Tsukijimatsu refers to the distinctive rows and carefully shaped groves of black pine trees found around traditional farmhouses across the Izumo Plain in eastern Shimane Prefecture.
The pine trees are planted around individual homes and meticulously trimmed into neat, almost wall-like forms. Their orderly silhouettes have earned them the poetic nickname “green screens”, and they have become one of the defining landscapes of the Izumo region.
Tsukijimatsu are much more than beautiful scenery. They represent a cultural landscape created through the interaction between nature and everyday life. The trees were traditionally planted particularly along the north and west sides of homes, where they helped protect houses from the region’s strong seasonal winds, heavy snow, and harsh weather.
From spring through summer, the Izumo Plain is covered with vibrant green rice fields. The young rice plants spread across the flat landscape like an enormous green carpet.
Among the fields, the dark green silhouettes of Tsukijimatsu stand around traditional homes, creating a striking contrast between the cultivated fields and the carefully maintained trees. The result is a peaceful rural landscape in which human settlements and nature appear to blend naturally together.
As autumn arrives, the rice fields gradually turn golden as the crops ripen. The deep green of the Tsukijimatsu contrasts beautifully with the golden rice plants, creating a landscape that resembles a traditional Japanese painting.
This combination of golden rice fields and dark green pine groves is one of the most memorable sights of the Izumo Plain during the harvest season.
In winter, the landscape can be transformed by snow. The dark Tsukijimatsu stand quietly against a white background, creating a dramatic contrast of black and white.
The stillness of the snow-covered fields and the distinctive silhouettes of the pine trees evoke a timeless image of traditional rural Japan.
The exact origins of Tsukijimatsu are unclear, but their development is closely connected with the natural environment of the Izumo Plain.
In ancient times, much of the plain was wetland, and flooding was a serious threat to homes and farmland. People responded by raising the ground around their homes and building earthen embankments known as tsuji or tsuiji. Trees and bamboo were planted around these raised areas to reinforce the soil.
Over time, Japanese black pine became the preferred tree because it can withstand strong winds and relatively poor soil while developing deep, strong roots.
These trees gradually evolved into the distinctive Tsukijimatsu landscape, combining wind protection, flood protection, and the reinforcement of residential land.
Tsukijimatsu were also closely connected with daily life. Branches removed during regular pruning could be used as firewood and household fuel.
The trees also helped slow the spread of fires and provided a degree of protection for houses. At the same time, carefully maintained pine groves gave traditional homes a dignified appearance and were regarded as symbols of the character and status of a household.
In this way, Tsukijimatsu developed not simply as landscaping, but as a practical part of life in the rural communities of the Izumo Plain.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of Tsukijimatsu is the traditional pruning technique known as Noutegori.
Using this technique, the upper sections of the black pine trees are carefully trimmed to a consistent height, while the sides are shaped into clean, even surfaces. The result is an almost architectural form resembling a large green wall or screen.
Although the finished appearance is highly structured, the trees remain part of the natural landscape. Maintaining this balance requires considerable skill and experience, making traditional pruning an essential part of the cultural heritage surrounding Tsukijimatsu.
As traditional estate windbreaks, Tsukijimatsu have historically served a wide range of purposes. They helped protect homes from strong winter winds and flooding, supplied wood that could be used as fuel, and helped slow the spread of fire.
The surrounding vegetation could also provide supplementary food and household resources, including nuts and bamboo. At the same time, the carefully shaped trees enhanced the appearance of the property and gave the home a sense of dignity and permanence.
The Izumo Plain is characterized by a traditional settlement pattern known as a scattered settlement. Instead of being concentrated into compact villages, individual farmhouses are distributed across the countryside, often with considerable space between them.
When these scattered homes are surrounded by carefully maintained Tsukijimatsu, they create a highly distinctive landscape unique to the region.
Similar estate-grove traditions can be found in other parts of Japan, such as Igune in Miyagi Prefecture and Kakiiri in Toyama Prefecture. However, the combination of scattered settlements and meticulously shaped black pines gives the Izumo Plain a particularly recognizable rural character.
In recent decades, the number of traditional Tsukijimatsu has declined significantly.
Several factors have contributed to this change, including damage caused by pine wilt disease, a shortage of skilled craftsmen capable of carrying out traditional pruning, and the reduced practical necessity of estate windbreaks as modern homes have become more durable.
There were approximately 3,380 homes with Tsukijimatsu in 1999, but that number had fallen to approximately 1,500 homes by 2012. The traditional landscape is therefore facing the risk of disappearing.
In response, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, and local residents have worked together to establish the Tsukijimatsu Landscape Conservation Promotion Council.
Its activities include sharing information about the cultural landscape, passing traditional pruning skills on to younger generations, and supporting conservation efforts.
These initiatives are important not only for preserving beautiful scenery but also for protecting the traditional knowledge and way of life that created the landscape in the first place.
The Tsukijimatsu of the Izumo Plain offer a rare opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese rural landscape where nature, agriculture, architecture, and local customs exist in harmony.
Because the scenery changes dramatically throughout the year, visitors can encounter a different atmosphere in every season. Green rice fields and dark pine trees dominate the landscape in summer, golden fields create a warm contrast in autumn, and snow can transform the countryside into a quiet winter scene.
Unlike a conventional tourist attraction, Tsukijimatsu are part of the living countryside. They surround homes, fields, and roads, allowing travelers to appreciate the landscape as part of everyday life rather than as a reconstructed historical setting.
For travelers accustomed to Japan’s major cities, temples, and busy tourist destinations, the Izumo Plain offers a completely different experience.
Take time to travel through the countryside and observe the carefully shaped pine trees standing among the rice fields. Their simple beauty reflects generations of local knowledge and the close relationship between people and the natural environment.
Combining a visit to the Tsukijimatsu landscape with Izumo Taisha and other attractions in the Izumo area is an excellent way to discover both the spiritual traditions and the everyday rural culture of the region.
Tsukijimatsu are a cultural landscape created from necessity, refined through generations of craftsmanship, and preserved today as part of the identity of Izumo.
What first appears to be a beautiful arrangement of pine trees actually tells a much deeper story about flood protection, strong seasonal winds, agriculture, traditional homes, family life, and local craftsmanship.
As you explore the Izumo Plain, look beyond the trees themselves and consider the knowledge and effort required to maintain them. The carefully shaped pines are a reminder that some of Japan’s most fascinating cultural heritage can be found not only in temples and historic buildings, but also in the landscapes where people have lived for generations.