Make a wish at a 3,000-year-old cedar tree

If you watch any anime films by Ghibli Studios, you might notice the recurrence of nature. Not only does it serve as a beautiful backdrop in scenes, but also as a symbol of sacredness, purity, mystique and mightiness. This is based on the important role nature has in traditional Japanese thought and culture. Trees in particular are considered sacred, especially the longer they've lived

So, it’s easy to understand why the 3,000-year-old Sugi-no-Osugi cedar tree in Otoyo Town is a pretty big deal

Located just under an hour from Kochi Station by train, Sugi-no-Osugi is one of the largest cedar trees in Japan, rising over 60 meters high. Legend has it that Susanoo-no-Mikoto, one of the brothers of the Sun Goddess herself, planted the tree

To make it even more auspicious, Sugi-no-Osugi is “a wedded cedar” with two trees sharing the same roots. For this reason, people visit the shrine to pray for finding their perfect match

Fun fact! Hibari Misora, one of Japan’s cultural icons, wished to become a famous singer when she visited the shrine at age 10. Her singing career began just a few years later, and she went on to sell millions of records! Her songs are beloved classics that continue to touch our hearts today

What will you wish for when you visit Sugi-no-Osugi?

Read more about Sugi-no-Osugi: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/see-and-do/10028