The tree is estimated to be over 40 years old.
The original tree was uprooted by Typhoon Matmo in 2014 and subsequently treated and replanted by arborists.
The location is officially part of the 'Brown Boulevard' scenic district in Chishang.
The area enforces strict traffic control during harvest seasons to prevent vehicular congestion in the paddies.
The tree was selected for the 2013 advertisement to highlight the serene, slow-paced lifestyle of eastern Taiwan.
The Takeshi Kaneshiro Tree is a Bischofia javanica, commonly known as a Bishop wood tree, located amidst the rice paddies of the Brown Boulevard area in Chishang, Taitung. It gained national fame after featuring in an EVA Air television commercial starring actor Takeshi Kaneshiro in 2013. The tree is a protected landmark within the Chishang Township agricultural landscape. The surrounding fields are characterized by seasonal transitions, shifting from emerald green to golden yellow depending on the harvest cycle. Visitors predominantly access the area via bicycles rented from the village entrance. The site is part of a designated rural landscape preservation zone aimed at maintaining traditional agricultural vistas.
The path leading up to the tree, which provides a symmetrical view of the tree framed by the surrounding mountains.
Rent a bicycle from Chishang village to navigate the narrow farm roads efficiently.
Bring a hat and sunscreen as there is minimal natural shade in the middle of the rice fields.
Respect private agricultural property and avoid walking into the rice paddies for photos.
Driving a car into the restricted zones during peak harvest times, as local regulations prohibit non-resident vehicles.
Access may be restricted during extreme weather events or harvest periods; check local Chishang Township office updates.
Stay on marked paved paths; do not trespass into the working rice fields.
