NATIONAL PARK

NATIONAL PARK

Suginamiki, Cedar Avenue

The Hakone Cedar Avenue is a 500m part of the historical Tokaido Road that connected Kyoto and Edo during the Edo period (1603-1868). This part of the road is well preserved and features towering cedar trees that were planted almost 400 years ago to protect travelers from the wind, rain, and sun. The cedar avenue runs from the Onshi Park area to Moto-Hakone on the shores of Lake Ashi. The cedar avenue can be explored in this small section or as part of a longer hike along the Old Tokaido Road or Hakone Hachiri.

 

After Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) unified Japan under his rule, improvements to the nation’s transportation network were quickly made. The Tokaido Road was one of the most important methods of transportation at the time because it connected the imperial city of Kyoto and the political capital of Edo (modern day Tokyo). At this time dirt roads were paved with stone, post towns were designated, and trees were planted. Pine trees were planted along most of the Tokaido Road, but were not able to acclimate to the wet climate of the Hakone mountains. Cedar trees were planted rather than pine.

 

About 400 of the original trees still stand in the Hakone area, but a study in the late 1990’s indicated that many of the trees may die within the next century if not well taken care of. There are ongoing preservation efforts to ensure that these trees will stand for travelers of the future.

suginamiki-cedar-avenue