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In a quiet residential area of Shinmachi, Ome City, there stands the “Oido” well, transcending the flow of time. This well is an example of a “maimaizu well,” built through the collective wisdom and labor of people during a period when water was scarce on the Musashino Plateau.
A maimaizu well is characterized by a structure that is dug in a mortar shape from the surface, with a vertical shaft well established at its bottom. The name comes from its resemblance to the shell of a snail (maimai). Oido boasts the largest scale among maimaizu wells, measuring approximately 22 meters east to west, 33 meters north to south, and about 7 meters deep. From its base, a vertical shaft well about 15 meters deep is further dug, reaching the groundwater vein. (city.ome.tokyo.jp)
The exact period when this well was dug is unclear, but it is presumed to date from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods. Fragments of stone monuments from the Nanboku-cho to Muromachi periods have been excavated from the bottom of the well, attesting to its long history. In the early Edo period, in 1611 (Keicho 16), when Oribe-no-suke Yoshino, a local landowner of Shimoshioka Village, began developing Shinmachi Village, the well underwent major renovations and was used as the Shiono family’s well. Near the bottom of the well, a votive stone inscribed with the year 1770 (Meiwa 7) and the phrase “Eitai Fuzetsu Sen” (an eternal, unfailing spring) was unearthed, indicating that the well was in use throughout the Edo period. (tokyo-trip.org)
However, although the well was used until the mid-18th century, for some reason it became buried and was forgotten for a long time. Excavations began in the 1990s, and restoration and maintenance were carried out based on the findings. Today, it has been developed within Oido Park, where visitors can witness its grand appearance. In the park, colorful peonies bloom in spring, and in summer, children enjoy playing in the water facilities, making it a beloved place of relaxation for the community. (city.ome.tokyo.jp)
Around Oido, two old roads—the former Ome Kaido and the Imadera Road (Chichibu Road)—once intersected, and it is believed that the well served as an important water source for travelers and passersby. Standing on this site, one can imagine scenes from long ago, with travelers drawing water from the well and taking a moment’s rest. As you descend the spiral path of the well, reflecting on the wisdom and efforts of those who came before, you can feel the breath of human activity transcending the ages.
Oido of Ome Shinmachi is not just a well; it quietly stands as evidence of history, culture, and people’s lives. It serves as a bridge connecting past and present for visitors, and is a valuable heritage that tells the history of the Musashino Plateau.