Hida Kokubun-ji Temple (the provincial temple of Hida province) is famous for its huge ginkgo tree of over 1,200 years old, situated between the hondo (main hall) and the shoro-mon (gate with a bell tower). This vigorous male tree rises some 27 m high, with densely growing branches and leaves.

A sad legend related to this huge ginkgo tree has been handed down. The story concerns the time when a seven-story pagoda was constructed on the former site of the pagoda of Hida Kokubun-ji Temple. During the construction of the temple, a daughter of the master carpenter had an idea to supplement the pillar length by placing a square framing on the pillar, which was too short due to mismeasurement by the master carpenter. To keep the secret, the daughter took her own life. Planted in that place as a grave marker is said to have been the huge ginkgo tree of Hida Kokubun-ji Temple.

Also, tradition has it that after the ginkgo leaves fall, snow falls.