Furuichi House House

A giant tree towering in the precincts of the Sakai (Toyōki) shrine on the left, just over 15km south on National Route 58 from Tanegashima Airport. It is one of the symbols of Nakasecho, with an estimated age of more than 700 years. It has a height of about 10m, a tree length of 12m, and a root circumference of about 2m. It is considered the largest cycads in Japan. The curved figure with many branches divided from the trunk is impressive. It is interesting that iron pillars are attached so that the tree does not break due to the weight of the branches.

A natural rock formation can be seen along the sea on your left when you travel north for about 9km on Route 58 from Nakasecho Hall. The two megaliths, which line each other next to each other, are Eryong rock on the left (with two corners) towards the sea and Oryong rock on the right. It is said to be the reincarnation rock of a working couple with a good friend who was thrown out into the sea after a stormy night in a cliff. The two rocks are connected by a shimenawa, and are rocks of mystery and faith that are still deeply occupied by the people of the land.

種子島空港の南東3km余りの所にある犬城海岸は、自然の奇岩・巨岩や洞窟が続く種子島屈指の景勝地。この北端にある洞窟で、ここには、第10代島主・種子島幡時にまつわる伝説が残されている。幡時は修験道の犬神使いで、若いときからこの岩屋や周辺の海岸一帯で修行を続けていた。そしてあるとき、岩屋に入ったまま、忽然と姿を消し、洞窟の前には幡時の愛馬だけが、主人の帰りを待って立っていたといわれる。「馬立」の名は、この言い伝えに由来している。洞窟内は立入禁止。