Take a Break at Inokashira Park in Tokyo, with a Swan Boat Urban Legend

I have always loved the Kichijoji area. It has a down-to-earth, lively atmosphere, unlike the more artsy Jiyugaoka. There are plenty of great eateries nearby, so you can easily spend a whole day here. Inokashira Park is one of those places I go for a stroll when I don't have any specific plans. Covering over 40,000 square meters, it's about the size of 3.5 Tokyo Domes. Surrounded by lush greenery and with a serene pond, it's a perfect spot to relax and enjoy nature. However, there's an urban legend about the swan boats here. It's said that couples who ride the swan boats together will eventually break up because the shrine in Inokashira Park enshrines Benzaiten, who is jealous of couples showing affection. On the day I visited, I saw several couples rowing regular boats, perhaps due to this legend. Additionally, it's said that all the swan boats are female, except for one male boat. This is because when they were adding the eyes, they ran out of materials, so all the swan boats have "eyelashes," while the last one only has "eyebrows." Next time you visit Inokashira Park, try to find the male swan boat. 📍Address: 1-18-31 Gotenyama, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0005