Category:

Municipally Designated Natural Monument

Title:

Kongoin no tabunoki

The Japanese Bay Tree of Kongoin Temple

金剛院のタブノキ

No. of features:

One tree

Designated:

February 13, 1976

Location:

Kongoin Temple, 1-758 Nisshincho, Kita Ward

Owner:

The religious juridical person of Kongoin Temple

Description:

This Japanese bay tree (Machilus thunbergii) measured 15 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of 3.3 meters and a base circumference of 4.8 meters at the time of its designation.

Four large trees stand in a row that stretches from north to south between the temple gate and the main hall. Three of these trees, excluding the ginkgo, are designated cultural properties.

This Japanese bay tree, or tabunoki, sits next to the temple gate. Tabunoki are evergreen trees in the Lauraceae family that are commonly found in warm climates. They are also called “inugusu”.

Due to interference from the growing branches of a neighboring ginkgo tree to its north, the main trunk of the tree leans about 40 degrees to the southeast, and its branches spread out in the southeast direction. It is a relatively slow-growing tree, but receives abundant sunlight and has good vigor. It is a rare and large tree.

Associated Texts:

(1987). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 3). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

Please be courteous towards other visitors, locals, and the site’s owners/curators when visiting this cultural property.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/005/002/003/p000593.html