Preserving Japan's Living Landscape Together
Chizu, Tottori, is a town where nature and forests continue to thrive.
Here, there is a living cultural landscape of Japan, built by people and nature together. This landscape is not merely nature; it is something woven by people and nature over a long period, just as traces of human life remain in ruins from about 10,000 years ago. It has been passed down through planting forests, repairing buildings, and refining techniques.
The spirit of "on to hoko" (gratitude and service) seen in the lodging houses of the post town resonates with the "practice of planting trees for future generations" in forestry. By participating in Chizu cedar forestry techniques and architectural restoration, visitors also become part of this cycle.
Chizu Town's Forestry Cultural Landscape and Its History
Chizu Town is a beautiful town with a forestry cultural landscape where forests and human life coexist in harmony. Unique afforestation techniques utilizing Okinoyama natural cedar and branch propagation methods using the weight of snow are some of the local wisdom that has been passed down.
Thus, planting and management have been repeated for over 400 years, forming a unique forest where artificial and natural forests coexist. The mountain villages with thatched-roof houses, historic post towns, old roads, and remnants of forest railways, where people's lives and the history of forestry are intertwined, are also invaluable charms of this town.
Chizu: The Town Where Roads Begin
Chizu Town is a "town where roads begin," where people and cultures intersect, and new stories are born.
Its history as a post town for the Inaba Kaido and a stopping point for samurai processions brought room for people and cultures to come and go, fostering exchange and mutual aid.
In this town, where the breath of history still remains, new cultural and creative seeds are quietly sprouting.
By visiting this place and experiencing the mountain villages dotted with thatched-roof houses and the forestry culture of Chizu cedar, you can look inward and make new discoveries.
Chizu Town, where the spirit of "on to hoko" has supported human development, is a place that enriches the hearts of visitors and provides a spark for future creation.
