Suhara Shrine Buppousou Breeding Ground: A Sacred Forest Where a Legendary "Three Treasures" Bird Once Sang
Hidden along the upper Nagara River in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, lies a venerable shrine grove that holds a special place in the natural history of Japan. The forest surrounding Suhara Shrine (Suhara Jinja) was designated a National Natural Monument in 1935 as a breeding ground for the Buppousou, a strikingly beautiful summer migratory bird whose name once carried profound spiritual meaning. For centuries, this quiet forest of towering trees was thought to echo with the voice of a sacred bird that seemed to chant the three treasures of Buddhism. The truth, when finally uncovered, proved to be one of the most charming cases of mistaken identity in Japanese natural history.
For visitors who appreciate where folklore, ornithology, and the enduring traditions of Shinto meet, Suhara Shrine offers a contemplative destination far from the well-trodden tourist routes of central Japan.
Historical Background: The Mystery of the Sacred Bird
For more than a thousand years, Japanese people associated a haunting forest call—rendered phonetically as "bup-pou-sou"—with a single beautiful bird. The syllables themselves carried meaning: "Buppousou" translates as "Buddha, Dharma, Sangha," the three treasures of Buddhist teaching. To hear this call drifting through a shrine forest was understood as an auspicious encounter with the sacred. The bird was given the alternative name "Sanpouchou," meaning "Three Treasures Bird," and ancient texts including the writings of Kukai (Kobo Daishi) celebrated its mystical voice.
It was on this premise that the Japanese government, in the 1930s, set out to protect breeding grounds where this celebrated bird was known to nest. Suhara Shrine's grove was identified as one such site, and on June 7, 1935, an area of approximately 120 hectares was designated a National Natural Monument under the Cultural Properties Protection system.
That very same year, however, a remarkable revelation overturned centuries of belief. In June 1935, NHK conducted a live radio broadcast from Mount Horai in Aichi Prefecture, attempting to capture the sacred call. When the sound was finally transmitted across the nation and matched against the bird in the cage, scientists discovered that the famous "bup-pou-sou" call did not come from the colorful bird at all. It came from the Konohazuku, a small nocturnal owl known in English as the Japanese Scops Owl. Two completely different birds had been confused for over a millennium.
To distinguish them, naturalists adopted two terms still used today: "Sugata no Buppousou," meaning the "Buppousou of Form" (the colorful day-flying bird, formally called the Oriental Dollarbird), and "Koe no Buppousou," meaning the "Buppousou of Voice" (the actual nocturnal owl that produces the famous call).
Why This Forest Was Designated a National Natural Monument
The Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), known in Japan as the Buppousou, is widely distributed across East Asia and the southern tropics, but in Japan it has always been considered relatively rare. Suhara Shrine's grove was one of only four sites in the entire country recognized for its historical importance as a Buppousou breeding ground, alongside Sano Shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture (designated 1934), the Mitake breeding ground in Nagano Prefecture (1935), and the Minobu breeding ground in Yamanashi Prefecture (1937).
The original 1935 designation document, written in classical Japanese, stated that the Buppousou had long been celebrated as the bird that chants the Three Treasures, and that these specific groves were notable as breeding sites preserved through the ages. The designation reflected both ecological rarity and cultural reverence—a recognition that protecting the bird meant protecting the forest itself, with its ancient trees whose hollow trunks provided essential nesting cavities.
The Buppousou requires very specific conditions: tall mature trees with natural cavities, an abundance of large flying insects, and quiet undisturbed surroundings. Suhara Shrine's centuries-old sacred grove provided exactly this environment, sustained by Shinto traditions of forest preservation that long predated any modern conservation movement.
The Beauty of the Buppousou
The Oriental Dollarbird is a creature of remarkable beauty. Slightly larger than a pigeon, it has a dark brown to blackish head, a body shimmering in deep blue-green, and a vivid coral-red bill and feet. When it spreads its wings in flight, brilliant white spots flash against the dark feathers like silver coins—the origin of its English name "Dollarbird." It is a swift, agile flier that hunts large flying insects from high perches, plunging out to snatch beetles, dragonflies, and cicadas in mid-air during the daytime.
The bird arrives in Japan in May after migrating from Southeast Asia. By June it nests in the hollows of giant trees, where the female lays her clutch and incubates the eggs. Chicks hatch in July, and by late September the entire family departs for wintering grounds in Java, Sumatra, and the Indonesian islands. Their actual call, far from the melodic chant once attributed to them, is a harsh croaking "geh-geh-geh"—an unromantic sound that further confirmed the historic mix-up with the owl.
The Site Today: A Forest Still Worth Visiting
Visitors should be aware that the Buppousou itself has become extremely difficult to encounter at Suhara Shrine in recent decades. After National Route 156 was constructed behind the shrine, traffic noise altered the once-quiet environment, and the breeding population that had inspired the original designation has greatly diminished. The Buppousou is now classified as a vulnerable species in Japan.
However, the designated site remains a place of considerable interest. The shrine grove itself, with its towering cedars and broadleaf trees, is also designated as a Gifu Prefecture Natural Monument in its own right. Walking among these venerable trees, visitors can experience the kind of cathedral-like forest atmosphere that drew migratory birds for centuries and that continues to define Japan's most sacred landscapes.
The shrine itself, founded according to tradition in 721 by the mountain ascetic Taicho, is the head of a network of 49 Suhara shrines across Japan and is associated with the venerable Hakusan mountain faith. Its three main halls (honden), reconstructed in the early Edo period, are designated Important Cultural Properties of Gifu Prefecture, while the worship hall, dance pavilion, and tower gate are designated cultural properties of Mino City.
Visitor Information
Suhara Shrine is conveniently accessible by public transport. The Nagaragawa Railway's Suhara Station is approximately 400 meters from the shrine, making this one of the more easily reached rural shrines in Gifu Prefecture. The journey by train through the Nagara River valley is itself a scenic highlight, passing through one of central Japan's most beautiful river landscapes.
The grounds are open year-round without admission charge. The shrine sits directly along the Nagara River, with a sacred rock (Kamiiwa) in the river's central island serving as a natural feature of religious importance. The approach passes through a stone torii gate and across a small stone arched bridge—a serene setting that continues to attract pilgrims seeking blessings for harvest, marital harmony, and family wellbeing.
The best time to visit for those hoping to glimpse the Buppousou is between late May and August, though sightings are now exceptionally rare. Most visitors come instead to enjoy the shrine architecture, the ancient grove, and the quiet riverside setting.
Surrounding Attractions
The Suhara area lies along the upper reaches of the famous Nagara River and offers several worthwhile detours. Mino City itself is renowned for Mino washi paper, a traditional craft inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and for the historic Udatsu merchant district where wealthy Edo-period paper merchants built distinctive fire-resistant homes. The Mino Washi Museum and the preserved old townscape are highlights.
Nearby Rokkakudo, the hexagonal hall of Rokuonji Temple, is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and pairs naturally with a visit to Suhara Shrine. Further upriver, the Nagaragawa Railway continues toward Gujo Hachiman, a charming castle town famous for its summer Bon dance festival and crystal-clear streams. The Nagara River itself is celebrated as one of Japan's three pristine rivers and offers seasonal cormorant fishing demonstrations downstream in Gifu City.
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Q&A
- What exactly is the Buppousou bird, and why is it called by such a religious-sounding name?
- The Buppousou, known in English as the Oriental Dollarbird, is a striking summer migrant with blue-green plumage, a coral-red bill, and white wing spots. It received its religious name because the call "bup-pou-sou" was historically attributed to it—the syllables meaning "Buddha, Dharma, Sangha," the three treasures of Buddhism. In 1935 it was discovered that the call actually comes from a different bird, the nocturnal Japanese Scops Owl, but the original name has remained.
- Can I actually see the Buppousou if I visit Suhara Shrine today?
- Sightings have become very rare in recent decades, primarily because of traffic noise from National Route 156 which was constructed behind the shrine. The breeding population has declined significantly. Visitors should approach the site with the understanding that it is a place of historical and cultural importance for the species, rather than a guaranteed wildlife viewing destination.
- When was the site designated a National Natural Monument?
- The breeding ground was designated as a National Natural Monument on June 7, 1935. It is one of only four such Buppousou breeding grounds nationally designated, along with Sano Shrine in Miyazaki, the Mitake area in Nagano, and Minobu in Yamanashi.
- How do I get to Suhara Shrine from major cities?
- From Nagoya, take the JR Tokaido Line to Gifu, then transfer to the JR Takayama Line to Mino-Ota, where you connect to the Nagaragawa Railway heading to Suhara Station. The shrine is about 400 meters from the station. The total journey takes approximately two and a half hours and offers beautiful views of the Nagara River valley.
- Are there other things to see in the area besides the shrine?
- Yes, the broader Mino City area is rich in cultural attractions. The Udatsu merchant district preserves Edo-period architecture from the city's heyday as a Mino washi paper trading center. Mino washi itself is recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The hexagonal hall of Rokuonji Temple, a national Important Cultural Property, is also nearby. The wider Nagara River valley offers river activities, hot springs, and the historic castle town of Gujo Hachiman further upstream.
Basic Information
| Name | Suhara Shrine Buppousou Breeding Ground (Suhara Jinja Buppousou Hanshokuchi) |
|---|---|
| Designation | National Natural Monument (designated June 7, 1935) |
| Designated Area | Approximately 120 hectares |
| Location | Suhara, Mino City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan |
| Species Protected | Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), known in Japanese as Buppousou |
| Breeding Season | May to September (arrival in May, departure to Southeast Asia in late September) |
| Access | Approximately 400 meters (about a 5-minute walk) from Suhara Station on the Nagaragawa Railway Etsumi-Nan Line |
| Admission | Free; shrine grounds open year-round |
| Nearby Designations | Suhara Shrine main halls (Gifu Prefecture Important Cultural Property); shrine grove (Gifu Prefecture Natural Monument) |
References
- Suhara Shrine Buppousou Breeding Ground - Mino City Official Website
- https://www.city.mino.gifu.jp/docs/1091.html
- Suhara Shrine Buppousou Breeding Ground - Cultural Heritage Online (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/205423
- National Designated Cultural Properties Database - Agency for Cultural Affairs
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/401/1268
- Suhara Shrine - Gifu Prefecture Tourism Information
- https://gifu.mytabi.net/suhara-shrine.php
- Buppousou Conservation Recovery Plan - Nagano Prefecture
- https://www.pref.nagano.lg.jp/shizenhogo/kurashi/shizen/hogo/kisyoyasei/jorei/documents/buppoussou.pdf
- Suhara Area Cultural Properties - Mino City
- https://www.city.mino.gifu.jp/docs/1258.html
Last verified: 2026.05.05