resort, right next to the Dome.

Above, inside the Seibu Dome.

Above, Seibu train decorated with characters from Leiji Matsumoto’s manga Galaxy Express 999.