Gajyumaru Banyan Tree

A symbol of Nago for over 300 years now is the massive Gajyumaru (banyan) tree, standing in the middle of a major road, not far from Okinawa’s main highway route 58 that runs through Nago. The tree’s presence is hard to ignore when driving by, with its gnarly branches twisting and winding everywhere. There is an aura of a mystic element to this primordial tree.

Found in many playgrounds, parks, and school yards in Okinawa, the banyan tree is especially predominant in Nago. An ancient Northern Okinawa legend says that a “Kijimuna” (tree spirit) lives in the Gajyumura and can only be seen by children because they are still pure of heart.