This Japanese Train Station Was Built Around A 700 Year Old Tree, And Here’s Why

There’s a train station in the Northeast suburbs of Osaka, Japan, which proves that man and nature can coexist in harmony. Its main feature is a giant camphor tree, stretching out through a hole in the platform. Officials believe that the tree is about 700 years old and its history is full of loving people and a little bit of superstition.

Kayashima station opened right next to the camphor tree in 1910. However, after 60 years the increase in population demanded an expansion of the station and it was approved in 1972. The tree was to be cut down to make room for the new structure. But anyone who tried to cut down the tree was doomed with some sort of unfortunate event. One man who managed to cut down a branch, developed a high fever later that day. Others saw smoke arise from the bottom of the tree.

When locals found out about what was happening with their beloved tree, they were outraged. Tales began to spread about the tree and its deity, so eventually, the officials agreed to update the design of the new platform and incorporate the tree into it. Construction began in 1973 and ended in 1980. To this day the camphor tree is growing there with the support of the local community and there’s even a little shrine to honor its being.

(h/t: spoon-tamago)

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Image credits: Kosaku Mimura/Nikkei

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Image credits: me de miru neyagawashi

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Image credits: Mizuo Watanabe/Asahi

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Image credits: Studio Ohana

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Image credits: Studio Ohana

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Image credits: Studio Ohana

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Image credits: Studio Ohana

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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Cassie 7 years ago

Awesome! At my college, there was this fantastic old tree we used to study under, but then they wanted to build a library and that's where they wanted to put it. I really wish they had built the library around that awesome old tree instead of bulldozing it to make way for the building.

16points

MeiMei 7 years ago

In my uni, there was this huge and old tree. We called it Centree short for Centennial Tree. This tree was surrounded by concrete bench that serves as a meeting place for all of the students. A lot of the students usually hang in the area , talking to their friends, studying, practicing their dance grooves and eating. There are also food stalls near the tree that provided food as well as income to small scale entrepreneurs. It was a lovely place. Every student has a great story to tell about this tree. Centree has became a symbol of my uni. It just sad that because of a strong typhoon the tree was destroyed. Students now will not have a story about this tree but hopefully they can still have a lot of cool stories from their uni years.

8points

Angel 7 years ago

Honestly, this is something that needs to happen more often. Old trees, (especially ones that old) should be left where they stand, with things built around them as much as possible. It provides some great views, helps clean the air, creates an amazing atmosphere and is just plain nice.

4points

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