Because okinawa is a small island, it is hard to find dense forests like those of larger Southeast Asian tropical islands and the Asian continent. What okinawa does have are fukugi trees with their dark green, flat leaves, and the deep shadows cast by the trees during the daytime.

There is a street of fukugi trees at Bise, Motobu Town near okinawa Expo Memorial National Park. Its length is only about 100 meters, but it reflects the scenery of the northern rural countryside.

The fukugi was brought here by traders who had traveled to Southeast Asia during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era. Columns of fukugi trees can be seen surrounding houses, agricultural fields and villages, serving as windbreaks. The yellow bark of the tree is also used as thread and in making dye for the traditional bingata cloth. Members of the older generation used to make sandals for play from the wide leaves of the fukugi.