Wakasugi Natural Forest (Wakasugi Primeval Forest)

Located at the northernmost tip of Nishiawakura Village, the Wakasugi Primeval Forest is one of the largest natural forests in the Chugoku region, with an area of ​​83 hectares and 199 types of trees, including giant beech, maple, Quercus oak, and horse chestnut. It is designated as a special protection area of ​​Mt. Hyoyamago-Yanagi-yama Quasi-National Park. It is the source of the Yoshino River, a tributary of the Yoshii River, one of the prefecture's three major rivers, and the murmuring of the valley, the sound of swaying trees, and the voices of wild birds and insects harmonize together to form a different world. In 1985, it was the first forest in the prefecture to be selected as one of Japan's top 100 forests for forest bathing, and the promenade is an excellent hiking course. It has become a place of relaxation for visitors.