Jomon Sugi

縄文杉

4.6Est. 90Yakushima, Kyushu

JTA Approved

Overview

Yakushima's oldest and largest cypress tree, estimated between 2,500 and 7,000 years old, reached by mountain trek.

Yakushima's largest and oldest cedar, standing 25 meters tall at 1,300 meters elevation with a circumference of 16.4 meters. Its hollow form makes precise dating difficult, with estimates ranging from 2,000 to 7,200 years old. Nearby Wilson's Stump was cut for timber in the sixteenth century, but Jomon Sugi was left untouched because of its irregular shape. The tree's discovery by Iwakawa Teiji in 1968 gradually sparked the conservation movement that closed Yakushima's logging villages in 1970 and led to UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1993. Visitors view the tree from an observation deck 15 meters away at the end of the Okabu Trail.

Practical info

Japanese name: 縄文杉
Nearest station: Anbo Port (40 min bus to trailhead)
Payment: Cards accepted
Reservations: No reservation needed for the trail, but a mountain bus or taxi from Yakushima's Arakawa Trailhead is required (car access restricted March-November). Bus tickets available at Yakushima tourist offices. Allow a full day (8-10 hours round trip). Sturdy boots essential.

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