【Holiday Drive】A drive destination close to the city center! Stroll through the beautifully vast nature of Tsukui Lake Jozan Park.

"Lake Tsukui Castle Mountain Park" located in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. When we stopped by as a break spot during our drive, it was a charming place where we could enjoy scenery more beautiful than we expected, as well as delicious gelato.

The vast nature spreads out at "Tsukui Lake Jōyama Park"

Tsukui Lake, located in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is about an hour from my home, making it a perfect drive course when I want to refresh myself. The trigger was the news that the water level had dropped and different scenery could be seen.

Until now, I often stopped by "Tsukui Lake Jōyama Park" only briefly while on my way to Sagami Lake or Yamanakako to take a break, but today I decided to fully enjoy this place.

"Tsukui Lake Jōyama Park" is a park utilizing ruins of a castle from the Sengoku period. Checking the information board, it seems that there are more highlights scattered extensively than I had imagined, such as a flower garden where you can enjoy panoramic views of the lake. Although I have lightly enjoyed the scenery of Tsukui Lake in the past, I had never thoroughly explored Tsukui Lake Jōyama Park. It seems there are attractions of Tsukui Lake Jōyama Park that I have yet to see.

Tsukui Lake Jōyama Park
Location: 162 Nekogoya, Midori Ward, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours: Parking lot usage time 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM

It was a hiking course that was more rewarding than I expected

Among the visitors, there were active people dressed in real hiking gear, walking towards the summit with strong strides. According to the signboard, there seems to be a castle mountain (the ruins of Tsukui Castle) ahead.

The cherry blossom avenue, which was likely at its best some time ago. The cherry blossoms mixed with fresh greenery also make one feel the breath of life, evoking the arrival of May.

…Just when I thought that, I discovered some cherry blossoms that were still barely blooming. I don't know the variety, but it's surprising to see such a difference among cherry blossoms. It has a beauty as if time has stopped here. I couldn't help but stop and capture the remnants of spring with my camera.

Even though there's a road nearby where cars pass, if you listen closely, you can hear the chirping of birds and the sound of a gentle breeze. The air feels refreshing, full of negative ions, and with each deep breath, I can feel myself relaxing more and more.

As I walked, I thought, "I wonder how far this road continues," and looked at the signboard, but my current location remained unclear. I proceeded along an unfamiliar path, continuing my exploration. For some reason, the excitement of not knowing where I would end up made my steps lighter.

In the distance, I spotted a point that made me think, "Let's try going there," and moved closer, discovering the lakeside observation path.

The beautiful Tsukui Lake, reflecting the light, caught my eye. It seemed to be losing water volume as seen in the news, exposing rock faces that are usually unseen. The trees that had likely been submerged for a long time quietly showed themselves, and I can only pray for significant rain before the full-fledged summer arrives.

The path continued on, but feeling my physical limits that day, I decided to stop here.

I returned to the garden terrace area near the parking lot. However, my exploration was not over yet. I had been curious about the area across the river, so I decided to drive over there.

No I!? Discovered a TSUKU KO photo spot.

By car, it's about 3 minutes. Upon arriving at the water garden, the atmosphere was quite different from the quiet mountain side we had just experienced, with many families and a lively atmosphere spreading out.

As I admired the beautiful scenery, I discovered a large monument that is common at tourist attractions. Upon closer inspection, it reads "TSUKU KO." Tsukuko? I was wondering if they might have removed the "I," but when I got closer, there was a notice that said, "Please take a photo with the 'I' included." Standing there to take the photo means that the spelling becomes complete.

From the dam side, the roughness of the exposed earth is felt even more strongly. True to its name, the water garden should normally have lake water right beside it.

Discovery of an oasis! Handmade gelato at “Megu Gelato”

Feeling thirsty, I was looking for a vending machine when I stumbled upon an oasis. That was "Megu Gelato." It seems to be a highly regarded store known for handmade gelato made with local ingredients. A crowd of people drawn in like me had gathered around the shop.

Megu Gelato
Location: 2-9-4 Shiroyama, Midori Ward, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours: 10:30 AM - around 4:30 PM

I chose the freshly squeezed milk flavor, a specialty, and the seasonal pineapple flavor. The freshly squeezed milk flavor is rich yet has a gentle sweetness, and the aftertaste is surprisingly refreshing! The pineapple flavor, with its crunchy texture, spreads a sweet and sour taste all over my mouth, pleasantly quenching my dry throat.

I wrapped up my Tsukui Lake drive at the popular café "ZEBRA."

If you come to the Tsukui Lake area, you can't miss the popular café "ZEBRA." The inside of the shop is a spacious area remodeled from a warehouse, and spending a relaxed moment surrounded by the aroma of coffee is the perfect way to conclude the trip. I wanted to eat a croissant, but unfortunately, it was sold out. I decided to wrap up today's drive with an iced coffee.

Next time, I want to come during the autumn leaves season to enjoy a warm cup while taking in the view of the lake, dyed a deep red.

ZEBRA Tsukui Main Store Tsukui Lake
Address: 1890-1 Nakano, Midori-ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business Hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

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