The Tarumi Great Cherry Tree is a magnificent wild cherry tree of the Edohigan variety, located in Tarumi, Oya-cho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture. Also known as Sen’o, meaning “Immortal Cherry Tree,” it has long been cherished by local residents as a treasured natural landmark. On June 9, 1951, it was designated a National Natural Monument of Japan.
The Tarumi Great Cherry Tree is considered one of the largest cherry trees in Hyogo Prefecture and is notable for both its impressive size and exceptional age. As of 2020, its age was estimated to exceed 1,000 years. Every year, around mid-April, its branches produce beautiful blossoms, attracting visitors who come to admire this remarkable survivor of the natural world.
The tree is especially impressive when viewed from the western slope, where its immense trunk and spreading branches can be appreciated from below. Its most flourishing period is believed to have been during the Genroku era (1688–1704), when its crown reportedly extended approximately 36 meters in each direction. Historical records also indicate that Hideo Koide, the lord of the Izushi Domain, visited the tree to enjoy its beauty.
According to local tradition, the tree was planted to mark the boundary between the territory administered by the Izushi Domain and that controlled by the Ikuno Magistrate’s Office. It was also revered as a sacred dwelling place for the mountain deity, and generations of local people have protected it with great care.
The tree was once said to reach 20 meters in height. By 2020, its height was approximately 13.8 meters, its root circumference was about 7 meters, and its trunk circumference measured at chest height was approximately 6.3 meters. Despite the changes it has undergone over the centuries, it remains an impressive symbol of the region’s natural heritage.
The tree began showing signs of declining health around 1967. By 1993, the number of flowers and leaves had fallen dramatically, leaving the trunk and branches increasingly exposed. In 1997, specialists in tree care began a program to restore its vitality. Their efforts included improving the soil and encouraging the growth of new roots from the trunk and branches.
These conservation measures gradually helped the tree recover, and its condition had improved considerably by 2020. The ongoing preservation of the Tarumi Great Cherry Tree demonstrates the importance of protecting ancient trees so that future generations can continue to appreciate their beauty and history.
Traveling by car is the most convenient way to reach the Tarumi Great Cherry Tree. From either Yabu Interchange or Yoka-Hyonosen Interchange on the Kita-Kinki Toyooka Expressway, follow the local roads toward the trailhead parking area. From there, the tree can be reached on foot in approximately 15 minutes, covering a distance of about 400 meters.