The Usune Giant Mulberry Tree is a huge Japanese mulberry tree, known as yamaguwa, growing in Ishizumi, Machida, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture. The tree was designated a National Natural Monument of Japan on May 15, 1956, and is widely recognized as one of the largest Japanese mulberry trees in the country.
Its age is estimated to be more than 1,500 years, according to local tradition. For generations, the tree has also been revered by local residents as a “guardian deity of sericulture”, reflecting the close connection between mulberry trees and Gunma’s long history of silk production.
The Usune Giant Mulberry has an impressive trunk circumference of approximately 5.67 meters and stands about 13.65 meters tall. Its branches and foliage spread widely, reportedly extending approximately 14 meters from east to west and north to south.
Standing in the middle of farmland, the enormous tree creates a striking landscape and takes on a different appearance with each season.
Japanese mulberry trees are known for their resistance to frost damage. Local tradition tells that when frost damaged surrounding mulberry fields in the past, the leaves of this giant tree helped save the livelihoods of local sericulture farmers.
Gunma was once one of Japan’s major silk-producing regions, and the Usune Giant Mulberry has therefore held special significance as a symbol of the area’s traditional sericulture culture.
The Usune Giant Mulberry also appears in historical records from the Edo period. In 1686, Takasu Hayato, a senior official of the Maebashi Domain, is said to have used the tree as a survey marker when conducting a land survey in Ishizumi Village.
The fact that this enormous tree was selected as a landmark more than 300 years ago demonstrates how prominent it already was in the local landscape.
Because of its massive trunk and imposing appearance, the tree has long been treated with reverence as a “guardian deity of sericulture.” Local residents have carefully protected it over generations, making the tree itself an important part of the area’s history and cultural identity.
The Usune Giant Mulberry is also recognized as one of the “Gunma Silk Heritage Sites”, a group of cultural assets designated by Gunma Prefecture in connection with the Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Silk Industry Sites, which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Mulberry trees played an essential role in Japan’s silk industry because their leaves were the primary food source for silkworms. Sericulture and silk production became important industries that contributed to Japan’s modernization.
The Usune Giant Mulberry therefore has significance not only as a natural monument but also as a heritage site connected with Japan’s industrial and agricultural history.
The giant tree stands on a river terrace approximately 430 meters above sea level at the southwestern foot of Mt. Kashozan in northern Numata. It is located on the left bank of the Shikama River, a tributary of the Tone River.
The surrounding area consists of peaceful farmland, with mountains stretching across the distant landscape. The giant mulberry stands quietly amid this rural scenery, creating a beautiful contrast between the enormous old tree and the open countryside.
The stable ground of the river terrace and the local climatic conditions are believed to have contributed to the tree’s ability to survive and grow for such an extraordinary length of time. Its present form reflects the interaction between the area’s natural environment and its long history of human activity.
In recent years, the tree has been affected by pests and other factors, leading to conservation work aimed at maintaining its health. Certified tree specialists have carried out measures to restore and protect its vitality, including the use of scaffolding to access different parts of the tree for specialized treatment and maintenance.
Local communities and government authorities continue to work together to protect this remarkable tree and pass it on to future generations. These ongoing conservation efforts demonstrate the cultural and natural importance placed on the Usune Giant Mulberry.
Ishizumi, Machida, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture, near Oguriyama 2083.
From JR Numata Station, take the Kan-etsu Transportation Sayama Line bus and get off at Ishizumi Ipponmatsu bus stop. The tree is approximately a 2-minute walk from the stop.
Approximately 15 minutes from the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
The Usune Giant Mulberry is remarkable not simply because of its enormous size, but because of its deep connection with the history and livelihoods of the local community.
Standing before the tree in the middle of the surrounding farmland, visitors can appreciate the extraordinary vitality of a living organism that has survived for more than a millennium. Its massive trunk and spreading branches offer a powerful sense of the passage of time.
The area around Numata also features attractions such as Numata Park and the dramatic landscapes of its river terraces. The Usune Giant Mulberry can be included in a sightseeing route combining history, nature, and the cultural heritage of Gunma’s silk industry.
A visit to this remarkable natural monument offers travelers an opportunity to see not only an ancient tree, but also a living symbol of the sericulture traditions that helped shape Gunma’s history.