Hidarimakigaya Grove: Soni's Left-Twisting Torreya Trees
See a rare grove of kaya trees whose seed shells spiral left more often than usual, protected as a Nara Prefecture natural monument.
Verified site photographs are being prepared.Discover Hidarimakigaya Grove: Soni's Left-Twisting Torreya Trees
On the lower slopes of Mount Yoroi in Kuzu, a grove of kaya trees has an unusual botanical trait: many seed shells twist to the left. Soni Village says about two-thirds of the grove's seeds show the left-turning spiral, compared with roughly one-third among ordinary kaya. The grove was designated a Nara Prefecture natural monument in 1957 because of its scientific interest for plant evolution. Kaya seeds were historically used for food and medicine, while the oil-rich nuts also had practical value. The site is a living grove, not a museum exhibit, so its meaning is best understood by observing the trees in place and keeping to the village's access route.
Look closely at an unusual spiral
Kaya, or torreya, is an evergreen tree whose nuts have a hard outer shell. The shell usually has a spiral pattern; in the Kuzu grove, about two-thirds of the seeds are left-twisting, compared with about one-third in ordinary kaya, according to Soni Village. The trait makes the grove notable to botanists studying plant variation and evolution. The national tourism database describes it as a prefectural natural monument and lists October as the season for the plant feature; the trees themselves are present year-round, while seeds and foliage change with the seasons.
A tree tied to everyday village use
Soni Village notes that kaya nuts were traditionally used as food and medicine, and that their oil was also extracted. This practical history offers a way to connect the botanical feature with local life: the grove was not only a scientific curiosity but part of a landscape people used and cared for. Do not collect nuts or plant material from the designated grove; protected resources should be left in place.
Follow the village's mapped approach
JAPAN 47 GO lists a bus from Kintetsu Nabari Station taking about 39 minutes to Kuzu bus stop, then a walk of about 20 minutes. Soni Village publishes a dedicated Hidarimakigaya walking map and includes the grove on its intermediate Yoroi hiking route. The older route material is not a live trail bulletin, and the tourism association has previously posted temporary access cautions during forestry work. Check current notices and follow the exact village map; do not enter closed work areas or private woodland.
Visit a protected grove with care
The grove is a natural monument, not a staffed garden. No admission charge, fixed hours, toilet or public parking at the grove is confirmed in the official listing. Wear suitable shoes for a rural forest path, avoid touching trunks or collecting seeds, and keep noise low. If the access track is muddy, under forestry work or marked closed, turn back. Visitors should ask the village or Tourism Association whether access is available before making a special trip.
Photograph the trees without harming them
No commercial photography permission or licensed MyNara grove image has been confirmed. Stay on the mapped route, do not climb trees, move branches, dig for seeds or leave the path for a close-up. Ask before photographing local residents or workers. A map pin marks the grove area approximately and does not identify a parking bay or public right to enter adjacent land.
What to look for
About two-thirds of the grove's kaya seeds twist left, versus about one-third normally
Nara Prefecture natural monument designated in 1957
About 20 minutes on foot from Kuzu bus stop; follow the village map and check forestry notices
Photo notes
No commercial image permission is confirmed. Do not collect seeds, touch or climb the trees, or enter private / forestry work areas. Stay on the village-mapped path and ask before photographing residents or workers. Avoid close-up photography that requires disturbing branches or ground cover.
Make a day of it
Explore guides close to this map point, then check the actual route before travelling. Distances below are straight lines, not walking distances or travel times; map points may not be entrances.
Sources & editorial status
Original MyNara draft based on the linked sources. Sources reviewed 20 October 2026. Opening arrangements, prices and offers may change; use the operator's current information before travelling.
- Soni Village — protected grove, seed-shell trait and access map
- JAPAN 47 GO — 2025 listing, prefectural designation and bus / walking access
- Soni Village — course 04 passes the grove; route data is dated and not a live closure report
- Soni Tourism Association — past access notices and current local updates