Japanese Native Lumber

Sugi (Japanese Cedar) and Hinoki (Japanese Cypress) redefine architecture through their elegance and resilience. Sugi is revered for its straight grain and decay-resistant nature, symbolizing strength and the enduring spirit of Japan. Its fine, even texture and pale reddish-brown hue add a timeless touch to architectural masterpieces like temples, shrines, and traditional tea houses.

Hinoki impresses with its durability, light colour, and fine grain, making it a favorite for external applications. Its unique fragrance adds an extra dimension to spaces, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and sophistication.

Both timbers are perfect for cladding and decorative applications, as they demonstrate remarkable stability and resistance to weathering. Their visual appeal lies in their natural sophistication, making them ideal for modern, eco-friendly construction.

As global architecture evolves, Sugi and Hinoki emerge as frontrunners, combining traditional Japanese aesthetics with sustainable practices, ready to redefine the use of timber in building and design worldwide. 

Sugi (Cryptomeria Japonica)

The annual rings in Sugi are distinct, with a noticeable contrast between the peach to dark reddish-brown heartwood and the lighter sapwood. The wood’s preservative properties are moderate, and its dry specific gravity ranges from 0.30 to 0.45, averaging 0.38, making it relatively lightweight among Japanese conifers—a quality that simplifies processing. Sugi also has a distinctive fragrance that lingers in buildings, interior finishes, furniture, and more.

FEATURES: Sugi is commonly used in Japan for construction materials such as pillars, beams, boards, ceiling panels, siding(cladding) and polished logs. It also finds applications in furniture, fixtures, packaging, barrels, high-quality disposable chopsticks, and shipbuilding.

In recent years, its use in laminated timber has increased.

Aged natural Sugi is highly valued for cabinetry and decorative ceiling boards. Additionally, "polished logs," which are debarked and smoothed with special sand, are utilized in alcove posts, girders, interiors, and crafts.

Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtuse)

We offer kiln-dried Hinoki timber in rough sawn boards, which can be milled into various profiles. If you have specific dimensions requirements, please reach out to discuss . Our aim is to keep the price down by establishing sizes that can work for the both the millers in Japan and our customers. Generally milled lengths in Japan are 3 and 4 metre .

Hinoki is a truly exceptional wood. Its natural antibacterial and antifungal properties make it ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, untreated Hinoki is traditionally used to craft baths in Japan. The wood's natural scent is highly prized for its calming and soothing effects on both the mind and body.

Hinoki is versatile and can be used for furniture, lining boards, benchtops, cladding, decking, and screening, among other applications. The heartwood of Hinoki has a pinkish hue, while the sapwood is nearly white. Its distinct fragrance, combined with a clean appearance, makes it highly appealing.

Hinoki is especially durable, it resists water and moisture for extended periods. The dry specific gravity ranges between 0.30 and 0.45, with an average of 0.38. Its annual rings are subtle due to minimal changes in cell shape throughout the year, resulting in a uniform and dense texture.

When properly finished, Hinoki boasts a smooth and glossy surface. Contact us today to learn more about our Hinoki timber.

Other Japanese species

Japanese 木 Lumber has the network to source other lesser known Japanese species, such as:

• Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica)

• Japanese ash (Fraxinus spaethiana)

• Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)

• Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata)

• Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora)

• Japanese Larch (Larix kaempferi)

• Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrelata)

• Japanese species for furniture , woodwork turning and boat building

These lumbers can be transformed into stunning slabs for coffee tables, countertops, and boardroom tables, or crafted into unique lumber for tool handles and doorknobs. If you require any species of Japanese lumber, please don't hesitate to reach out – we are the experts.