Kaya of Koshoji Temple

Koshoji, an ancient temple of the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Sakahama, has a Japanese Kaya tree that has been designated as a natural monument of Tokyo. This kaya tree that stands behind the main hall is a female tree, approximately 25 meters tall and 6.3 meters in circumference at breast height, making it one of the largest kaya trees in Tokyo. According to a survey, it is said to be the 12th largest Kaya tree in the country.
The thickness of the trunk overwhelms the viewer and gives a sense of its long history. Although it has some dents, its beautiful cylindrical trunk grows straight up to about 8 meters. However, the upper part has been lost due to repeated lightning strikes, and now five branch trunks are spreading out.
In 1988, the trees began to decline in strength due to several lightning strikes and railway construction work, so conservation measures were taken to revive the trees. We erected a protective fence around the tree to prevent it from being trampled, and erected posts on the trunks for protection. The tree is now gradually regaining its vigor thanks to measures such as removing rotten parts and dead branches that have entered the trunk, injecting nutrients, and improving the soil around the tree.
The Kaya tree is an evergreen tree belonging to the Taxus family, and has long been known as a tree with many uses. In addition to being planted as a garden tree or a precinct tree, it is also used as a material for architecture and sculpture. It is also known to be in high demand as Go boards and Shogi boards. The fruit, heated in autumn, is also edible.
The diagram below is an old illustration depicting Koshoji Temple and its precincts. A large oak tree can be seen towering in front of the main hall, which faces west, opposite to the current one. The approach to the temple, the layout of the temple, and the surrounding area have changed significantly, but the only thing that remains is the Kaya tree.