Shimokashiwa no Ohaku: A Living Monument from the Heian Era
Tucked beside National Route 11 in Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture, stands one of Japan's most extraordinary trees — Shimokashiwa no Ohaku, the Great Ibuki of Shimokashiwa. This colossal Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis), known locally as ibuki or byakushin, has been growing on this windswept Shikoku plain for more than 1,200 years, predating the founding of Kyoto as Japan's capital. Designated a National Natural Monument in 1924, it remains one of the largest and oldest specimens of its species in the country, a living link between modern Japan and the Heian period.
Why This Tree Was Designated a National Natural Monument
The ibuki (Chinese juniper) is a slow-growing evergreen of the cypress family, native to the area south of Fukushima Prefecture. Under normal conditions, the species rarely reaches the proportions seen here. For an ibuki to attain such massive size requires extraordinary longevity — and to do so on an exposed, wind-battered coastal plain rather than in a sheltered grove makes this tree's survival, in the words of local guides, "near miraculous."
On December 9, 1924 (Taisho 13), the Japanese government designated the tree a National Natural Monument under the historic preservation law, recognizing both its botanical rarity and its cultural significance. A special preservation fund was established the following year, and management has been entrusted to the local municipality ever since. The settlement that grew up around the tree even took its name from it: the neighborhood is called Kashiwagi (柏槇), the Japanese word for juniper.
The Tree Itself: Scale and Form
Visitors are often unprepared for the sheer presence of this tree. The trunk leans roughly 30 degrees from vertical, its bark twisted into deep, sinuous spirals that resemble flowing water frozen in wood. At about four meters above the ground, the main trunk divides and sends powerful limbs reaching out in every direction.
Recorded Measurements
- Tree height: approximately 15 meters
- Root circumference: 14.3 meters
- Trunk circumference at breast height: approximately 8.3–8.4 meters
- Branch spread: 23.3 meters east-to-west, 15.3 meters north-to-south
- Estimated age: more than 1,200 years
The southeastern branch is the longest, and several wooden supports now help bear the weight of the great limbs. The tree's gnarled, partly hollowed appearance reflects the centuries of typhoons, droughts, and storms it has weathered on this open plain.
The Jizo Within the Trunk
On the eastern side of the trunk, a hollow approximately 1.4 meters high opens into the heart of the tree. Inside this natural shrine sits a small stone statue of Jizo Bodhisattva, the compassionate guardian of travelers and children in Japanese Buddhist tradition. The Jizo was placed here in 1783 (Tenmei 3), during the Edo period, and has been an object of local devotion ever since.
A sacred shimenawa rope is wrapped around the trunk, marking the tree as a shintai — a vessel in which a divine spirit dwells. For centuries, residents have come here to pray for safe travel, healthy children, and protection from misfortune, and the site is regarded as one of Shikokuchuo's most powerful spiritual locations.
Highlights for Visitors
The Sculptural Beauty of the Trunk
Photographers and tree enthusiasts come from across Japan to study the trunk's astonishing texture. The bark twists in dramatic helical patterns, and bleached, weathered wood shows where ancient branches once stood. In strong afternoon light, the surface takes on the appearance of a living sculpture — many visitors compare it to a piece of suiboku (ink-wash) painting rendered in three dimensions.
The Sense of Sacred Presence
Although the tree now stands amid convenience stores and residential buildings, it retains a striking spiritual atmosphere. The combination of the shimenawa, the Jizo within the hollow, and the sheer age of the tree gives the small enclosure a quiet dignity that strangers often find unexpectedly moving.
Wartime History
Local residents recount that during the Pacific War, when American carrier-based aircraft strafed the area around the port of Iyo-Mishima, several civilians took shelter behind the great trunk and were saved. The tree has thus witnessed not only centuries of seasonal change but moments of modern history as well.
Visitor Information
Shimokashiwa no Ohaku is located at 1440 Kashiwagi, Shimokashiwa-cho, Shikokuchuo City. The tree stands directly beside the Kawanoe-Mishima bypass of National Route 11. From the Mishima-Kawanoe Interchange of the Matsuyama Expressway, drive a few minutes east toward Mishima; the tree is visible on the left, just behind a convenience store. There is no dedicated parking lot, but the surrounding area is easily walkable.
The site is open at all hours and free to visit. As a designated natural monument, the tree should not be touched or climbed, and visitors are asked to remain on the surrounding paths. Early morning and late afternoon offer the most atmospheric light for photography.
Surrounding Attractions
Shikokuchuo City sits at the geographic center of Shikoku, where the prefectures of Ehime, Kagawa, and Tokushima meet, and offers a rich variety of nearby destinations. The Kirinomori Mountain Park and Hoo Lake, formed by the Tomisato Dam, lie inland and are popular for their dramatic gorge scenery and seasonal foliage. Closer to the coast, the city is famous as a center of Japan's traditional washi paper and modern paper industry — visitors interested in craft heritage can tour several local paper museums and workshops. For those exploring more of Ehime's giant trees, the prefecture-designated Ibuki at Tomisato-cho Fujiwara, with a trunk circumference of 9.2 meters, makes an excellent companion visit.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Ehime
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near The Large Oak Tree (Ibuki) in Shimokashiwa
- [ Dogo Onsen & Matsuyama Castle Relaxation Tour ]
Q&A
- How old is Shimokashiwa no Ohaku?
- The tree is estimated to be more than 1,200 years old, meaning it likely began growing during the early Heian period.
- What kind of tree is it?
- It is an ibuki (also called byakushin), a Chinese juniper of the cypress family. The species is native to areas south of Fukushima Prefecture and is normally a slow-growing, modestly sized evergreen — making this specimen exceptionally rare.
- Why is there a Jizo statue inside the trunk?
- A hollow on the east side of the trunk holds a stone Jizo Bodhisattva placed there in 1783 during the Edo period. Local residents have venerated the tree as a sacred site for centuries.
- When was it designated a National Natural Monument?
- It was designated on December 9, 1924 (Taisho 13). Shikokuchuo City has been entrusted with its management since 1925.
- Is there an admission fee or parking?
- There is no admission fee, and the site is accessible at all times. There is no dedicated parking lot, but the tree is located beside a convenience store along National Route 11, which makes it easy to find.
Basic Information
| Name | Shimokashiwa no Ohaku (Ibuki) / 下柏の大柏（イブキ） |
|---|---|
| Designation | National Natural Monument (Tennen Kinenbutsu) |
| Designation Date | December 9, 1924 (Taisho 13) |
| Species | Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis), known as ibuki or byakushin |
| Estimated Age | Over 1,200 years |
| Tree Height | Approximately 15 m |
| Trunk Circumference | Root: 14.3 m / Breast height: approximately 8.3–8.4 m |
| Branch Spread | East-West: 23.3 m / North-South: 15.3 m |
| Location | 1440 Kashiwagi, Shimokashiwa-cho, Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture |
| Managing Body | Shikokuchuo City (since June 11, 1925) |
| Access | A few minutes by car from the Mishima-Kawanoe IC on the Matsuyama Expressway, along National Route 11 |
| Admission | Free; open at all hours |
References
- 下柏の大柏（イブキ）— 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/191852
- 下柏の大柏 — 愛媛県観光物産協会（いよ観ネット）
- https://www.iyokannet.jp/spot/2233
- 四国中央市の文化財「指定・登録文化財一覧」
- http://bunka.shikokuchuo.or.jp/bnkz/CH/CH.htm
- 下柏の大柏 — 巨樹名木探訪・木の情報発信基地
- https://wood.jp/8-jumoku/kyoju/ehime/shimokashiwa-ibuki.html
- 【国指定天然記念物】下柏の大柏 — しこちゅーライフ
- https://www.shikochumap.com/powerspot-shimogashiwanotaihaku/
Last verified: 2026.04.30