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When you set foot in Nikko, a magnificent avenue lined with towering cedar trees that seem to pierce the sky unfolds before your eyes. This Nikko Cedar Avenue stretches for approximately 37 kilometers in total length and is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the longest tree-lined avenue in the world. (tochigiji.or.jp)
The history of this avenue dates back to the early Edo period. In 1648, on the 33rd anniversary of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s death, his loyal retainers, the father and son Matsudaira Masatsuna and Masanobu, spent over 20 years planting about 50,000 cedar trees and dedicated them as an approach to Nikko Toshogu Shrine. (pref.tochigi.lg.jp) These cedars, now about 400 years old, still retain their dignity and continue to welcome visitors.
As you walk along the avenue, you encounter anecdotes that evoke the breath of history. For example, the “Cedar Struck by Cannonball” is a cedar that was hit by a cannonball during the Boshin War and still bears the scars of the conflict. (pref.tochigi.lg.jp) Another, called the “Avenue Hotel,” is a cedar with a hollow at its base large enough for four adults to enter, and it is said that travelers once used it as shelter from the rain. (pref.tochigi.lg.jp)
This grand avenue has been designated both as a Special Historic Site and a Special Natural Monument by the nation, and its value is immeasurable. (pref.tochigi.lg.jp) However, in recent years, the number of cedars has decreased due to aging, natural disasters, and environmental changes. In 1961, there were about 16,500 cedars, but now there are about 12,000. (pref.tochigi.lg.jp) Conservation efforts are underway to pass on this precious cultural heritage to future generations.
Walking along the Nikko Cedar Avenue, you are enveloped in a magnificent story woven by history and nature. This path, where you can enjoy the scenery of each season, will surely provide visitors with deep inspiration and healing.