Hinoki: The Sacred Cypress of Japan

Japanese culture has long shared an intimate relationship with nature. From Shinto to native folk beliefs, trees have held a special place in Japanese society. Among Japan’s most revered trees, the hinoki (檜orヒノキ), the Japanese cypress, is considered to be the most sacred. 

Prized for its unique fragrance, fine grain, and spiritual symbolism, it has played a key role in the development of Japanese architecture, craftsmanship, and culture for over one thousand years. Hinoki can be found anywhere from modern homes to bathhouses to ancient temples and shrines, continuing to represent the harmonious relationship humans can share with nature.

A Tree with a Sacred Name

Native to central Japan and commonly found in the Kiso, Kochi, and Yoshino regions, hinoki (also known as Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a slow-growing evergreen tree that can grow up to 35 meters tall and live for centuries. While many simply translate hinoki as Japanese cypress, this misses some of the important cultural and spiritual connotations associated with the sacred tree. 

In Japanese, the name can be broken up and interpreted as ‘hi no ki’ which means ‘tree of the sun.’ This special reading reflects the deeply sacred status hinoki holds in Shinto spirituality, which fundamentally believes that things in our natural world, be it tree, rock, river, or mountain, house divine spirits known as kami.

Beyond its sacred status, hinoki is also treasured for its physical characteristics, like its lightweight yet robust wood and natural ability to resist rot and insects. As such, it is an easy wood to work with. The wood’s clean, citrusy aroma that only grows richer with age, making it a prized material for traditional baths. Also, with its beautiful color ranging from pale yellow to light amber, and when polished, it shines with a soft luster that embodies the Japanese aesthetic of understated elegance.

From the Sacred to the Mundane

Since the 7th century, hinoki has been used as the primary material in the construction of sacred temples and shrines, like the famed Shinto shrine Ise Jingū and Buddhist temple Hōryū-ji, the latter being one of the world’s oldest known surviving wooden structures. One reason for this is a lasting tradition of periodically rebuilding these sacred structures with fresh hinoki using techniques passed down over generations. This is a testament to the incredible durability of hinoki, allowing such important and monumental buildings to stand for centuries. It is in this ritual of renewal that one can see the key role hinoki has in maintaining a close relationship between humans and nature.

Another reason hinoki has allowed these traditions to endure is its natural antimicrobial properties. As mentioned above, paired with its soothing citrus-like aroma, this antimicrobial trait makes it ideal for luxury baths (known as hinoki-buro) in Japanese homes, inns, and onsens. Many believe that the combination of steam and hinoki’s relaxing scent creates the perfect environment to rejuvenate the body. It is also thought to provide a unique sensory experience that can help transport a weary bather to an imagined forest, increasing that much-needed relaxation factor.

Along with hinoki-buro, hinoki is also used for flooring, ceiling beams, furniture, and has a special place in the kitchen, where it is a prized material for rice tubs and cutting boards. This is because of its fine, smooth grain and ability to resist water absorption while imparting a hint of its famed fragrance to food.

Sustainability and Craftsmanship

For at least a millennium, the cultivation and harvesting of hinoki has been guided by ideas of respect and restraint. In the Kiso Valley, home to some of Japan’s most prized hinoki forests, locals have a saying that dates back to the Edo period: “One head for one tree,” meaning that if someone were to fell a hinoki tree, the price would be their head. While this practice has thankfully disappeared with time, they do still believe that “one tree for a lifetime” reflects the hinoki’s slow growth and the responsibility humans have to preserve them for future generations. As such, traditional hinoki foresters practice selective logging to ensure harmony between humans and the natural world.

Another way that hinoki is revered is in the Japanese concept of monozukuri, or the spirit of craftsmanship through dedication and skill. Most hinoki artisans use hand tools in place of modern machines to show reverence to the wood’s texture and scent. Temple carpenters are perfect examples of this, demonstrating not only technical mastery but also a truly spiritual connection to the wood.

A Continued Connection to Nature

Even today, hinoki holds a special place in Japan, being a vehicle for Japanese aesthetics prizing the combination of minimalism and the beauty of the natural world, with all of its imperfections. There is a quiet grace and spirit of simplicity and reverence for nature conveyed through hinoki. It allows people small opportunities in their daily life to reflect on their place in the world and reconnect with nature.

Want to experience the relaxing scent of hinoki for yourself? Check out our Hinoki (Japanese Cypress) Aroma Oil. 

About the author: 

Kevin Kilcoyne

The spark that lit Kevin Kilcoyne’s interest in Japanese culture began in elementary school through a friendship with his then classmate Keisuke. Since then, that passion has evolved and bloomed to encompass more than just video games and manga, leading Kevin to live in Japan as a participant of the JET program. During his time in Japan, Kevin sought out as many foods as he could, the experiences and taste memories lingering long after they had gone. Now he is forging a path to link his passions for Japanese food, history, and visual culture and is planning for his return to live in Japan once again. For now, you can find Kevin on Instagram (@waruishouten) where he posts his photography and illustration work. Keep an eye out for more posts and updates as Kevin delves more deeply into his passions for writing and food.