Mt. Daisen Dwarf Yew Forest (Special Natural Monument)
Much of the slopes around the summit of Mt. Daisen is covered with a dwarf variety of Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata var nana). This species is dioecious, the plants are either male or female. The branches of the female plants have bright red berries. Mt. Daisen’s forests of dwarf Japanese yew are the largest in the country, covering eight hectares, and also represent the southern and western limit of this species. Designated in 1952 as a national-level Special Natural Monument, the Mt. Daisen Dwarf Yew Forest begins at around an elevation of 1600 m on the mountain.