Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest

Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest is an underground museum with cedar trees preserved by volcanic activity, featuring trunks up to 10 meters tall and up to 2.5 meters in diameter. The site contains both standing and fallen wood fragments from various tree species buried beneath volcanic layers.

Volcanic eruptions from Mount Sanbe about 4000 years ago buried this forest under ash and debris, preserving it until its discovery in 1983. This eruption created perfect conditions for organic material to be preserved over thousands of years.

The forest shows what the landscape looked like during the Jomon period and which trees grew there. Visitors get a direct look at the natural environment from that distant time.

Visitors take roughly a 40-minute bus ride from Odashi Station to the museum entrance and then descend about 15 meters below ground. The route is well-developed, but it is wise to wear appropriate footwear since the path below is underground.

Excavation revealed 30 standing trees and 150 fallen wood fragments, with Japanese cedars making up 73 percent of the upright specimens. This unexpected composition shows that this tree type dominated the area at that time.

Location: Ōda

Part of: Top 100 Geological Sites in Japan

GPS coordinates: 35.17694,132.60056

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00