A majestic giant tree over 1600 years old

#aprilblooms "Hosho-in Temple" is the 54th shrine of the 88 sacred places in Shodoshima. The 51st Fudasho "Hotobo" and the 52nd Fudasho "Former Hachimangu" are located in the same precincts and have long been worshipped by people. The highlight is the giant tree of Shinpak towering on the east side of the precincts. Shinpak is an evergreen coniferous tree of the genus Cypress that grows naturally on the coasts of Shikoku and Kyushu. Hoshoin's Shinpak boasts a masterpiece with a circumference of about 16.9 metres and a tree height of about 20.9 metres, and is said to be the largest in Japan. It is said that it was hand-planted by the 15th Emperor Ojin during the Kofun period, and the tree is over 1,600 years old. It was designated as a national special natural monument in 1955.