Suibara and the Yamabiko Road: Part II

The town of Suibara is home to Hyoko Lake, designated in 1954 a protected habitat for migratory birds. Every winter, thousands of swans winter at Hyoko. Though fall migration was far from being in full flight, as it were, over 4,000 swans had already been counted at the lake. During the Meiji era (1867-1912), Suibara was an important outpost of the Emperial administration. The plan shows the administrative compound as it looked over 100 years ago, with a replica of the watchtower that stood beside the main entrance. The structure pictured below was the official residence of the administrator.