Nasu Heisei-no-Mori Field Center
3254 Ōaza Takakuhei, Nasu, Nasu District, Tochigi Prefecture 325-0302, Japan
TEL: +81(0)287-74-6808 (9:00~17:00) FAX: +81(0)287-74-6809

Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest

Field Center Forest Recreation Zone Forest Learning Zone
Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest

The Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest was created in 2011. The forest occupies nearly half
of the former Nasu Imperial Villa estate, land previously reserved for the imperial
family’s use. In 2008, Emperor Akihito (reigned 1989–2019) granted the land to the
Ministry of the Environment to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of his
ascension to the throne. Its approximately 560 hectares form a protected environment
where people can interact with nature while preserving it for future generations. Nasu
Heisei-no-mori Forest opened to the public in 2011 as part of Nikko National Park.

Prior to the twentieth century, the land now occupied by Heisei-no-mori was used for
logging and horse pasturage. When the area became part of the Nasu Imperial Villa
estate, its use was restricted, and the land began to return to its natural forested state.
Today, this young forest continues to grow and develop, and with proper care it may
someday rival the world’s most pristine ecosystems.

The Field Center is the forest’s main facility and serves as a gateway to the forest’s
two zones: the Forest Recreation Zone and the Forest Learning Zone. The Forest
Recreation Zone, with wheelchair accessibility, fulfills Emperor Akihito’s desire that
everyone have unrestricted access to Nasu’s natural environment. Visitors may
wander its paths freely, and the trails are suitable for all ages and ability levels.

Between 1997 and 2001, the Tochigi Prefectural Museum identified 3,492 species of
wildlife in the Nasu Imperial estate. Of these species, 23 were previously unrecorded,
and 25 were recorded in Japan for the first time. Preserving and studying this
ecological diversity is the goal of the Forest Learning Zone, Heisei-no-mori’s second
area. Ongoing scientific studies are conducted in the Learning Zone, and visitors can
only enter on guided tours led by experienced naturalists known as “nature
interpreters.”

Calendar

These highlights are only examples. There are many other unusual animal and plant species to encounter!
Nasu Heisei-no-Mori is a natural treasure trove.
For a limited time, you can encounter rare characters that can’t be found anywhere else!
Feel free to ask your interpreter for more information.




Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest Research Initiatives

Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest Research Initiatives

The Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest is a diverse ecosystem. Between 1997 and 2001, the
Tochigi Prefectural Museum conducted a monitoring and research project that
identified 3,492 species of wildlife; 23 of these were previously unrecorded species,
and 25 were recorded in Japan for the first time. The project also found several
species classified by the Ministry of the Environment as Vulnerable (VU) or Near
Threatened (NT). Vulnerable species include the balloon flower, greater tube-nosed
bat, and spotless grass yellow (a butterfly). Species on the near-threatened list include
the Japanese dormouse, northern goshawk, and Japanese fire belly newt.

After the Nasu Heisei-no-mori Forest was established in 2011, the beech forest by the
Yosasa River was selected as part of the Ministry of the Environment’s Monitoring
Site 1000 project, which observes environmental changes and aims to develop
conservation measures. Other current research includes creating an inventory of plants
and animals in the forest, recording their populations and conditions, and assessing
the water quality of the Yosasa and Shirato Rivers. Small, roped-off areas indicate
where yearly acorn densities are being calculated. Flash-enabled cameras are installed
in 15 locations to monitor the movements and behavioral patterns of mammals.
Researchers are particularly interested in the behavior of black bears in the forest.

Access to the Forest Learning Zone is restricted in order to minimize human impact
and help the forest achieve a natural primary-growth state. Visitors are allowed in
only as part of guided walks, and they must clean their shoes before entering to
prevent the accidental introduction of non-native seeds or diseases.

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