Hosoigawa

Did a rabbit ever inspire a park’s creation? Here at Hosoigawa Station, just a short walk east, lies Kakitsubata (Rabbit-Ear Iris) Park. This park has a deep connection to the Hosoigawa. The park’s name, “Kakitsubata,” refers to the rabbit-ear irises that once flourished along the northern banks of the Hosoigawa. This area was known as Asazawa Ono, a place of marshes and these beautiful flowers. Their fame even reached the pages of the Manyoshu, Japan’s oldest collection of tanka poetry. Imagine strolling through fields of irises, their petals like delicate rabbit ears. This beauty inspired poets centuries ago and continues to charm visitors today. Hosoigawa and Kakitsubata Park are linked by more than just proximity. The river nurtured the environment that allowed these flowers to thrive. Hosoigawa also serves as a landmark, guiding visitors to this tranquil oasis. The park we see today isn’t the original. It was lovingly restored in 1997. This restoration allows us to experience a piece of history, a glimpse into the natural beauty that captivated poets and travelers of old. Hosoigawa and Kakitsubata Park offer a quiet escape from the bustling city, a place to connect with nature and history. The whispers of ancient verses seem to drift on the breeze. The beauty of the rabbit-ear irises, a testament to the enduring power of nature. The Hosoigawa flows on, a silent witness to the changing seasons.