Enchanted forest with majestic giant tree in Chiba, Japan, exuding mystery and tranquility.
A majestic giant tree stands tall in an enchanted forest, exuding mystery and tranquility.

The Giant Maple Tree of Oihara

It’s still early and I leave Tokyo before sunrise. I take the long tunnel and the Aqua-Line bridge to the other side of Tokyo Bay, then follow a small mountain road that loses me somewhere in the heart of Chiba prefecture.

It’s still early and I leave Tokyo before sunrise. I take the long tunnel and the Aqua-Line bridge to the other side of Tokyo Bay, then follow a small mountain road that loses me somewhere in the heart of Chiba prefecture. The only clue is there. My GPS coordinates point to the other side of the river, so I park the car and head down to the water.

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I expected there to be a bridge, a trail, or at least no actual river, but the only solution is to wade over. So I take off my shoes, socks, pants, as if it were summer. It's not very deep, but it’s slippery underfoot and the water is freezing.

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On the other side I look left, right: disappointingly there's nothing! You’d have to climb up the steep mountainside to reach the trees above, as these are where the coordinates lead. Hesitatingly, as it seems impossible for the tree to be growing up there, I start to climb.

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The tree cover seemed very dense from below but I discover a forest dotted with pines clearly intended for commercial use, as they're all straight and aligned. I search in vain around the GPS signals but what stands out most is this pile of dead trees. I'm looking for a tree, but is it really that one? It was part of an ancient village with stone walls, but I don’t see any ruins here.

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I walk around the forest in all directions, then climbing further up I come across a group of monkeys, a little lake … but nothing else. About to give up, I spot this little bridge. It can’t be there for no reason can it, right? ?

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I cross over and find myself on what looks like an old path. The scenery changes, the forest brightens. I'm being taken along a birch-lined track covered with leaves. Everything smells distinctly autumnal.

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A 90 degree turn and again, the scene changes. The sunrise, the play of light and shadow are magnificent. My excitement is intense because I know that, inevitably, something has to be at the end of the track.

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Here we are! This old cemetery belonged to the village of Oihara (黄和). There are a dozen family graves, now abandoned. The little village, lost in the middle of the forest, must have been quite lively!

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I take a look at Google Maps – it's incredible, Oihara really was lost in the middle of nowhere, in the forest and in the mountains. But where on earth is this village? I look around: there had been a huge landslide and there no longer seems to be a direct connection to the village.

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Down, up again and … here I am at the entrance! And lurking in the background …

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like a demonic hand springing from the ground …

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OH YES! The giant maple of Oihara! I finally caught up with the little rascal! I really didn’t think I’d find it, especially as I'd nearly given up on three occasions.

The giant maple of Oihara (追原の大楓)

Here is the abandoned tree, the haikyo tree as I like to call it, clinging onto a little wall. Oihara having been a living village until the late 1950s, the maple was there in its midst. It must have been the village chief, emblem, god, the spirit of the forest and probably also a playground. All the local people’s stories still flow through its sap.

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I stay there an hour gazing at the tree. I don’t find anything particularly remarkable nearby – an old sheet-metal shelter and the village well, a huge gaping hole extremely deep and dangerous.

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The whole area was supposed to be submerged in the 90s for the construction of a dam. Fortunately for our tree, the project was strongly boycotted by the local community.

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I think about climbing the old maple but resolve to leave it alone. Let it continue to reign in peace in this beautiful forest.

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Retracing my steps along another path, I take my time, savouring the fact of having found this tree that I’d dreamed of seeing for years. I'll be back.

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

commentaires

  • Bonjour ! “Smush it” (great btw) which I use to build the website for my paintings sends me to your site. I immediately clicked on “maple tree”. I like the atmosphere and the greens. Makes me want to paint…

  • Bonjour ! “Smush it” (great btw) which I use to build the website for my paintings sends me to your site. I immediately clicked on “maple tree”. I like the atmosphere, the moss and greens. Makes me want to paint… Merci pour ce partage.

  • Bonjour ! “Media Cleaner” plugin (great btw) which I use to build the website for my paintings sends me to your site. I immediately clicked on “maple tree”. I like the atmosphere, the moss and greens. Makes me want to paint… Merci pour ce partage.

    • It’s not often that people using my software actually end up visiting my website but that’s lovely when it happens 🙂 This place is definitely inspiring, I will go again with a friend for portraits. And if you ever make a drawing, please come back and share it here, that would be awesome to see!

      • Hi, Thanks for your reply to my comment here and on WP plugin rating system. I find that rating is the least I can do when I use a tool that I appreciate, esp. the free version. I followed the link to your site because it was in the wp admin when I updated the plug in. In fact my sister is very connected to Japan and one of her Japanese friends is visiting her right now, so I thought it was a ‘link’ from the universe… I was right because I then got a chance to see your photos and I really like them. I did not dare to ask if I may paint them but since you say you are interested to see if I draw them, I will take that for an authorisation and one of these days I will have a go ! Thanks again for your kind messages.

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Petals dance on air, Pink and gold in April's light— Sakura whispers.花びら舞う 四月の光に 桜の囁き。#hanami #sakura #japanesecherryblossom #springinjapan #offbeatjapan #japan #naturebeauty #landscapelovers
Pines whisper secrets, Under curved tiles and clear skies, Stone lanterns in peace. 松が囁き 曲がる瓦の下、 石灯籠、静かに。 #offbeatjapan #japan #traditionandnature #dojospirit #japanesearchitecture #peacefulplaces #serenesettings
Golden sun descends, Terraced greens meet forest hues— Nature's gentle quilt. ---黄金の陽、 段々畑の緑、 自然の優しき織物。 ---#offbeatjapan #ricefields #shirakawago #japan #sunsetvibes #naturelovers #serenitynow #mountainlife
Sunlight weaves through wood, Chaos in lines, shadows dance, Nature’s art revealed. 光が木を通り抜け、 乱れた線に影が踊る、 自然の芸術が現れる。 #offbeatjapan #japan #natureart #abandonedbeauty #architecture #lightandshadow #hiddenwonders
Crimson gates align, Hearts carved on love's scarlet path, Pines bend to dreams' sea. ---真紅の門 愛の道に刻み 松は夢の海へ曲がる ---#ShintoSpirit #ToriiGates #LoveInJapan #CoastalBeauty #SereneJapan #offbeatjapan #Japan
Lanterns softly glow, Timber frames embrace the snow, Silent warmth below. ランタンの光、 木枠に雪が舞い、 静かなる温もり。 #offbeatjapan #japan #snowyvillage #japanesearchitecture #tranquilbeauty #winterserenity #lanternlight
Crimson gate stands bold, Where verdant hills kiss the sea, Spirits rest at peace. --- 紅い門 緑の丘と海の 平和な魂 --- #offbeatjapan #japan #shinto #torii #coastlines #spiritualpeace #naturephotography
Scarlet sunlit hues, Torii whispers to the dawn— Nature's quiet shrine. --- 緋色の光、 鳥居は夜明けに囁く― 静かな神社。 --- #offbeatjapan #japan #torii #spiritualjourney #sunrisevibes #hiddenjapan #natureandspirit