A body of shallow water 15 km wide around Oyasu (the land of the town). Nine tenths of the town's area is Tenkyōgen.
| Location | From the foot of the cliffs of Oyasu, about 15 km outwards |
|---|---|
| Area | About 1,272 km² (about 92% of the town's area) |
| Depth | 3–5 m at the foot of the cliffs, a few tens of centimetres at the outer edge |
| Islands | 11 islets (kosu) |
| Homes | Lone Houses scattered across the shallows (recorded in the water register) |
| Main facilities | Cliff-Foot Ferry Landing, Tenjōken, the flower basin in the bamboo grove, the diner in the split cliff, Shiun no Mizugura, the lone-island bathhouse |
Tenkyōgen district is the shallow water, 15 km wide, that surrounds Oyasu (the land of the town). It is 3–5 m deep at the foot of the cliffs and grows shallower towards the open water, down to a few tens of centimetres at the outer edge. Because it is shallow enough to wade across, it is called a “plain” (gen) rather than a lake.
On windless days the surface becomes a mirror, reflecting the sky, the clouds and Mount Mizufuji in the distance. On windy days it is a bright stretch of shallows.
Goldfish and Koi
Many goldfish and koi swim in Tenkyōgen. They are power fish that fell with the water over the great waterfalls of the great canals and multiplied in the shallow, clear water.
The Lone Houses
Some people live in a single house built in the middle of the shallows (a Lone House). It is not unusual for the nearest neighbour to be 3 km away. Residents of Tenkyōgen are recorded not in the floor register but in the water register.
Tides and Tide Paths
Tenkyōgen is fresh water, yet it has tides. No one knows why. At low tide, white sand paths (tide paths) appear in some places. The times of the tide paths are given on Water levels and tide tables(Japanese).
It Does Not Freeze in Winter
Even in winter, when the canals in town freeze, Tenkyōgen does not. On winter mornings, steam rises from the whole surface of the water (keárashi).
Boats and Fairways
Large boats can only travel along the fairways dug into the bed of the plain. Outside the fairways, people cross in small plain skiffs fitted with floats. There is no branch office on Tenkyōgen, so the patrol boats of the water wardens and the Fairway Section also serve as the office counter.
Inns and Places to Eat
Inns and places to eat are scattered across the shallows. You can reach them by circuit boat or by a boat sent from the inn. Boats may be delayed by the tide and the wind, so please allow plenty of time.
Scenes from the district
