“How does wood grow, and how does it find its way to us?”
Yaotsu, in Gifu Prefecture, is a mountain town nestled in forest that covers 80% of its land, facing the Kiso River basin. Kiso hinoki cypress was once rafted down the Kiso River all the way to Owari, and Yaotsu flourished as a key stopover point in that trade, with forestry at the heart of its economy. As the town prospered, sawmills were joined by breweries producing sake and miso, and confectionery shops — and even now, long after river transport came to an end, traces of that lively past can still be glimpsed around town.
Now an annual tradition — students from Nagoya Zokei University spending time learning about “Yaotsu’s forests and timber.” This year, once again, we were in the very capable hands of Okazaki Lumber.
2025.10.20 mon
At Okazaki Lumber, timber felled from Yaotsu’s own forests is sawn and naturally dried entirely in-house, in pursuit of housing that draws out the full potential of wood.
This visit included a talk on felling, sawmilling, and natural drying, followed by a tour of Okazaki Lumber’s own natural forest. The group then set out on a town walk heading north from Kurose Minato along Honmachi-dōri, taking in buildings across Yaotsu that showcase timber in their construction.
Hanamori Sake Brewery, Daisenji Temple, and Misohira Brewing all generously gave their time to speak with the students. What remains unchanged across the generations, what has evolved, and what continues to be passed down to the present day — what feelings did the students draw from all of this, I wonder.
The scent of wood, the air of the forest, the warmth of the town. May what the students discovered here find its way into the designs of the future.
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