六郷用水跡

Slipping through time, imagine Tokyo in 1597. The ambitious Tokugawa Ieyasu commissions a massive irrigation project: the Rokugo Yosui. This canal, the Rokugo Yosui, would reshape the landscape and the lives of thousands. The Rokugo Yosui snaked its way from the Tama River, over 23 kilometers, nourishing around 1,500 hectares of farmland across 49 villages. It wasn’t just water flowing through the Rokugo Yosui, it was lifeblood for the burgeoning communities of the Edo period. The canal served primarily agricultural needs, ensuring crops flourished and communities thrived. Over a century later, the Rokugo Yosui fell into disrepair. But in 1725, a dedicated official, Tanaka Kyuudaibu, spearheaded its restoration. His efforts, alongside the existing Nikko Yosui canal, created what was sometimes called the Yonko Yosui, a combined irrigation powerhouse. This renewed Rokugo Yosui brought water to the Settagaya region, further expanding its reach and impact. Fast forward to the mid-20th century, and the growing urbanization of Tokyo spelled the end for the Rokugo Yosui. It was officially abandoned in 1945. Much of the canal was buried or repurposed as underground rainwater drains by the 1970s. Today, here at the Rokugo Yosui Ato, we can recapture a glimpse of this lost waterway. A section in Ota City has been meticulously preserved. A walking path traces the original canal route, offering a tranquil escape from the bustling city. Here at Rokugo Yosui Ato, informative signs detail the canal’s history. Some sections are recreated with flowing water. You can almost hear the echoes of farmers and the gentle flow of water that sustained a city for centuries.