There are some 24.6 million hectares (60.8 million acres) of forest in Japan, accounting for about 68% of the total land area. This makes Japan one of the most richly forested countries in the world.

Japan gets a lot of rainfall and has a number of distinct climate patterns because it stretches so far from north to south. It also has a very hilly terrain. Because of these factors, there are many different types of forests in the country.

From Kyushu in the south to the Kanto district, forests generally feature broadleaf evergreens like chinquapins, oaks, and camphors. In the colder climates of northern Japan, there are many beeches--which shed their leaves in autumn--on the Sea of Japan side and trees with needle-like leaves, like firs and hemlocks, on the Pacific Ocean side. On the northernmost island of Hokkaido, meanwhile, evergreen pines like spruce and fir are common.

Nearly all trees felled in Japan are used as lumber, plywood, or pulp. Only around 2% are used as firewood or charcoal.