Discover Your Favorite Giant Trees! Suda-jii, a species of Chinquapin – watch- Camphor trees Winter blooming sweet cherry blossoms ing over the history of Mito since the in an old samurai residence Around Mito station/ Sengoku period (mid-15th century) Cherry blossoms Camphor Laurel Kairakuen Garden Suda-jii, a species of （Cinnamomum camphora） () （Castanopsis sieboldii） Winter blooming Chinquapin Kodokan was established Enjoy a tour of giant trees and cherry blossoms This giant Suda-jii, a species of Chinquapin stands under the spirit of ‘Stabi- start to bloom a historical sites of Mito which is in the former Shokokan inside Mito castle es- lize people’s sprit through bit at a time from the turf of , the three families of tablished by as a historical education and revive the autumn to winter Tokugawa Shogun. research institute to compile ‘Dainihonshi (Great country with education as and they are in history of )’. The place is now Mito Daini junior its foundation’. Kodokan full bloom in the Mito has been flourished as a river port of Nak- high school. It is a his- contributed to the capac- spring. It is touch- agawa River, and it was a key base called“Door - torically important tree ity development of the ing to see small way of Water transportation”. Mito branch of which is said to have ex- youth for 31 years since its establishment in 1841. single layered sakura flowers blooming under the ’s notable achievements remain isted since the Sengoku Two camphor trees stand between ‘Kanameishi cold winter sky. The original tree was transplanted as a historical legacy such as of Tokugawa Mit- period (mid-15th century), kahi monument’ with Nariaki’s own handwriting. from Kume residence of a Mito feudal lord. This The camphor tree on the right is estimated to be sukuni, the second feudal lord of , and designated as a nat- cherry blossom tree is said to be one of the trees around 300 years of age which has stood in the who is known for compiling a Japanese history ural treasure by Mito city. grafted from the original tree. Samurai residence since before Kodokan was built. book‘Dainihonshi’, and the ninth feudal lord . Trunk girth : 430cm / 330cm Height : Approx. 20m Trunk girth : 460cm Height : Approx. 25m Trunk girth : 260cm Height : 4.5m Est. age : unknown The following introduces three walking trails Est. age : 400 years Est. age : 300 years Location : Kairakuen Garden 1-3-3 Tokiwa-cho, Mito city, Location : 2-11-2 Sannomaru, Mito city, Ibaraki prefecture Location : 1-6-29 Sannomaru, Mito city, Ibaraki prefecture Ibaraki prefecture for observing giant trees: 1. Mito castle ruins where Mito branch of Tokugawa clan resided; 2. Japan’s largest clan school Kodokan Mito Han School (equivalent to a university in the A spiritual place since the ancient times A historical tree standing secretly ) which was established in 1841 by beside Togyokusen-spring What is the Survey on Giant Trees? Tokugawa Nariaki; 3. Kairakuen Garden built in Japanese Cedar （Cryptomeria japonica） 1842 as a park for everyone to relax and enjoy. Bamboo-leaf oak The Ministry of the Environment has been conducting Quercus myrsinifolia （ ） the Survey on Giant Trees since 1988 as part of the The place where Taro cedar grows had an abun- Bamboo-leaf oak is a tree with a relatively small Basic Survey on Natural Environment Conservation. It dant spring water since tree trunk despite its height, and grows well even in targets trees whose trunk girth is 300 cm or more and reach the height of 130 m from the ground. long time ago, and the the shade. Its hard and durable timber was widely For the information of giant trees, clear groundwater re- used for making armors and agricultural tools. They please check the Giant Tree Data- mains cool even during were planted in the north Kan- base. 【Access】 https://kyoju.biodic.go.jp/ To JR Mito Sta. summer. The spring water to region as a hedge to protect ・ By train: 74 mins by limited express train on JR Joban Line was named ‘Togyokusen’ houses from severe winter ・ Highway bus: 110 mins from Yaesu south gate of and known as a spiritual monsoons. One may walk past Tokyo Sta. place along with Taro without noticing them, but National Giant Trees and Forests Association 290 mins from JR Sendai Sta. (via Nihonmatsu) cedar since the ancient this bamboo-leaf oak can be From JR Mito Sta. to Kairakuen Garden times. In the past, five counted as one of the hidden If you are interested in giant trees, check out the Na- ・ 20 mins by bus from North exit of JR Mito Sta. giant cedars stood near tional Giant Trees and Forests Association! (bound for Kairakuen) historical trees in Kairakuen. Taro cedar, but now only The association carries out the activities related to gi- * Terminal No.4 (Ibaraki Kotsu) or No.6 (Kanto railway) ant trees, such as observation tours of this one remains. bus stops giant trees, publication of the newslet- * Please check bus companies’ timetable before ter “Giant Trees and forests” and the boarding, as the number of services are limited. Trunk girth : 570cm Height : Approx. 25m Est. age : 800 years Trunk girth : 360cm Height : 10m Est. age : unknown organization of the National Forum on 【Admission】 Location : Kairakuen Garden 1-3-3 Tokiwa-cho, Mito city, Location : Kairakuen Garden 1-3-3 Tokiwa-cho, Mito city, Giant Trees. Ibaraki prefecture Adults: ￥300; Primary/ junior high school students Ibaraki prefecture http://www.kyojyu.com/ & seniors (70 and over): ￥150 Ibaraki prefectural Mito art museum museum of history Mito city museum Kairakuen Mito Station Naka river Discover Your Favorite Giant Trees! Art tower Mito 20 mins by bus Kairakuen Mito (Approx. 3 km) Approx. 12 min walk (900ｍ） Around Mito station/ 3 Cherry blossoms 5 2 4 Suda-jii, a species of 3 1 Kairakuen 1 Chinquapin JR Joban line The Tokugawa Kirakuen Station JR Mito Station (Ibaraki prefecture) 4 Japanese Cedar Approx. 8 min walk (650m) Museum （Special） Senba lake The museum of modern art, A tour of giant trees and Mito’s city, Ibaraki the turf of the Gosanke, the three 2 Camphor Laurel families of Tokugawa Shogun. 5 Bamboo-leaf oak Approx. 15 min walk (1000m) ↓North Kanto Load Ooarai→

Camphor trees 2 Suda-jii, a species of Chinquapin – watch- 1 in an old samurai residence ing over the history of Mito since the Sen- A historical tree standing secretly 5 A spiritual place since the 4 Winter blooming sweet 3 goku period (mid-15th century) beside Togyokusen-spring ancient times cherry blossoms Camphor Laurel Bamboo-leaf oak Japanese Cedar （Cinnamomum camphora） Suda-jii, a species of Cherry blossoms （Castanopsis sieboldii） （Quercus myrsinifolia） （Cryptomeria japonica） Trunk girth : 460cm Height : Approx. Chinquapin Trunk girth : 260cm 25m Est. age : 300 years Trunk girth : 430cm / 330cm Height : Approx. 20m Trunk girth : 360cm Height : 10m Trunk girth : 570cm Height : 4.5m Est. age : 400 years Est. age : unknown Height : Approx. 25m Est. age : unknown Est. age : 800 years WC Forest of giant cedars

Mousou bamboo forest WC Plum tree forest WC Kanameishi kahi Mito Daini Togyokusen monument junior high school (a natural spring) Otebashi bridge Plum tree forest Kodokan

WC WC Sannomaru Otemon-gate, Kobuntei WC Tokiwa shrine Mito castle Gingko slope

Giant (a house to entertain Tokugawa Nariaki’s guests) East gate gingko tree Kairakuen-mae 【 Senba Lake 】 North entrance Senba Lake is popular among residents of Mito city as a recreation area. It is a gourd-shaped lake with 3km circumference. You can enjoy seasonal JR Mito Sta. flowers alongside watching waterfowls. The area surrounding Kairakuen and Senba Lake is set out as a park which has an area of 300ha in total, to be the 2nd-biggest urban park in the world, only next to the Central Park in New York City!