Jomon Cedars

This is the name given to one of the largest native Yakusugi cedar trees on Yakushima Island. This ancient tree is a representative of Yakushima and is included in the World Heritage Site of Yakushima. There used to be other similar giant trees, but they were cut down by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi for the construction of the Great Buddha Hall of Hokoji Temple (Kyo no Daibutsuden) in Kyoto.

In the forests of Yakushima, cedar forests are found above 500 meters above sea level, forming mixed forests with various trees. In particular, the older cedar trees on Yakushima that are more than 1,000 years old are called Yakusugi, and young trees that are several hundred years old are called Kosugi. Among them, the Jomon cedar is famous as one of the largest old trees and is endemic to Japan.

Its uneven surface bears the testimony of its endurance of the harsh nature of Yakushima, and is overwhelming to behold.

Discovered in 1966, it was initially called “Oiwa cedar. The name “Jomon cedar” is derived from the fact that the tree is estimated to be over 4,000 years old and has lived since the Jomon period, or from the fact that the shape of its trunk resembles Jomon earthenware.

The Jomon Cedar in Yakushima Town is located near Takatsuka Hut, further up the mountain from Wilson Stump. This Jomon cedar is 25.3 meters tall, 16.4 meters in circumference at breast height, and is known as the oldest of the Yakusugi cedars. Its form is full of vitality, with deep roots overpowering the surrounding vegetation.

In 1976, Associate Professor Daikaku Manabe of the Faculty of Engineering at Kyushu University estimated the age of the tree to be over 7,000 years based on measurements of the annual rings of the surrounding trees, but later research raised the possibility that the tree was a combined tree, and dating of the outer, younger portion of the tree determined its age to be approximately 2,700 years. However, research conducted by the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagoshima University has proven that the Jomon cedar is a single tree, not a combined tree.

To see the Jomon cedars requires about 8-10 hours of climbing, but to prevent climbers from stepping on them, visitors are now allowed to view them from wooden decks and are not allowed to enter the area around the cedars. If you visit Yakushima, be sure to see these powerful Jomon cedars.