Takeo Shrine

Takeo Shrine in Saga Prefecture is approached through a gate that leads under an enormous camphor tree estimated to be around 3,000 years old, with a trunk circumference of roughly 20 meters. The tree is considered a sacred living monument and is ringed with shimenawa rope. The shrine is dedicated to a deity associated with longevity, and the pairing of that belief with the visibly ancient tree gives the site its particular atmosphere. The grounds are shaded and quiet, with smaller stone monuments and subordinate shrines arranged around the base of the main structure. Takeo is also known for its onsen, making it easy to combine a visit to the shrine with a bath in the town's historic bathhouses nearby.