Roughly 2,000 to 3,600 years old.
Ancient trees in Japan
Japan is the one country on this map where the oldest trees are older than the buildings by design. This page maps 303 remarkable trees across 104 cities in Japan, each one researched and verified. The oldest of them is Jomon Sugi in Yakushima, at estimated 2,600+ years (official Ministry of Environment figure; disputed, see notes).
Shrines are rebuilt, sometimes every twenty years as a matter of ritual, while the tree in the courtyard is left alone and wrapped in a straw rope to mark it as sacred. A camphor at a shrine gate is not decoration, it is the thing the shrine was built around. The state has protected trees as Natural Monuments since 1919, and the Environment Ministry keeps a record of every tree in the country over three metres in girth, which is why ages and measurements here are firmer than almost anywhere else in Europe. Be careful with the biggest numbers all the same: a thousand years is usually tradition rather than measurement, and the sources say so. Some places here hold one tree, which was the whole reason to travel.
Every place we map in Japan
1
Hiroshima33 trees · oldest roughly 1,500 years, per its 1979 designation record (not a ring count)2
Tokyo22 trees · oldest roughly 1,200 years3Higashi-Hiroshima20 trees · oldest over 300 years4
Kyoto18 trees · oldest about 866 years5
Fukuoka15 trees · oldest traditionally about 1,800 years6
Nara15 trees · oldest over 1,000 years7
Kagoshima13 trees · oldest at least 900 years on documentary evidence, about 1,600 by the shrine's own reckoning8
Miyazaki8 trees · oldest about 900 years by the signboard, inferred from the shrine's 1087 founding9
Kanazawa7 trees · oldest about 1,000 years by the shrine's signboard10Kamakura6 trees · oldest about 750 years, reckoned from the temple's founding in 125311
Nagoya6 trees · oldest about 600 years12Naha6 trees · oldest about 400 years13
Osaka6 trees · oldest over 1,100 years14Sapporo6 trees · oldest 750 years by tradition15
Fujikawaguchiko5 trees · oldest roughly 1,200 years16
Hokuto4 trees · oldest traditionally estimated 1,800-2,000 years17Yabu4 trees · oldest estimated over 1,000 years18Atami3 trees · oldest over 1,200 years, by shrine tradition19Higashiomi3 trees · oldest roughly 1,000 years20
Omishima3 trees · oldest roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years21
Uda3 trees · oldest over 900 years22
Himi2 trees · oldest over 1,000 years23Horaiji2 trees · oldest about 800 years24Ichinohe2 trees · oldest several hundred years, one account says over 40025
Iga2 trees · oldest 26Iida2 trees · oldest over 450 years27
Iwata2 trees · oldest roughly 800 to 850 years28
Kawazu2 trees · oldest 1000 years or more29
Maebashi2 trees · oldest 300 to over 1,000 years (sources disagree)30
Minami-Alps2 trees · oldest over 1,000 years31
Morioka2 trees · oldest roughly 380 years32
Nihonmatsu2 trees · oldest roughly 780 to 800 years33Shokawa2 trees · oldest roughly 450 to 500 years34
Tamba2 trees · oldest roughly 1,000 years35Yakushima2 trees · oldest estimated 2,600+ years (official Ministry of Environment figure; disputed, see notes)36Aga1 tree · oldest roughly 1,400 years37Aizuwakamatsu1 tree · oldest roughly 500 years (already a large tree before 1600)38
Arita1 tree · oldest 850 to over 1,000 years39
Asago1 tree · oldest over 1,000 years, some sources say up to 2,00040Biei1 tree · oldest over a century41Chikubushima1 tree · oldest about 420 years (planted 1602)42Gifu1 tree · oldest legendary origin, roughly 1200 years43Higashiagatsuma1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years44
Higashimiyoshi1 tree · oldest about 1,000 years45Higashine1 tree · oldest 1,000 to 1,500+ years (sources disagree)46Hino1 tree · oldest not documented47
Hinode1 tree · oldest disputed: traditionally said 700 years, town's own 2011 growth-ring study says 180-200 years48Ibigawa1 tree · oldest not reliably documented; a commonly cited local figure is roughly 140 years for the current above-ground trunk49Iheya1 tree · oldest roughly 200 to 300 years50
Ito1 tree · oldest several hundred years51
Itoshiro1 tree · oldest roughly 1,800 years52
Iwaki1 tree · oldest roughly 125 to 250 years, judged from a trunk 3.5 m round53Kaga1 tree · oldest roughly 2,300 years54Kanagi1 tree · oldest several hundred years, often cited as roughly 80055Kasukabe1 tree · oldest roughly 1,200 years56
Kawago1 tree · oldest roughly 3,000 years by local tradition, not scientifically dated57Kawatana1 tree · oldest over 1,000 years58
Kimotsuki1 tree · oldest roughly 1200 to 1300 years59Kitakata1 tree · oldest roughly 600 years (city figure); shrine tradition says over 80060
Kitamoto1 tree · oldest roughly 800 years61Koriyama1 tree · oldest over 350 years62Kozaki1 tree · oldest roughly 1,300 years (tradition)63
Maibara1 tree · oldest roughly 195 years64Matsumae1 tree · oldest 200 to 300+ years (sources disagree)65Miharu1 tree · oldest traditionally estimated over 1,000 years66Minamiaso1 tree · oldest over 400 years67
Mito1 tree · oldest 400 to 600 years68Motosu1 tree · oldest traditionally estimated around 1,500 years69
Nagai1 tree · oldest traditionally said to be about 1200 years70
Nagano1 tree · oldest about 1,200 years71Nagi1 tree · oldest about 900 years72
Nago1 tree · oldest roughly 300 years73Neba1 tree · oldest roughly 1,500 to 1,800 years74Nichinan, Tottori1 tree · oldest roughly 2,000 years (local tradition)75Nikaho1 tree · oldest over 300 years76
Nishio1 tree · oldest estimated about 1,000 years77Numata1 tree · oldest traditionally said to be roughly 1,500 years; a 1991 official survey estimated 300+ years78Odawara1 tree · oldest roughly 350 years79Ofunato1 tree · oldest roughly 90 years80
Oguni1 tree · oldest over 1000 years81Okuizumo1 tree · oldest roughly 1,300 years82Ono1 tree · oldest roughly 1,100 to 1,200 years83
Ora1 tree · oldest roughly 700 to 750 years84Otama1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years (traditional/legendary figure repeated by the village and prefecture, not a growth-rate dating)85Otoyo1 tree · oldest roughly 3,000 years86
Oyodo1 tree · oldest roughly 700 years, by town record87
Sakegawa1 tree · oldest roughly 700 to 1,000+ years (sources disagree)88Shimizu1 tree · oldest about 1,100 years (temple tradition)89
Shingu1 tree · oldest about 1,000 years90Shinkamigoto1 tree · oldest over 670 years91
Shiwa1 tree · oldest roughly 300 years92Suzuka1 tree · oldest current wood roughly 80 years; a named cherry has stood at this site since 757-765 CE93Takahagi1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years94
Takahama1 tree · oldest not documented95
Takayama1 tree · oldest roughly 1,200 to 1,300 years96
Takeo1 tree · oldest traditionally said to be about 3,000 years97Toba1 tree · oldest not documented98Toga1 tree · oldest roughly 800 years99
Tsuruoka1 tree · oldest over 1,000 years100Ueda1 tree · oldest several hundred years (sources disagree, from 300 to over 1,000)101Ueki1 tree · oldest roughly 800 years, by local tradition102Unnan1 tree · oldest not documented103Yamanashi City1 tree · oldest roughly 150 to 200 years104Yoshida1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years, by temple tradition
Hiroshima33 trees · oldest roughly 1,500 years, per its 1979 designation record (not a ring count)2Tokyo22 trees · oldest roughly 1,200 years3Higashi-Hiroshima20 trees · oldest over 300 years4Kyoto18 trees · oldest about 866 years5Fukuoka15 trees · oldest traditionally about 1,800 years6Nara15 trees · oldest over 1,000 years7Kagoshima13 trees · oldest at least 900 years on documentary evidence, about 1,600 by the shrine's own reckoning8Miyazaki8 trees · oldest about 900 years by the signboard, inferred from the shrine's 1087 founding9Kanazawa7 trees · oldest about 1,000 years by the shrine's signboard10Kamakura6 trees · oldest about 750 years, reckoned from the temple's founding in 125311Nagoya6 trees · oldest about 600 years12Naha6 trees · oldest about 400 years13Osaka6 trees · oldest over 1,100 years14Sapporo6 trees · oldest 750 years by tradition15Fujikawaguchiko5 trees · oldest roughly 1,200 years16Hokuto4 trees · oldest traditionally estimated 1,800-2,000 years17Yabu4 trees · oldest estimated over 1,000 years18Atami3 trees · oldest over 1,200 years, by shrine tradition19Higashiomi3 trees · oldest roughly 1,000 years20Omishima3 trees · oldest roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years21Uda3 trees · oldest over 900 years22Himi2 trees · oldest over 1,000 years23Horaiji2 trees · oldest about 800 years24Ichinohe2 trees · oldest several hundred years, one account says over 40025Iga2 trees · oldest 26Iida2 trees · oldest over 450 years27Iwata2 trees · oldest roughly 800 to 850 years28Kawazu2 trees · oldest 1000 years or more29Maebashi2 trees · oldest 300 to over 1,000 years (sources disagree)30Minami-Alps2 trees · oldest over 1,000 years31Morioka2 trees · oldest roughly 380 years32Nihonmatsu2 trees · oldest roughly 780 to 800 years33Shokawa2 trees · oldest roughly 450 to 500 years34Tamba2 trees · oldest roughly 1,000 years35Yakushima2 trees · oldest estimated 2,600+ years (official Ministry of Environment figure; disputed, see notes)36Aga1 tree · oldest roughly 1,400 years37Aizuwakamatsu1 tree · oldest roughly 500 years (already a large tree before 1600)38Arita1 tree · oldest 850 to over 1,000 years39Asago1 tree · oldest over 1,000 years, some sources say up to 2,00040Biei1 tree · oldest over a century41Chikubushima1 tree · oldest about 420 years (planted 1602)42Gifu1 tree · oldest legendary origin, roughly 1200 years43Higashiagatsuma1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years44Higashimiyoshi1 tree · oldest about 1,000 years45Higashine1 tree · oldest 1,000 to 1,500+ years (sources disagree)46Hino1 tree · oldest not documented47Hinode1 tree · oldest disputed: traditionally said 700 years, town's own 2011 growth-ring study says 180-200 years48Ibigawa1 tree · oldest not reliably documented; a commonly cited local figure is roughly 140 years for the current above-ground trunk49Iheya1 tree · oldest roughly 200 to 300 years50Ito1 tree · oldest several hundred years51Itoshiro1 tree · oldest roughly 1,800 years52Iwaki1 tree · oldest roughly 125 to 250 years, judged from a trunk 3.5 m round53Kaga1 tree · oldest roughly 2,300 years54Kanagi1 tree · oldest several hundred years, often cited as roughly 80055Kasukabe1 tree · oldest roughly 1,200 years56Kawago1 tree · oldest roughly 3,000 years by local tradition, not scientifically dated57Kawatana1 tree · oldest over 1,000 years58Kimotsuki1 tree · oldest roughly 1200 to 1300 years59Kitakata1 tree · oldest roughly 600 years (city figure); shrine tradition says over 80060Kitamoto1 tree · oldest roughly 800 years61Koriyama1 tree · oldest over 350 years62Kozaki1 tree · oldest roughly 1,300 years (tradition)63Maibara1 tree · oldest roughly 195 years64Matsumae1 tree · oldest 200 to 300+ years (sources disagree)65Miharu1 tree · oldest traditionally estimated over 1,000 years66Minamiaso1 tree · oldest over 400 years67Mito1 tree · oldest 400 to 600 years68Motosu1 tree · oldest traditionally estimated around 1,500 years69Nagai1 tree · oldest traditionally said to be about 1200 years70Nagano1 tree · oldest about 1,200 years71Nagi1 tree · oldest about 900 years72Nago1 tree · oldest roughly 300 years73Neba1 tree · oldest roughly 1,500 to 1,800 years74Nichinan, Tottori1 tree · oldest roughly 2,000 years (local tradition)75Nikaho1 tree · oldest over 300 years76Nishio1 tree · oldest estimated about 1,000 years77Numata1 tree · oldest traditionally said to be roughly 1,500 years; a 1991 official survey estimated 300+ years78Odawara1 tree · oldest roughly 350 years79Ofunato1 tree · oldest roughly 90 years80Oguni1 tree · oldest over 1000 years81Okuizumo1 tree · oldest roughly 1,300 years82Ono1 tree · oldest roughly 1,100 to 1,200 years83Ora1 tree · oldest roughly 700 to 750 years84Otama1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years (traditional/legendary figure repeated by the village and prefecture, not a growth-rate dating)85Otoyo1 tree · oldest roughly 3,000 years86Oyodo1 tree · oldest roughly 700 years, by town record87Sakegawa1 tree · oldest roughly 700 to 1,000+ years (sources disagree)88Shimizu1 tree · oldest about 1,100 years (temple tradition)89Shingu1 tree · oldest about 1,000 years90Shinkamigoto1 tree · oldest over 670 years91Shiwa1 tree · oldest roughly 300 years92Suzuka1 tree · oldest current wood roughly 80 years; a named cherry has stood at this site since 757-765 CE93Takahagi1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years94Takahama1 tree · oldest not documented95Takayama1 tree · oldest roughly 1,200 to 1,300 years96Takeo1 tree · oldest traditionally said to be about 3,000 years97Toba1 tree · oldest not documented98Toga1 tree · oldest roughly 800 years99Tsuruoka1 tree · oldest over 1,000 years100Ueda1 tree · oldest several hundred years (sources disagree, from 300 to over 1,000)101Ueki1 tree · oldest roughly 800 years, by local tradition102Unnan1 tree · oldest not documented103Yamanashi City1 tree · oldest roughly 150 to 200 years104Yoshida1 tree · oldest roughly 1,000 years, by temple tradition75 species grow in Japan
Oaks Daimyo Oak 3 · Tsukubane Oak 2 · Northern Red Oak 1 · Oriental Cork Oak 1 · Urajiro Oak 1
Beeches Japanese Beech 1
Elms and zelkovas Saw-leaf Zelkova 16
Limes Miquel's Linden 2
Maples Maple 2 · Japanese Maple 1
Chestnuts, walnuts and hazels Japanese Horse Chestnut 2
Figs and mulberries Sea Fig 4 · Indian Laurel Fig 2 · Akou 1 · Fig 1 · Yamaguwa / Japanese Wild Mulberry 1
Conifers Ginkgo 33 · Japanese Cedar 28 · Japanese Black Pine 11 · Ohatsuki Ginkgo 6 · Japanese Fir / Momi 4 · Japanese White Pine 3 · Hinoki Cypress 2 · Japanese Red Pine 2 · Ryukyu Pine 2 · Bald Cypress 1 · Himalayan Cedar 1 · Japanese Yew 1
Fruit and blossom Weeping Higan Cherry 8 · Cherry 4 · Edo Higan Cherry 3 · Higan Cherry 2 · Weeping Cherry 2 · Hall's Crabapple 1 · Japanese Apricot 1 · Japanese Mountain Cherry 1 · Japanese Persimmon 1 · Matsumae Hayazaki Cherry 1
Southern hemisphere Eucalyptus 1
More broadleaf trees Camphor Tree 48 · Katsura 9 · Japanese Nutmeg-yew 7 · Japanese Bay Tree 6 · Japanese Wisteria 6 · Chinese Hackberry 5 · Sago Palm 5 · Edo-higan Cherry 4 · Japanese Chinquapin 4 · Chinese Juniper 3 · Kurogane Holly 3 · Muku Tree 3 · Sweet Osmanthus 3 · Bishop Wood 2 · Common Camellia 2 · Hiba 2 · Nagi 2 · Poplar 2 · Broad-leaf Ehretia 1 · Buddhist Pine 1 · Chinaberry 1 · Chinese Parasol Tree 1 · Chinese Soapberry 1 · Ezo Willow 1 · False Kamani 1 · Japanese Azalea 1 · Japanese Bayberry 1 · Japanese Holly 1 · Japanese Umbrella Pine 1 · Lombardy Poplar 1 · Ogatama Magnolia 1 · Red Bayberry 1 · Red-vein Hornbeam 1 · Temple Juniper 1 · Weeping Willow 1 · Wild Cherry / Yamazakura 1
The 10 oldest trees we map in Japan
Photo: STA3816 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Roughly 2,000 to 3,500 years old.
Roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
Photo: そらみみ (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
Roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
Roughly 2,000 to 2,500 years old.
Roughly 1,800 to 2,000 years old.
Photo: そらみみ (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Roughly 1,700 to 1,900 years old.
Photo: Alpsdake (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Roughly 1,500 to 1,900 years old.
Roughly 1,500 to 1,800 years old.
Trees from Japan also appear in Autumn Worth the Trip · The Autumn Harvest · The Trees the World Has Written About. See every city on the map, or open the map to find what is near you.