Lotus blanket Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park

In the natural Shinobazu Pond (不忍池), part of Ueno Park in Tokyo, in summer months you can see thousands of lotus completely covering the pond. The plants are so dense you can’t even see the water. There are also groups of koi fish and turtles lurking there. The water is on average 84 cm deep.

Shinobazu Pond consists of three areas: Hasu no ike (the pond with the above mentioned lotus), Boto no ike (where you can ride a boat), and U no ike (a pond inhabited by cormorans, right next to the Ueno Zoo). There’s even a small island in the middle with a temple called Bentendo.

This afternoon I headed over to Ueno Park and below are some shots I took of the Lotus Pond.

Water completely covered by lotus.

Bentendo temple in the middle of Shinobazu Pond.

Lettuce? Absolutely not! Lotus plants without end in sight.