Shinobazu Pond

The Shinobazu Pond (不忍池, Shinobazu no Ike) is a pond within Ueno Park (a spacious public park located in the Ueno section of Taitō, Tokyo, Japan), and a historically prominent Shitamachi feature often appearing in history and works of art.

The park occupies the site of the former Kan'ei-ji, a temple closely associated with the Tokugawa shōguns, who had built it to guard Edo Castle against the northeast, a direction believed to be unlucky by traditional geomancy.

At its center lies Benten Island (弁天島, Benten-jima) on which stands the Benten-dō (弁天堂), a temple dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten.

According to one, the early name Shinowazu (篠輪津, Shino wa zu) due to the presence of bamboo grass later turned into Shinobazu.

The temple's founder Jigen Daishi (Tenkai), liking Lake Biwa, had Benten Island built in imitation of Chikubushima, and then the Bentendo on it.

At the time the island was accessible only by boat, but later a stone bridge was added on the east, making it possible to walk to it.

In September 1967 a hole was opened by accident in the pond during the construction of Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and approximately 30 thousand tons of water flowed away.

The pond hosts several dozens of types of migratory and stationary birds, whose number at times is over ten thousand.