Kuzunoki tree in Kozushima: is the donation request a scam?

上津島のクスノキ · #camphor #kuzunoki #kozushima

I was wandering near the Kozushima area and someone by the big camphor tree asked for a small "preservation donation" in cash, no receipt offered. Is that a real local custom for the tree in 2026 or a… I was wandering near the Kozushima area and someone by the big camphor tree asked for a small "preservation donation" in cash, no receipt offered. Is that a real local custom for the tree in 2026 or a scam aimed at tourists? I'd like to know how it usually works before I go back.

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maria · 1d

probably not a custom, receipts or bust

susannhabe… · 1d

yeah receipts are standard for any legit shrine or town collection, so cash in hand with no paper is a red flag.

jenny · 1d

agreed, cash with no paper is sketchy. fwiw legit shrine donations usually come with at least a stamp or a little paper slip. id just walk away tbh.

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elise · 1d

same, esp for a tree with no shrine office nearby

elise · 1d

true, no paper no money. though some small local kolekta might just have a box to drop coins in, not a person asking

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carsta · 1d

Right, but a legit collection usually has a sealed box with a slot, not a person palming cash. The tree by the shrine there has an offering box, so anyone intercepting you before it is the tell. Walk to the box instead.

cirsten · 1d

Saizen-in, the box sits past the torii.

elselotte · 1d

just past the torii, not before it

esther · 1d

that holds up, but a real collection for a tree like that usually runs through the shrine or town office, not some guy standing out front. if there's no box and no paper trail, keep walking

elise · 1d

the no-receipt thing is the tell but most legit tree funds here go through a town office or shrine, not a guy

sentakirch…

How do I visit the Kamitsushima camphor tree in 2026?

上津島のクスノキ · #train #osaka #camphor

I'm planning a trip to Osaka in 2026 and read about the huge camphor tree in Kamitsushima. Is it easy to reach from central Osaka by train, and is there anything else worth seeing nearby while I'm out… I'm planning a trip to Osaka in 2026 and read about the huge camphor tree in Kamitsushima. Is it easy to reach from central Osaka by train, and is there anything else worth seeing nearby while I'm out that way?