Huge Camphor
Tree at Achihayao Shrine
Achihayao Shrine is located at the northwestern side of Hanaten
Station on JR Gakkentoshi Line.
The huge 16 meter tall camphor tree in the precincts, with a trunk
approximately 6 meters in diameter, is said to be 1,000 years old.
It is a designated natural monument of Osaka Prefecture.
Part of the central trunk has been removed. This is because the
tree was hit by lightning in the Taisho Era (1912 - 1926) and only
one third of the tree survived. Further growth was obstructed by
more than 20 meters of dead main trunk, so a tree surgeon cut it
out to revive the entire tree.
Other than this tree, the shrine features a monument for the iris
cutting festival, which is a special Shinto ritual, "Okage
Tourou" (an appreciative lantern) and some guideposts. The
four stone guardian dogs in front of the main shrine are an unusual
sight. The pair of dogs in the back was offered when the 1,300-year
festival was held to worship a sacred sword (1968). The pair of
dogs in front is said to have been offered in 1820. Although they
are from different eras, the four dogs seem to sit together amicably. |
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