In southwestern Tokyo, Denenchofu in Ota Ward is generally perceived as an upper-class neighborhood. Yet, in the Edo period, it was home to the Uenumabe and Shimonumabe villages that lived on wheat and rice production. A few farmlands can still be seen today.
Just next to Tamagawa station along the Tokyu-Toyoko line is Denenchofu Seseragi Park, a sprawling, multileveled forested land landscaped with abundant trees, floral blooms, a small waterfall and two large ponds connected to hot springs.
Denenchofu Seseragi Park
Photo by: PIXTA/うえぽん The park is perched on the river terrains stretching over 30 kilometers, offering different angles of the picturesque grounds
As the Kokubunji cliff sits along the Tamagawa river, the park is perched on the river terrains stretching over 30 kilometers, offering different angles of the picturesque grounds. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and gorgeous maple leaves in autumn. Climbing up and down the stone steps leads you to a rich oasis where you can find a wooden hut by the pond and creek. Another wooden gazebo is installed on the eastern side, encircled by tall trees, bushes and seasonal flowers. A multipurpose square by the east gate is where children can be seen cycling, skateboarding and playing. Sometimes, the park hosts outdoor exhibitions.
Denenchofu Seseragi Hall
Photo by: PIXTA/ tenjou The multifunctional hall provides cultural and social activities for residents and a haven for relaxing with nature.
The special highlight of this park is the Denenchofu Seseragi Hall designed by world-acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma. Opened in 2020, the multifunctional hall provides cultural and social activities for residents and a haven for relaxing with nature. Facilities include meeting and hands-on learning rooms; resting lounges (including tatami mat rooms); the Seseragi Bunko library that lends books, magazines, and picture books for free; and a children’s and nursing room.
The cozy Caffé di Ruscello on the ground floor serves varied bread, cakes and a lunch menu, which you can savor while facing the spacious lawn and woodland.
Kuma, who grew up in Denenchofu until elementary school, envisioned reviving the rural feel of green-patched grounds and rolling hills of verdant trees within a residential area as the future of public architecture. The flow of people in urban cities would shift towards walking a great deal through pockets of nature. Kuma used vintage wood for the structure, evoking the mood of a living room. The roof’s cross-section is divided into wooden strips, emphasizing the high ceiling and elongated space. A 120-meter-long engawa (exterior passageway attached to a structure) faces the cliff, perfectly blending with the natural setting.
