Ogyō no Matsu, Pine tree in Taitō-ku, Japan.
Ogyō no Matsu is a pine tree growing on the grounds of Saizo-in Temple in the Negishi district of Taitō-ku, Tokyo, and is recognized as a natural monument of local importance. The tree stands near the front of the temple grounds and is visible from the street.
The first tree on this spot was designated a National Living Monument in 1915 and had stood for around 350 years before it declined in 1928 due to environmental stress. The tree seen today is the third generation planted in its place.
The tree was illustrated by Hiroshige in his Toto Meisho series, which made this spot known far beyond the neighborhood. Today visitors often come already familiar with that image, and seeing the living tree in a working temple gives the place a quiet sense of recognition.
Saizo-in Temple is in the Negishi neighborhood and easy to reach on foot from Uguisudani Station on the Yamanote Line. As it is an active place of worship, visitors are expected to move quietly and respect the space around the tree.
When the first tree died, its roots were carved into a Buddhist Fudo statue, which is still kept inside Saizo-in Temple. The original tree therefore continues to exist in another form within the religious life of the same place where it once grew.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
