Giant Camphor Tree at Kinomiya Shrine in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

The tree in the photo is the "Okusu," or Giant Camphor Tree at Kinomiya Shrine in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

🌳 Species: Camphor Tree (樟・楠, クスノキ)

⏳ Age: Said to be over 2,000 years old

📏 Height: Over 26m

🌲 Circumference: Over 23.9m

🏯 Designation: National Natural Monument of Japan

Belief: It has long been worshipped as a sacred tree inhabited by a spirit.

The information board explains that the current tree is the result of the roots and trunk of an ancient tree growing significantly, and also introduces the meaning that it is a "tree that brings health and longevity with a long lifespan."

In particular, as seen in the photo, the most impressive feature of this tree is its ability to maintain immense vitality despite the trunk splitting into multiple branches and having parts that appear hollow inside.

In a word:

It is a “giant camphor tree that is the symbol of Atami Kinomiya Shrine and a representative sacred tree of Japan that has lived for over 2,000 years.”