Ancient Giant Trees Standing Upright Beneath the Earth—a Breathtaking Sight for the Whole Family
About this spot
An extraordinarily rare park in the world where giant cedar trees from the Jomon period, buried by an eruption of Sanbe Mountain about 4,000 years ago, are preserved standing upright underground. As you descend the stairs into the underground exhibition space, towering trees over 10 meters tall stand at the bottom of a deep pit—so wide at their base that it takes several adults holding hands to encircle them. The sheer presence of trunks standing before you across thousands of years, combined with the reality that an entire forest slept beneath the earth, leaves both adults and children speechless. The structure of this course, where the volcanic story you learned at Sahimeru in the morning connects with the actual specimens here, is the essence of the experience. It's truly an exploration of a forest beneath the earth.
Tips
Free parking available. The underground exhibition hall is cool, so bringing a light jacket is comfortable even in summer. The facility has stairs, so wear comfortable walking shoes. Viewing this together with Sahimeru deepens understanding considerably.
Best time to visit
Allow approximately 1 hour. The indoor exhibits are unaffected by weather and serve as a pleasant cool refuge during the intense afternoon sun.
Access & map
694-0003, Ota City, Sanbe Town, Tane Ro 58-2, Shimane Prefecture
Model course featuring this spot
Sanbe Mountain (三瓶山) Sahimeru and Buried Forest: A Natural Exploration of a Volcanic Plateau
Shimane
Explore features & model courses
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