{"id":5168,"date":"2021-12-06T15:28:43","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T06:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meene.app\/atraction\/mitakas-waterwheel-shin-guruma\/"},"modified":"2022-01-22T11:23:51","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T02:23:51","slug":"mitakas-waterwheel-shin-guruma","status":"publish","type":"atraction","link":"https:\/\/meene.app\/en\/atraction\/mitakas-waterwheel-shin-guruma\/","title":{"rendered":"Mitaka’s waterwheel “Shin Guruma"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In the old days, a car meant a water wheel.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

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In \u4e09\u9df9\u5e02, 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.<\/p>\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n

\"Mitaka's
The use of power generated by the waterwheel, which utilizes the power of flowing river water, promoted the modernization of industrial technology and the lifestyle of farming villages, which until then had mainly relied on human power or oxen and horse power.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n

\"Mitaka's
In 2020, a crowdfunding project called “\n Let’s create it together! Water Wheel of Water Mill Revitalization Project for Farmers Operating Water Mills in Osawa Village, \u4e09\u9df9\u5e02<\/a>\n<\/strong> In 2020, the crowdfunding project “Mitaka City Osawa Water Wheel Project” reached its goal. With the thoughts of many people gathered, the precious heritage of Mitaka is being passed on to the next generation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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<\/span>They milled rice and ground buckwheat and wheat.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n\n

\"Mitaka's
Due to the splendor of its mechanism and its high cultural value, the Shin-Guruma has been designated as a Tangible Folk Cultural Asset by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a “Water Mill Operator in Musashino (Nogawa River Basin)” and as a “Former Minegishi Water Mill” by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers as a Machinery Heritage Site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"Mitaka's
The sound of the waterwheel is like the sound of a smooth waterfall. The sound of the pestle is loud. When the pestle is moved, the sound is like a cotton ball. The sieve is like a clatter, clatter, clatter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Location<\/h4>\n\n

6-10-15, Osawa, \u4e09\u9df9\u5e02Map information \u4e09\u9df9\u5e02 Map) (external link)<\/a><\/p>\n\n

day on which a museum, etc. is regularly closed<\/h4>\n\n

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

admission fee<\/h4>\n\n

200 yen (common ticket with Osawa no Sato Old House<\/a>, free for junior high school students and younger)Annual passport 1,000 yen (shared with Osawa no Sato Old House)<\/p>\n\n

open hours<\/h4>\n\n

10:00 – 17:00 (April – October)10:00 – 16:00 (November – March)<\/p>\n\n

Traffic Information<\/h4>\n\n