[Tetsugakudo Park] Visit old buildings and enjoy a mini trip.

Nice to meet you, I'm Nemuneko. I've been a Nakano Tourism Reporter since 2024. I look forward to working with you. This time, I'd like to introduce Tetsugakudo Park. This park was created by Enryo Inoue, the founder of Toyo University, to spread philosophy to the general public. The interiors of the ancient buildings (Four Sages' Hall, Six Sages' Platform, Absolute Castle, Space Hall, and Mujinzo) are open to the public on the first Sunday of every month. This is a rare opportunity, so I went on the opening day.

First, find a parking space

From Nakano Station, head north on Nakano-dori and you'll arrive at the entrance near the archery field in about 10 minutes. Bicycles are not permitted inside the park, so you'll have to push your bike. By the way, the bicycle parking space along Shin-Ome-kaido is reserved for archery field users only.

The beautiful, purple and pale-colored hydrangeas are in full bloom, making for a relaxing atmosphere. On the left is the baseball field.

I followed the road and came to an open area. I was able to park my bike in the space around the tennis court. As I stepped on the dirt, I realized I had arrived at a park. Now that I was light on my feet, I went to see the old buildings.

A unique entrance to the world of philosophy!

We passed through this "Tetsurimon Gate." It has a cool name, but it has a mysterious vibe. Even though it is a gate, the pillars on both sides are fence-like. I cautiously approached the left pillar...

The words "Ghost Gate" and "Ghost" are written on it. What's more, something can be seen inside the fence. If you take a closer look...

A very old-fashioned ghost. It reminds me of the haunted house in Asakusa Hanayashiki.

There is a Tengu inside the pillar on the right.

According to the guide map, "there is a mysterious thing called 'reason beyond reason' at the root of both the material and spiritual worlds, and the wonders of the material world are represented by Tengu, and the wonders of the spiritual world by ghosts." Since this is difficult to explain in words alone, the effort to convey it visually through wooden statues gives a sense of the passion of Inoue Enryo, who dedicated his life to spreading philosophy.

The roof tiles are intricately carved with the character "tetsu" (philosophy). You can see the roof tiles up close inside one of the ancient buildings, "Mujinzo."

Once you pass through the gate, you will come to a plaza called "Jikukou Hill." There are a number of old buildings surrounding it. In this article, we will introduce three of our top picks.

＜Rokkendai＞ The symbol of Tetsugakudo Park

The particularly eye-catching red "Rokkendai" (Six Sages' Platform) is a three-story hexagonal building that enshrines the Six Sages of the East* (Prince Shotoku, Sugawara no Michizane, Zhuangzi, Zhuzi, Nagarjuna, and Kahira Sen).

The charming feature is the Tengu roof tile. The door is usually closed, but you can go inside on open days.

The stairs are steep, so be careful when climbing.

On the second floor, Inoue Enryo's collection is displayed in photographs. The actual items are kept at the Nakano City History and Folklore Museum.

On the third floor, you can look down onto Jikuu Oka through glass, offering an exciting panorama from six directions.

This is getting long, so I will continue in the second part.

A building dedicated to Buddha

The first ancient building constructed here is the Shiseido. On open days, you can see the Shakanehanzo statue.

It's unusual to see a statue lying down. In fact, it has a fixed position every year, which is adjusted by someone from Toyo University.

Even on opening days, you can only go as far as the top of the stairs and are not allowed to enter inside, but for this interview we were given special permission to go up onto the tatami mats.

A close-up of his profile. His impressive, large ears are a highlight.

A unique hand gesture.

The names of four philosophers who influenced Inoue Enryo are inscribed on the ceiling: Confucius, Buddha, Socrates, and Kant.

A red globe lamp representing the heart. The heart pattern is super cute!

is my favorite! Reading leads to the truth

The "Ghost Plum" was named after the rumor that a ghost would appear under the tree. The plum tree was transplanted by Enryo Inoue from his home in Komagome, and is now in its third generation. The branches bend under the weight of the plum tree, giving it a spooky, ghost-like feel.

If you turn right at this ghost plum tree, you will find Absolute Castle.

If you take a look inside…

Beyond the entrance, marked "Reading Hall," is a sight that will excite any book lover.

Books related to Enryo Inoue are lined up on the wooden shelves. If you look closely, you'll see that some of the books are lying on their side. Since it's an old bookshelf, many of the books don't fit vertically, so they're lying on their side on purpose. Apparently, the library donates books that are no longer needed. There is a metal chair next to the bookshelf, so you can read books there.

There were also children's books. Children can enjoy them too.

The view from the second floor. At the back of the first floor, there is a statue of Confucius, one of the four sages. It sometimes becomes an exhibition corner or concert venue on the opening day. This is an absolute castle built on the principle that "if you read every book, you will be able to understand the truth of things." Reading is important to know many things, both now and in the past.

Staff will be on-site on the opening day for your peace of mind

The ancient buildings are open to the public on a free tour, but if you apply in advance at the Tetsugakudo Park Management Office, you can be guided by a guide. (Currently, the guided tours are shortened to one hour, as the guides are in training.) On the day we visited, there was a staff member in front of the Space Hall, so we felt at ease even if we had any problems.

Tetsugakudo Park is the largest park in Nakano Ward. It also has many other attractions, such as the waterside of Yuishin-tei Garden and the statues in the Garden of Philosophy. The official Instagram page also provides information on seasonal flowers and events. Please come and visit.

Tetsugakudo Park

Address: 1-34-28 Matsugaoka, Nakano-ku, Tokyo

Access: 12 minutes on foot from Araiyakushimae Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line

13 minutes walk from Ochiai Minaminagasaki Station on the Toei Oedo Line

Phone: 03-3951-2515

Closed: Year-end (December 29th to 31st)