The camphor trees at Sanno Shinto Shrine surround the worship hall of the shrine. Before the atomic bomb was dropped, the shrine was covered in trees. After the atomic bombing, these trees lost their branches and leaves, appearing as if they were dead. However, many of the trees began to sprout again and recovered.

The atomic bombed trees in Nagasaki City are, in many cases, located at public facilities, mainly schools, and private homes. Generally, there are three trees at most in one place, but at Sanno Shrine there are an extremely large scale of atomic bombed trees remaining at 21 trees (two great camphor, 19 camphor). Despite having received severe damage from the atomic bombing, many of the atomic bombed trees within the shrine remained as major development was not done on the area due to it being a place where God dwells.

Currently, the trees are so lush and full of life that it is hard to believe that they were ever damaged by an atomic bombing. These trees that have continued to thrive do not speak, but their existence alone has powerfully conveyed the terrible damage caused by an atomic bombing and the importance of peace.