Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest

Said to be among Japan’s Three Most Beautiful Forests, Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest in the Kiso region’s Agematsu area is home to some of Japan’s largest high quality Kiso Hinoki Japanese cypress trees. It isn’t however, an old growth forest. The trees were planted over 300 years ago in the early Edo Period (1603-1868) by the feudal lords of the Owari Tokugawa clan, masters of the local region, and are one of the earliest examples of forestry management projects. The Akasawa Forest Railway takes you into the heart of the greenery, and to the start of six unique forest hiking courses.