Shinobazu no ike Pond

A pond located in the southwest of present day Ueno Park. It was once an inlet to Tokyo Bay, however it is said that it became a pond when the inlet receded sometime during the Heian Period. When the Kan’ei-ji Temple was constructed, the temple's sango (honorific mountain name prefixed to a temple's name) was named Toeizan modeled on Mt. Hie, and this pond was likened to Lake Biwa and Nakajima Island was constructed in imitation of Chikubujima Island in Lake Biwa, and Bentendo was established. There are many theories on the name, including one that the name comes from Shinobugaoka and another that small bamboo called shino grew around the area in a circle, and so it was called "shinowazu" (circle of small bamboo) which was altered to become the name. It is a particularly beautiful sight in the summer and was called "Shoseiko" (little Saiko Lake) by writers. It is a famous spot for lotus and hasumesi (the soft portions of lotus leaves cut fine, rubbed with salt and served mixed in with rice) was served at the teahouse here.

Nishiki-e and Paintings

池の端

池の端

〔江戸高名会亭尽〕　〔池之端〕

[池之端]

名所江戸百景　上野山内月のまつ

上野山内月のまつ

東都名所　上野山王山 清水観音堂花見 不忍之池全図 中島弁財天社

上野山王山・清水観音堂花見・不忍之池全図　中島弁財天社

江戸不忍弁天ヨリ東叡山ヲ見ル図

江戸不忍弁天ヨリ東叡山ヲ見ル図

江戸八景 不忍池の落鳫

江戸八景　不忍池の落鳫

〔江都名所〕

[江都名所]　[上野不]忍の池

東都名所 不忍之池

不忍之池

東都花暦　不忍蓮

不忍蓮

江戸名勝図会　不忍弁天

不忍弁天

江戸十二景　不忍暮雪／高輪秋月／隅田川夜雨／洲崎日ノ出

不忍暮雪

不忍池

不忍池

東都名所 不忍池

不忍池

江戸自慢三十六興　不忍池蓮花

不忍池蓮花

江戸八景　忍岡の暮雪

忍岡の暮雪

新撰江戸名所 不忍池新土堤春之景

新撰江戸名所　不忍池新土堤春之景

落雁　（不忍ノ池）

落雁（不忍ノ池）

Other Materials

• 不忍池（本文）　松濤軒斎藤長秋 著 et.al, "江戸名所図会 7巻 [14]" (須原屋茂兵衛[ほか] 1834)
• 忍ばずの池　中島弁財天社（挿絵）　松濤軒斎藤長秋 著 et.al, "江戸名所図会 7巻 [14]" (須原屋茂兵衛[ほか] 1834)
• 不忍池蓮見（挿絵）　松濤軒斎藤長秋 著 et.al, "江戸名所図会 7巻 [14]" (須原屋茂兵衛[ほか] 1834)

Landmarks around Shinobazu no ike Pond

Ueno Hirokoji / Shitaya / Yamashita　Nezu　Kanei-ji Temple　Kanda Myojin Shrine　Yanaka　Hongo　Yushima　Ochanomizu　Shohei-bashi Bridge　Surugadai