Cryptomeria Avenue, also known as "Cedar Avenue of Nikko," is a historic road lined with over 13,000 ancient Japanese cedar trees, stretching for about 35 kilometers.
The trees are over 400 years old, planted during the Edo period as a tribute to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Yes, you can walk, cycle, or drive along the avenue. The shaded path is popular for leisurely walks and cycling, offering a serene atmosphere.
Nearby attractions include Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, and Shinkyo Bridge, all of which are part of Nikko's UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The full avenue spans 35 kilometers, but most visitors explore shorter sections, which can take from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on your pace and interests.
As a result of the replacement of Route 119 with a new road, as of November 25, people now travel to Nikko Shrines and Temples without passing through the cedar avenue. The days of always going to Nikko along the cedar avenue are now a thing of the past. [History] Starting in 1625, the trees were planted over a 20-year period by Matsudaira Nobutsuna and his son Masanobu. They appear to have been imported from Kishu. [Area] They were planted from Osawa to Imaichi, which was Nikkoji Temple territory. While the cedar avenues along the Nikko Kaido are famous, there are also cedar avenues along the Reiheishi Kaido and Aizu Nishi Kaido. At a total of approximately 37 km, they are the longest avenue in the world. [Maintenance] Many trees are 400 years old. Since around 2000, an ownership system has been introduced, allowing people to purchase individual trees for 10 million yen and become owners. The management is handled by Tochigi Prefecture. [Personal Thoughts] While there is a possibility of trees falling, I think it would be a waste not to utilize them as a tourist resource. While the Imaichi area has been developed as a park, the Moritomo and Osawa areas may also need some maintenance. I think the number of users would increase if it were made into a pedestrian-only road and used as a cycling course.
When I was a child and there were no expressways, I would feel like I was in Nikko when I passed through the cedar trees. I felt nostalgia and eased off the gas. There's something nice about the cedar trees.
