Otsukubanegashi of Touge Hachimangu Shrine (Natural monument designated by the city)

Taohachimangu Shrine is the guardian shrine of a small village with a few dozen houses nestled in the bosom of Mt. Shiraki. Evergreen broad-leaved trees such as Otsukubanegashi, Machilus thunbergii, and Yabutsubaki trees grow around the grounds, which include a small worship hall and main hall, and among them, the particularly large Otsukubanegashi draws attention. The thick trunk splits into two at 2-3m above the ground, and as it goes up, it branches out again and again, creating a magnificent tree shape. In addition, the large crack that reaches from the base to just above the branched part and the way ivy and creeping vines grow on the thick trunk give it the air of an ancient tree. Tsukubanegashi can be found in relatively large numbers throughout the prefecture, but Otsukubanegashi has a narrow distribution area and is a rare species. In addition, since the shape of the leaves is intermediate between Akagashi and Tsukubanegashi, it is considered to be a hybrid of the two species. The largest Tsukubanegashi tree in the prefecture is located at Hayatani Shrine in Hatsukaichi City, but the tree at Toge Hachiman Shrine is in no way inferior to it. It is the largest giant Tsukubanegashi tree in the prefecture. Location: 731-0202 Obayashi-cho, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima City Date of designation within the grounds of Toge Hachiman Shrine: May 17, 1976 Summary: Tree height approximately 22m, trunk width 4.45m, branch spread 5m west, 8m south, 9m north