It’s very common in Japan to find holy trees in the vicinity of ancient Shinto shrines. Such shrines are often dwarfed beneath the enveloping canopy of one or more companion trees which, like the shrines, may be decorated with shimenawa prayer ropes which are used by the Japanese to designate places or objects of spiritual significance. This particular shrine serves the village of Kawashima in the high mountains of the Japan Southern Alps. The shrine sits atop a small hill in the middle of the village where inhabitants can see, if not visit, the shrine daily. I was impressed by the large conifer tree which stands ramrod straight immediately behind the shrine upon a hill which is otherwise bare of trees. Viewing the shrine and tree from below presents an impressive and imposing sight.
