Aerial Mandala-like Vegetation Formation in Japan
Aerial view of a striking, mandala-like vegetation pattern with concentric green rings around a circular core in Japan.

The Mysterious Forest Circles of Miyazaki

I didn’t happen across these strange circles of trees while soaring over the Japanese landscape but, like many curious folk, I found them on social networks. As these always show the same photos, I decided to check them out with my very own aerial sensors.

Come under my catwings, and we’re off to Kyushu, Miyazaki Prefecture! More accurately to the relatively pretty town of Nichinan. From there, a semi-abandoned track straddles a thickly forested mountainside. A good half hour later, a weathered sign appears. It seems to indicate the centre of one of those agricultural curiosities!

Ha, waddya mean agro what? So a crop circle is an unexpected artificial pattern. You might remember those found in fields in the United States that were attributed to paranormal phenomena, such as spacecraft landing. When in truth it was me! They’re fools anyway (me too).

My drone, freed, flies up to the heights. These images come straight back. Trees, Miyazaki, Japan, meow & curiosity: after smoking a few too many buds I’m wired to imagine these circles are Totoro launch sites! The reality is more mundane: the forest was established in 1973 by the local forestry agency to test plantation growth.

Japan Cycle Tree
Japan Cycle Tree

Seven hundred and twenty trees were planted in a sequence of concentric circles, starting with a central small area and gradually increasing the radial increments to form larger circles, ten trees deep. The objective was to study the effects of forest density on the growth of a local type of wood: Obi cedar (飫肥(おび)杉).

Japan Cycle Tree
Japan Cycle Tree

Fifty years later, the result surpassed the researchers’ expectations when the first drone photos were available! The forest was supposed to be felled in 2011, but as there’s still no exact explanation for the phenomenon, the experiment is extended until 2023.

Japan Cycle Tree
Japan Cycle Tree

I’m counting on the most curious among you to answer these questions in the comments: Why is this formation surprising? Do you know of other similar experiments? And finally, how might Miyazaki use this forest for tourism?

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Under soft light's glow, Textures whisper stories here— Night swallows the day. 光の下、 話す質感、夜— 昼を飲み込む。 #yokocho #urbanjapan #moodyvibes #japanstreets #nightscapes #offbeatjapan #japan
Cherry blooms whisper On the island of stillness, Mist holds nature's breath. 桜が囁く 静けさの島で 霧が息を呑む #offbeatjapan #japan #sakura #cherryblossom #naturelovers #serenity #reflections #dreamscape
Cool blue pool of dreams Framed by fiery autumn hues, Silent whispers merge. 静かな青い夢のプール 燃える秋色に縁取られ、 静かなささやきが交わる。 #offbeatjapan #japan #haiku #abandonedbeauty #autumnvibes #hiddenarchitectures #naturecontrast
Blue night whispers here, Red lights dance with signs aglow, Takoyaki dreams.  青い夜ささやく 赤い光舞う 看板は輝く たこ焼きの夢  #offbeatjapan #japan #takoyaki #japanstreetnight #urbanserenity #neonnights #suburbansoil #quietstreets
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Emerald whispers, Fiery leaves blaze the footpath— A dance of colors.---エメラルド囁き、 燃える葉が足跡を照らす— 色の舞踏。---#momijigari #autumnvibes #forestmagic #explorejapan #naturephotography #offbeatjapan #japan
Sun whispers through leaves, Golden grass dances gently, Green dreams sway in peace.  日が葉に囁く、 黄金の草が優しく踊る、 緑の夢が静かに揺れる。  #Arashiyama #Kyoto #BambooGrove #NatureWhispers #SerenePathway #JapanWonders #offbeatjapan #japan
Geometric blues, Windows whisper tales untold, Colors break the gray.幾何学の青、 窓は語らぬ物語をささやく、 色が灰を裂く。#urbanarchitecture #geometricdesign #coolcolors #modernjapaneseart #architecturelovers #offbeatjapan #japan