The oldest tree in Japan

In Japan, you can easily find plenty of old things. One of these is Jomon Sugi (縄文杉) which is officially the oldest known tree in Japan. It is estimated to be between 2170 and 7200 years old — exact age is unknown.

Discovery of the tree in 1968 on the small southern island Yakushima sparked moves to protect the forests on this island which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jomon Sugi, the oldest and largest known specimen of Cryptomeria japonica, is located on the north face of Miyanoura-dake, the highest peak on Yakushima, at an elevation of 1300 meters (4300 ft). Here are some more technical details: the tree’s height is 25.3 meters (83 ft), trunk circumference is 16.2 meters (53 ft), and the volume measures approximately 300 cubic meters (10,000 cubic ft). For visitors, access is restricted to an observation deck at a distance of 15 meters (50 ft) from the tree.

The island of Yakushima has developed a very rich, interconnected ecosystem. As many as 30 different species of trees, herbs, plants, and mosses have been observed growing from the surface of some of the greater sugi trees here (via link).

Top: Jomon Sugi, the oldest tree in Japan (source: Wikimedia Commons). Bottom left: size of tree compared to a human (visitors aren't allowed to take photos this close at the actual tree). Bottom right: location of the Yakushima island.