Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest Museum

Inside this museum in Oda, Shimane, giant cedar trees stand upright exactly where they were buried by a volcanic eruption of nearby Mt. Sanbe around 4,000 years ago. Walking through the underground exhibit hall, you see massive trunks preserved in remarkable condition by layers of volcanic ash. The largest tree on display is over 12 meters tall with a trunk circumference exceeding 10 meters. A museum above ground explains the eruption sequence and the excavation work that uncovered the site. It is genuinely unusual, and combines naturally with a hike on Mt. Sanbe or a visit to the nearby Iwami Ginzan silver mine for a fuller day in the region.