Typical plants

Matsu and sugi, Japanese pine and cedar,respectively, are common throughout the Japanese archipelago - even in warm southern regions - and are very familiar to the Japanese people.

Pines often make splendid scenery. The most notable scenic spot is Amanohashidate, in Kyoto Prefecture, with more than 6,000 pine trees forming lines on the sandbar. Large pines trees, which grow to a maximum height of about 40 meters, also serve as a windbreak in coastal areas. Small pines are used as bonsai, garden trees, and materials for houses and furniture.

Pines are also considered to be holy trees. People in the olden days were awed by nature and saw in plants and trees symbols of divine spirits. At one time, for example, it was common to worship evergreen trees such as pine, cedar, and cypress because they were thought to provide habitation to heaven-sent deities. The still-common practice of decorating the entrance-ways of houses at New Year's with pine branches - kadomatsu, literally" gate pine" - comes from the belief that this was an appropriate way to welcome the gods.