Camphor Trees at Niihama Ichinomiya Shrine

What Makes This Grove So Special

The shrine grounds contain around 90 camphor trees of varying ages and sizes, but it is the largest specimens that take the breath away. The single most magnificent tree, known as "Ichiban Kusu" (the Number One Camphor), measures roughly 15 meters in root circumference and approximately 9 meters around at chest height. Standing beside it, you find yourself looking up into a swirling green canopy held aloft by a trunk so broad that several adults joining hands can scarcely encircle it.

Just nearby, "Niban Kusu" (the Number Two Camphor) follows close behind with a root circumference of about 13 meters and a chest-height girth of around 8 meters. In total, fifteen trees in the grove have root circumferences between 10 and 16 meters and reach heights of around 20 meters. More than fifty additional camphor trees have chest-height girths of over one meter—an extraordinary concentration of mature specimens in a single, relatively compact site.

Why It Was Designated a National Natural Monument

On June 9, 1951, the Japanese government designated the grove as a National Natural Monument under the criterion covering famous trees, giant trees, ancient trees, and sacred groves. Interestingly, the trees here are not part of a naturally occurring forest. They were planted long ago by earlier generations of worshippers, and the historic value of the planting—combined with the extraordinary age and scale the trees have since attained—was judged worthy of national protection.

Camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora) are evergreen broadleaf trees that thrive in the warm coastal regions touched by the Kuroshio Current. In Japan they have long been regarded as sacred, often planted around shrines as living guardians. The Niihama grove is particularly notable because the local parishioners (ujiko) and townspeople have devoted careful attention to these trees over many centuries, even as the surrounding city transformed into one of Shikoku's leading industrial hubs.

The same date—June 9, 1951—saw the designation of another famous camphor grove on Omishima Island at Oyamazumi Shrine, the very shrine from which Ichinomiya Shrine's deities were originally invited in the early 8th century. This shared designation date underscores the deep historical and spiritual link between the two sites.

Highlights and Things to Look For

The approach path (sando) is the signature scene of any visit. As you pass beneath the torii gate, the path narrows between the towering trunks of the largest camphors. The Ichiban Kusu, the grove's undisputed star, stands prominently along this approach. Estimated by some sources to be around 1,000 years old and by others around 800, it is revered locally as a sacred tree (shinboku).

At the base of the Ichiban Kusu, look for a small shrine dedicated to "Kojoro Tanuki," a female tanuki (raccoon dog) who according to local folklore made her home in the great tree. Such legends, where ancient trees become the dwellings of magical creatures, are woven through Japanese folk belief and add a layer of warm storytelling to an otherwise solemn landscape.

Beyond the giant trees, take time to notice the unusual sanmon (gate) at the front of the precincts—visitors often remark that its upper structure appears almost to perch atop the surrounding wall. The main hall (honden), rebuilt in 2017, is also worth a moment of attention, as it represents the active, living continuation of a shrine whose origins reach back over 1,300 years.

The contrast between the dense green canopy and the open sky above the shrine buildings makes Ichinomiya Shrine one of central Niihama's few remaining green oases. Locals come here simply to walk, to breathe, and to escape the bustle of the city.

The Shrine and Its History

The exact founding date of Ichinomiya Shrine is unknown, but the deity Oyamatsumi-no-kami has been worshipped here since ancient times. In the year 709 (Wado 2), the deities Oikazuchi-no-kami and Takaokami-no-kami were invited from Oyamazumi Shrine on the island of Omishima. The shrine became known as the "ichinomiya" (first-ranked shrine) of the old Niii District, giving the institution and the surrounding neighborhood their name.

Emperor Saga (early 9th century) had personal ties to the area through his foster mother, who hailed from Niii District, and the shrine received imperial patronage as a place of imperial prayer (chokuganjo). Across the centuries the shrine has weathered the tumultuous Tensho-era warfare of 1585 and the dramatic transformation of Niihama from a quiet coastal village into the industrial city built around the historic Besshi Copper Mine.

The Niihama Taiko Festival

If your visit happens to coincide with mid-October, you will encounter Ichinomiya Shrine in an entirely different mood. From October 16 to 18 each year, the city erupts in the Niihama Taiko Festival, counted among the three great festivals of Shikoku. Around 54 enormous, gold-embroidered taikodai (drum floats), each weighing about two tons and standing 6.5 meters tall, are paraded through the streets carried on the shoulders of more than 200 men per float.

Ichinomiya Shrine serves as the spiritual home of the 13 taikodai of the Kawanishi district. On October 18, these floats gather within the shrine precincts for the kakikurabe—a powerful, awe-inspiring competition of strength and synchronization, with the floats lifted high and held aloft beneath the very camphor trees that have presided over such offerings for centuries. The contrast of the brilliantly embroidered floats against the deep green of the ancient grove is unforgettable.

Visitor Information and Access

The shrine is conveniently located in the center of Niihama City, very close to City Hall. Free parking is available on site for shrine visitors, though spaces are limited. Visitors should be aware that during the Niihama Taiko Festival (mid-October) the area becomes extremely crowded and traffic restrictions apply.

From JR Niihama Station, take a Setouchi Bus toward the city center (about 5 minutes) and disembark near the City Hall. The shrine is a short walk from there. By car, the shrine is about 15 minutes from the Niihama IC on the Matsuyama Expressway.

The grounds are open at all times, and there is no admission charge. Visitors are asked to walk quietly and respectfully, particularly near the largest trees. Photography of the trees is welcomed; please refrain from photographing worshippers without permission.

Things to See Nearby

After visiting the camphor grove, consider exploring more of Niihama's heritage. Minetopia Besshi, about 15 minutes by car into the mountains south of the city, transforms the site of the historic Besshi Copper Mine into a fascinating theme park, with mine railway rides, a hot spring, and access to "Tonaru," often called the "Machu Picchu of the East" for its ruins of a former mining town set high in the mountains. The mine itself operated from 1691 to 1973 and helped lay the foundation for modern Japanese industry.

The Akagane Museum, also in central Niihama, displays a richly decorated taikodai year-round and explains the city's industrial and cultural heritage in accessible language. For those interested in further nature, Mount Ishizuchi—the highest peak in western Japan—lies inland and is approachable as a side trip, though it deserves a full day of its own.