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Baramon Sugi Trees
13th Century
The natural beauty of form, mysterious, full of vitality, in front of an ancient temple.
As a temple gate, Eisho-ji Shimonobo temple in Tenri City’s Fukusumi Town welcomes visitors with two gigantic cedar trees, known as the Baramon Sugi trees.
Estimated to be about 800 years old, over 35 meters tall, and about seven meters round, the powerful size and presence of these trees continue to bring visitors here to this day. Thick branches grow out from even thicker trunks, stretching upwards toward the sky. The trees are so large and uniquely shaped that it is difficult to capture them in photos. We just have to see the real thing!
The temple itself was established hundreds of years before these trees, in the Nara period (710-794 CE) on the orders of Emperor Shomu. It belongs to the Shingon Buzan sect, and is a branch temple of Hasedera temple in Sakurai City. Today, the trees and the temple overlook a small, quiet valley in Tenri’s highlands. It is a wonderful place to feel both the natural beauty and ancient history of Time Travel City.
Access
By car: The Baramon Sugi trees are about 2.5 km north of the Fukusumi IC on the Meihan Expressway.
By train: The nearest train stations are JR and Kintetsu Tenri Stations, but they are still very far from the Baramon Sugi trees. From the station, Nara Kotsu Bus line buses headed for Yamabe-Koko and Hari will stop at the Kokudo-Fukusumi bus stop. The trees are about 2.5 km north of the bus stop. Buses run very infrequently, so please check the bus schedules in advance.
By bus: The Baramon Sugi trees are about 2.5 km north of the Kokudo-Fukusumi bus stop of the Nara Kotsu Bus line. Buses run very infrequently, so please check the bus schedules in advance.
Environment
In addition to the Baramon Sugi trees, Fukusumi Town also has Himuro Jinja shrine, a unique shrine famous for the Deity of Ice. In the same town is also Sainen-ji temple, which is famous for its thatched kayabuki roof and the beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom every spring.
Point
The Baramon Sugi trees have been a witness to the history of this land for centuries. This is a beautiful, quiet place where we can connect with something greater than ourselves, both in size and in age.
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