Towering Katsura trees

Katsura trees grow in an unusual way: younger stems sprout from the base of an older trunk, forming a rough ring around it. Even if the central trunk breaks, the tree as a whole keeps renewing itself. The trees reach up to 60 feet tall and produce a seasonal show worth watching for: magenta buds in spring, green leaves through summer, and yellow foliage in autumn when fallen leaves release a sweet scent often compared to caramel or cotton candy. Katsura trees are plentiful on the Wakoto Peninsula along Lake Kussharo, best explored via the Wakoto Nature Trail.