RD Aquino / Jeepney Press

A PLACE TO HEAL

By RD Aquino

It has been a few months since one of my friends talked about a place called Sayama Lake. He said it could be a nice alternative to my usual jogging route along the Kurome River in Higashikurume City, in the west suburbs of Tokyo. I was then looking for a nearby place to just walk my day’s stress and maybe, reflect. But it was only at the beginning of Japan’s Golden Week (first week of May) that I finally decided to give it ago.

Sayamako or Sayama Lake is located in the city of Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture. It is about an hour drive or train ride from Tokyo Station. Since I live close, it took me just around 30 minutes that includes a 16-minute train ride and the rest on foot. I love walking and jogging especially now that the weather in Japan is perfect.

I had an idea of what to expect since I had googled the place before. And as what I have read, it is part of the Yamaguchi Reservoir which has been in service since 1934. It is one of two lakes in the area that offer beautiful natural scenery, the other being Tama Lake in Higashi Yamato City. They say that if you are lucky, you can see Mt. Fuji on a fine day from morning until noontime. But I only went there for my afternoon jog, so I have only seen the sunset view of the lake. And after spending about an hour there, I can say – it offers one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in Japan.

It was not crowded when I went there. There were some bikers and joggers as well. I also saw bird watchers and photographers who had set their gadgets ready which I thought was foretelling of the splendor that I was about to witness. The sun was just about to set when I walked to the Sayama Ground. The left side offers the strikingly magnificent lake view while the right side offers a panorama of the city naturally framed by the lush greenery.

The photos of Sayama Lake I saw online were beautiful but what you actually see in person are just way more incredible. In fact, I was completely dumbfounded as the sun started to set. With my favorite playlist on my ear pods giving the perfect score, I took that moment to just witness God’s perfect creation. The changing hues of twilight, the sun’s reflection on the water and its movement, the foliage surrounding the area, and that perfect breeze carrying spring’s sweetest scents make the experience a real heaven for nature lovers.

And as for someone whose heart is broken? It was the perfect place to heal.