Katanami Giant Cedar
Into a Thousand-Year Forest, Shaped by People and Nature
Deep in the mountains of Keihoku, more than 250 giant Kitayama cedars with trunks over 1 meter in diameter remain standing.
But Katami is not simply a forest of giant trees. It is a place where the history of Kyoto and the relationship between people and the forest can still be seen in the trees themselves.
The Walk
photo by Takashi Hayashida
Into the Forest of Giant Cedars
For centuries, these mountains supplied timber to Kyoto. As you walk through the forest, you can still see traces of where trees were once cut to meet the needs of Kyoto’s rulers, temples, and shrines. Perhaps these cedars were already standing when the historical figures we know from Kyoto’s history lived in the ancient capital.
Your local guide will walk with you, sharing stories of the forest, its history, and the way people have lived with these mountains over generations.
Basic Information
Season
Duration
Price
What to Bring
Local guide required
Spring to early December
The forest is closed during winter due to heavy snow.
Activity time: 3-4h in total
Walking distance: approx. 1.4 km ( around 2 hours of walking, with approximately 50 m of elevation gain )
¥24,000 per private group (up to 10 people)
English interpretation: +¥15,000
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Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Hiking boots are not essential, but shoes with good traction are recommended. -
Water or tea
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Backpack or other bag that leaves both hands free
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Long socks and/or gaiters during the leech season
The forest can only be visited with a local guide familiar with the area's natural environment and history.
Meet your guide at Ōrai Kurodaya, Keihoku. From there, travel approximately 10 km along a forest road to the trailhead before beginning the walk.
Photo Gallery
A Forest Connected to the History of Kyoto
image from National Institute of Japanese Literature
Record between people and nature
After Kyoto became the capital of Japan in the late 8th century, the forests of Katanami were designated as a protected source of timber for the imperial court. The forest supplied enormous quantities of timber for the construction of palace and, later, for rebuilding the imperial palace after fires.
Standing among these trees today, it is possible to feel a connection to a time that can otherwise seem distant and abstract—the world of the Heian period and the people who lived in Kyoto more than a thousand years ago.
This is one of the things that makes Katanami different from other famous cedar forests.
A Different Kind of Ancient Cedar Forest
Yakushima is famous for the extraordinary size and age of its cedar trees.
Katanami offers something different.
Here, the trees carry visible traces of how people once managed, harvested and lived alongside the forest.
The forest is not only ancient. It is a record of the relationship between people and nature.
A Forest Shaped by People and Snow
As you walk through Katami, you will encounter cedars with several trunks rising from what appears to be a single base.
These distinctive forms are associated with fukujō renewal, in which branches bent to the ground by heavy snow can take root and grow into new trunks.
This natural ability to regenerate, combined with generations of human use and management, created the remarkable forms seen throughout the forest.
A single tree can seem to hold many generations within it.
photo by Takashi Hayashida
The Urasugi of the Japan Sea Side
Katami is home to a type of cedar known as Urasugi, characteristic of the snowy regions along the Sea of Japan.
When branches are pressed down by snow, they can take root and produce new trunks.
Nature and human hands have worked together over centuries, giving this forest its distinctive character.
What You'll See
Heian-cedar
At the heart of the route stands Heian-sugi, the largest cedar in the Katanami headwaters.
Its maximum trunk diameter is approximately 4.5 meters, with a circumference of around 15 meters.
Standing beside it gives a very different sense of scale from simply seeing a giant tree in a photograph.
photo by Takashi Hayashida
Tanimori-cedar
Another remarkable tree is Tanimori-sugi, the tallest cedar in Katanami, reaching approximately 32 meters in height.
Together, these trees reveal the extraordinary scale and diversity of the forest.
photo by Takashi Hayashida
More Than Giant Cedars
Katanami has retained a richer mix of native deciduous trees.
You will find Japanese beeches, fragrant magnolias, mountain azaleas, Japanese spice trees and Japanese horse chestnuts growing among the giant cedars—some reaching remarkable sizes.
During the fresh green season, you may also encounter ghost plants (Ginryo-sou), a delicate, almost translucent wildflower that appears on the forest floor.
Before You Go
Katami is a protected natural environment, not a landscaped park or conventional hiking trail. The forest remains largely in its natural state, and access is only possible with a local guide.
As a guide needs to be arranged in advance, we recommend booking approximately two weeks before your preferred date.
Mobile Reception
Mobile phone reception may be unavailable in parts of the forest.
Mountain leeches
From May to October, mountain leeches are common. They can enter through gaps around clothing and shoes.
Long socks that can cover the trouser cuffs, or gaiters, are strongly recommended.
Bees and insects
Please avoid strongly scented products such as hair spray or perfume, as these can attract insects.
Light-colored clothing is recommended. Dark clothing can make you more noticeable to some insects and leeches.