Temple · Higashi-Koiwa

Zenyoji Kagemukai Pine 善養寺 影向の松

A 600-year-old black pine that spreads like a living green roof across a Koiwa temple courtyard, branches about 30 metres wide held on dozens of crutches, a Natural Monument and Japan's "number-one pine".

About

Zenyoji is a Shingon temple close to the Edogawa riverbank in Higashi-Koiwa, and its fame rests on one tree. The Kagemukai no Matsu, a Japanese black pine estimated at around 600 years old, grows not upward but outward, its trunk only a few metres high while its branches sprawl in every direction across roughly 30 metres, supported by a forest of wooden props. The canopy is so wide that it covers much of the courtyard, and in 2002 it was crowned the best pine in Japan in a friendly contest with a rival tree in Okayama. It is a designated Natural Monument and is meticulously pruned by the temple. Few people outside eastern Tokyo know of it, and you can usually admire it in complete silence.

Highlights

• Black pine about 600 years old with branches spreading roughly 30 m across
• Dozens of wooden crutches supporting the low, horizontal canopy
• Designated Natural Monument
• Peaceful Shingon temple near the Edogawa riverbank
• Free to visit

Tips

• Walk around the full perimeter, the shape changes completely from each side.
• From Koiwa Station take the bus toward Shinozaki and get off near Higashi-Koiwa 2-chome, or walk about 25 minutes.
• Combine with a walk along the Edogawa riverbank.
• Respect the temple, do not touch or lean on the supports.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Koiwa Flower RoadShopping Street · 1.1 km away
• Tochinishiki Statue at Koiwa StationStatue & Monument · 1.2 km away
• Koiwa Iris GardenGarden · 1.3 km away
• Shinozaki ParkPark · 2.1 km away
• Shunkaen Bonsai MuseumActivities & Experiences · 2.8 km away
• Ichinoe Nanushi YashikiMuseum · 3.2 km away
• Shinohara Furin Honpo (Edo Wind Chimes)Activities & Experiences · 3.3 km away
• Menya IttoRamen & Noodles · 3.3 km away