I wasn’t going out with the intention of going to Meguro or Shirokanedai, but I had a bit of time to spare, so I decided to take a walk around the INS(Institute for Nature Study) on a whim. It’s probably been about 30 years since I was last here.
The large building visible in the forest in the aerial photo appears to be part of INS, but it is actually the building of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, adjacent to the INS forest.
For the history of the grounds, etc., please see the official website. Anyway, here is the entrance.
I’ve forgotten what it was like the last time I came, but apart from the well-maintained walking paths, the park is just a normal wooded area. Outside the walking paths, it’s exactly the same as the countryside. By the way, I was using a Lumix S5, a Lumix S20-60mm, and a Sigma 90mm DG DN on this day.
Bamboo thicket
A moss-covered fallen tree
A giant tree with its roots in the earthen embankment
The ducks seem to be living comfortably here
Anyway, I think that they want to preserve the changes in the ecology of the vegetation and animals/insects in the wooded areas and near the water as much as possible ‘as they are in this place’, leaving nature to change as it will. It’s not a place for admiring specific flowers, but when you feel like taking a walk in a “natural” satoyama, there may be no other place that can make you feel so relaxed and at ease.
Even the sunlight reflected in an ordinary puddle seems somehow different from the usual Tokyo light, and it’s a strange feeling.
I imagine that there are many difficulties that laypeople cannot understand, such as how to deal with issues like water circulation and exhaust gas pollution and climate change in order to maintain the ‘as it is’ state in the middle of the city.
In fact, although it doesn’t show in the photos, the park is far from the tranquility of nature, and the noise of cars (the Shuto Expressway runs right next to it) was unreservedly echoing, which was out of proportion to the scenery.
Anyway, putting aside such unnecessary worries, it was a pleasant pseudo-satoyama walk.
For example, it was in sharp contrast to the view of the nearby Ikedayama Park, which we walked through afterwards.
I really felt the difference between this well-maintained ornamental garden (although there is also something good about it) and natural scenery. It’s not a matter of superiority or inferiority, but a difference in quality.
That’s all for now, but the Meguro Nature Education Center is definitely worth a visit from time to time.
