This hollow was a favourite resting place for homeless men in Kagoshima until a locked door was installed in April 2000.
The tree, fondly referred to as Ōkusu (大楠, great camphor) by locals, is located on the grounds of Hachiman Jinja, a shinto shrine.
[2][3] Every November an autumn festival called Donto Matsuri takes place on the grounds of Hachiman Jinja.
The former town is in a valley drained by the Gamou river which flows to the south-east through the conurbation of Aira and into the north-western portion of Kagoshima Bay.
The lake of Sumiyoshiike (Sumiyoshi pond) is to the former town's north-east which is north-west of the centre of the Aira conurbation.