Prologue
In this article, I would like to introduce Fishing Pond Musashinoen which is a fifteen minutes’ walk from Nishi-Eifuku station on the Keio-Inogashira line.Musashinoen is located in Wadahori park in Tokyo and surrounded by nature. This Fishing Pond has a history of over 70 years.
▼The photograph of “Fishing Pond Musashinoen”
Musashinoen is a popular spot and famous for filming location: for example, this place was used for taking a promotion video of Nogisaka 46’s Nishino Nanase(Japanese Idol) and “Kodoku no Grumet” which is very popular drama.
Mr. Ryohei, a member of Emotenashi, have a part-time job at Musashinoen. This interview was realized with his help!
In a clear autumn sky, two members of emotenashi, Mr. Tanaka and Ms. Suzu visited Musashinoen for this interview.
▼The entrance to Musashinoen. This red lattice is a landmark.
The day, We interviewed Mr. Aoki Daisuke who is the third-generation owner of Musashinoen. He answered friendly our questions about an attractive point of Musashinoen, a message for travelers to Japan, etc.
ーHow long has it been since Musashinoen established?
It has been seventy years. Firstly, I was an office worker since graduation. Then I left the company and took over Musashinoen which began with my grandfather. It has been about twenty-five years since I took over Musashinoen.
ーI was surprised the shark-shaped object in the fishing pond. It is very impressive.
All visitors said that. It has a strong impact! In front of us, there is a torii of Benzaiten, the goddess of water, which I made twenty years ago.
▼Looking at the shark from a close distance, it has a strong impact! The torii is behind the shark♫
ーMusashinoen also offers various meals.
Yes. In the past, Musashinoen offered only the fishing pond. Since I took over Musashinoen, we have made much of offering meals as well as the fishing pond. Now, Musashinoen offers the fishing pond and the restaurant. Our restaurant is surrounded by nature. Our guests can take a meal in a relaxed mood, looking at the fishing pond.
ーWhat do you recommend?
An omelet filled with fried rice is the most popular in our menu. A curry with a pork cutlet is the second popular. When I realized, the number of meals in our menu increased. I would like to recommend to our guests that they enjoy fishing in our fishing pond, and then they also enjoy taking a meal in our restaurant.
▼This is an omelet filled with fried rice that is the most popular.
▼This is a curry with a pork cutlet♫
－Did Musashinoen come travelers to Japan?
Recently, South Korean and Chinese often came Musashinoen as visiting shooting locations of “Kodoku no Grumet”. Europeans and Americans also come, but Asians come more often.
This area has a tour guide who holds a tour for travels to Japan once a week. Musashinoen is one of the tour’s destinations so the travelers who use the tour come to Musashinoen.
They often take a photograph of our shark (haha).
ーWhat do you tell your guests through the experience of the fishing pond? What is important for telling them it?
This place gives grown-ups special power. Once they come to this place, they can refresh themselves and reduce their stress.
My friend from my school days who lives in the countryside said: “This place is surrounded by a richer natural environment than my home.” Musashinoen is surrounded by that rich in nature so grown-ups come to this place to relax.
We live in this place so this landscape is ordinary for us. However, people who live in a concrete jungle can get special power and relax in this place. Because of them, I think it is important to keep the harmonious atmosphere and this building’s remnants of Showa period.
ーWe ordinarily stay in concrete jungle so this place really makes us appeased now.
I hope our guests will enjoy fishing and relaxing surrounded by nature in the suburbs of Tokyo.
ーFinally, could you send a message to travelers who will come to Japan!
I hope travelers will enjoy “Fishing” in our pond. Additionally, Our guests who come from foreign countries said “Musashinoen’s edamame is tasty.” so I also hope travelers will eat it.
Now, Tokyo Olympic is coming and travelers to Japan is increasing. We are planning new things for that.
When you will visit Japan, I hope you will visit Musashinoen!
After this interview…
Mr. Aoki said, “I’m glad if you will eat our meals”. He was so kind that he offered us an experience of fishing and Musashinoen’s meals.
▼Looking at the shark-shaped object keeping open its mouth, we were fishing. It is a very relaxing time for us.
▼This place’s atmosphere healed two office workers who usually stay in front of a PC. We smiled without thinking♫
Finally, we gave Mr.Aoki the portrait of his family and a commemorative photograph was taken with everyone♫
Thank you for this golden hour, Mr. Aoki and Musashinoen’s staff!
＜Fishing Pond Musashinoen Information＞
【Hours】
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M.～6:00 P.M. excluding Tuseday（Inquiries are accepted from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.）、Saturday-Sunday and national holidays 9:00 A.M.～6:00 P.M.（Inquiries are accepted from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.）
Tuesday:closed.
If a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, Musashinoen will be open the holiday.
【location】
2-22-3 Omiya, Suginami 168-0061, Tokyo Prefecture
【Access】
(1)It is 5-minute bus drive from Eifukucho Sta. bus stop which is in front of Eifukucho station on Keio-Inokashira line to Toritsu Wadabori Koen bus stop. The buses are bound for Shin-koenji Sta. or Koenji Sta. South. on the Keio or Kanto bus line for Shin-koenji Sta. It is a 2-minute walk from Toritsu-Wadabori-Koen bus stop.
(2)A 15-minute walk from Nishi-Eifuku station on the Keio-Inokashira line.
.〜2018.11.10 interviewer by Mr. Tanaka & Ms.Suzu〜
