Fuchu and Kokubunji surrounded by greenery in Musashino Plains to this day, were developed as one of the centers in the ancient country, where Kokufu (provincial capital) and Kokubunji (provincial temple) were constructed.

This walking course is selected to see the ancient history of Musashi Kokufu-ato and Musashi Kokubunji-ato, and the nature in Musashino Plains, such as Masugata no Ike.

Let's take a stroll around Fuchu and Kokubunji, imaging the ancient Tokyo!

The ancient nations of the Asuka and the Nara periods divided the whole country into Goki-Shichido (the five regions and the seven districts) and established over sixty provinces. Musashi Province was a "giant province" consisted of the current Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo and a part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It had divided to 21 county units such as Tama, Toshima, and Adachi, and its ancient provincial center was established in the current Fuchu city.

Musashi Province belonged to Tosando Road (East Mountain Road District). And Tosando Musashi-Michi Road (the ancient public road) which branched off near the Nitta station of Kozuke Province (current Gunma Prefecture) had been connected to Fuchu, the ancient provincial capital.

Approximately 2km north of the capital, Provincial Monastery and Provincial Nunnery were constructed respectively in the east and the west side of the ancient public road (Tosando Musashi-Michi Road). Provincial Monastery and Nunnery were the official Buddhist temples which had been constructed by the imperial edict of the Emperor Shomu in 741, and the large temples were completed with the mobilization of the people of Musashi Province.

So, there are many ancient remains, as the area used to be a center of politics in the Nara and the Heian period. Also, many remains of the Jomon and the Kofun period are found, because this area has considerable amount of spring water coming out from Fuchu and Kokubunji Cliffs.

Besides, on the west of Fuchu Provincial center, influential mounded tombs were constructed, among these is "Musashi Fuchu Kumano Jinja Kofun", which is the largest one with dome-shaped knoll on a square in Japan.