【Town & Gourmet】 Searching for turtles in "Lake Saiko" (Saitama pref.)
"Rikugien" is apparently a "stroll garden with artificial hills and a pond" created in the late Edo period (I don't understand what that means).
Leaving aside what a "stroll garden with artificial hills and a pond" means, I once again walked around the pond in this garden in circles, solely to look for Japanese pond turtles. (Nihedon @ KesaranPasaran Lab)
It's true that abandoned red-eared sliders are causing environmental damage, but obviously the fault lies not with the turtles themselves, but with the humans who abandoned them.
As someone who loves turtles, I believe that turtles purchased as pets should be raised responsibly.
Apparently, there are turtles in Lake Saiko, but the sun was so intense that I couldn't stand standing on the wide lakeshore any longer, so I moved to "Kansho-ko" (Viewing Lake), which is in the forest in the same area and offers more shade.
I walked around "Kansho-ko" in circles, but since the entire perimeter of the pond is lined with logs, there's no place for turtles to bask in the sun. Just as I was about to give up, I saw something moving towards me on the surface of the water!
ACCESS :
●From Kawaguchi/Soka area: Drive along National Route 298 towards Wako, turn left at the sign, and turn right immediately after passing under the Sakitama Bridge.
●From Tokyo area: Turn left at the Bijogi Hachiman intersection on the Omiya Bypass, drive along National Route 298 towards Wako, turn left at the sign, and turn right immediately after passing under the Sakitama Bridge.
●From Omiya area: Turn right at the Bijogi Hachiman intersection on the Omiya Bypass, drive along National Route 298 towards Wako, turn left at the sign, and turn right immediately after passing under the Sakitama Bridge.
●From Wako/Oizumi area: Turn left at the sign immediately after crossing the Sakitama Bridge on National Route 298, proceed towards Wako, and turn left onto the slope before the Sakitama Bridge.
*There is a dedicated parking lot on the center grounds, but if it is full, please use the Saikodoman Green Park parking lot. (Paid parking)
●For those coming by Kokusai Kogyo Bus: Take the Kokusai Kogyo Bus bound for Shimosasame from Musashi-Urawa Station, get off at the "Shugyome" bus stop, and walk for 10 minutes.
●For those coming by toco bus: Get off at the "Shugyome" bus stop on the Misasa Loop bus, and walk for 10 minutes.