Tamagawa-josui (1890s)

Sakura (cherry blossom) along the Tamagawa Waterway in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan. The stretch of about 4 kilometers of cherry trees was extremely popular for hanami (flower viewing).According to the still existing Koganei Cherry Tree Monument near Koganei Bridge, the trees were first planted here in 1737. Emperor Meiji visited Koganei in 1883, making it one of the more popular sites to do hanami in the capital.It was a conveniently located destination because of Sakai Station (present-day Musashi Sakai) and Kokubunji Station on the Shinjuku-Tachikawa Line of Kobu Railways.Most of the cherry trees were cut down in 1954 to build the Itsukaichi Highway, the open spaces where people could sit also disappeared. Almost no cherry trees remain.Although it appears to be a small stream, the Tamagawa Waterway was the main source of water for Tokyo until the Murayama (1927) and Yamaguchi (1934) reservoirs were built. Albumen photograph, 1890s. (Negative title: A153 CHERRY BLOSSOM AT KOGANEI TOKYO)