■350-Year-Old Camellia Blooming at Tada Shrine in Kawanishi, Hyogo
多田神社拝殿横の唐椿
兵庫県川西市の多田神社（川西市多田院多田所町）境内で、樹齢約350年とされる唐椿（とうつばき）が今年も見頃を迎えている。中国・雲南原産のこの品種は、直径10センチ前後の淡紅色の花をつけ、4月中旬ごろまで楽しめる見込み。
At Tada Shrine in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, a 350-year-old camellia tree is now in full bloom, drawing attention from visitors. The tree, a rare variety known as Captain Raw from subtropical Yunnan, China, has blossomed with over 100 pale pink flowers since late March. The best viewing period is expected to continue until mid-April.
唐椿は拝殿横に位置し、高さ約7メートル。100輪を超える花が枝先を飾り、春の境内に優雅な彩りを添えている。この椿は、江戸時代の寛文年間（1661～1673年）に薩摩藩主・島津家から奉納されたと伝えられており、歴史的にも貴重な存在とされる。
Standing approximately seven meters tall, the tree grows beside the shrine’s main hall and produces blossoms about 10 centimeters in diameter. According to historical records, it was donated during the Kanbun era (1661–1673) by the ruling Shimazu clan of the Satsuma domain, who were patrons of the shrine.
多田神社は清和源氏の祖・源満仲が970年に創建したとされ、源氏発祥の地としても知られる。現在の社殿は、徳川4代将軍・家綱によって再建されたもので、本殿・拝殿・随神門は国指定重要文化財に登録されている。
Tada Shrine was founded in 970 by Minamoto no Mitsunaka, a progenitor of the Seiwa Genji clan. It is revered as the birthplace of the Genji lineage. The current shrine buildings were reconstructed by Tokugawa Ietsuna, the fourth shogun of the Edo period, and include several structures designated as Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government.
境内には約120種・200本以上の椿が植えられており、その中でもこの唐椿は特に存在感があるという。齋木竜也宮司は「今年はやや開花が遅れましたが、今が最も華やかな時期。春のひとときをぜひ境内でゆっくりお過ごしください」と来訪を呼びかけている。
The shrine grounds cover roughly 53,000 square meters and are home to more than 200 camellia trees across 120 species. Among them, this historic camellia is considered the most prominent.
Chief priest Tatsuya Saiki commented, “The flowers bloomed a bit later this year, but now they are at their most vibrant. We welcome visitors to take a peaceful stroll and enjoy the seasonal beauty within the sacred grounds.”
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