Mitaka’s waterwheel “Shin Guruma

In the old days, a car meant a water wheel.

In 三鷹市, there is one of the best water wheels in Japan, commonly known as a new car (shinguruma), at the Osawa-no-sato Water Wheel Management Farm.

The Shin-guruma was founded around 1808 during the Edo period (1603-1868), and continued to rotate for 160 years until the water flow changed with the renovation of the Nogawa River around 1968.

Although the renovation of the Nogawa River stopped the operation of the waterwheel, the eighth generation head of the family, Mr. Kiyoshi Minegishi, took great care to preserve the entire waterwheel, so the entire waterwheel system with its complicated mechanism is still in good condition.

They milled rice and ground buckwheat and wheat.

At the “Osawa Village Water Mill Farmhouse,” you can see the “main house,” the “water mill shed,” and the “sabuta,” which regulates the amount of water in the Nogawa River. There are also interpreters and janitors who can give you detailed explanations, so be sure to visit.

Location

6-10-15, Osawa, 三鷹市
Map information 三鷹市 Map) (external link)

day on which a museum, etc. is regularly closed

Tuesdays (if Tuesday is a national holiday, the following day), year-end and New Year holidays (December 28 to January 4)

admission fee

200 yen (common ticket with Osawa no Sato Old House, free for junior high school students and younger)
Annual passport 1,000 yen (shared with Osawa no Sato Old House)

open hours

10:00 – 17:00 (April – October)
10:00 – 16:00 (November – March)

Traffic Information

From the south exit of JR Mitaka Station, take the Odakyu Bus bound for Sakakibara Memorial Hospital, Asahi-machi 3-chome, or Kurumatare Danchi, and get off at Ryugenji Bus Stop.
From Mitakadai Station on the Keio Inokashira Line, take the Mitaka City Bus (Mitakadai/Airfield Route) and get off at Ryugenji Station (5 minutes walk).
From Chofu Station on the Keio Line, take the Keio Bus bound for Musashi Koganei Station South Exit, and get off at Nogawa Koen Ichinobashi Station (10 minutes walk).

There is no parking at the site. Please use a nearby coin-operated parking lot.