Japanese stone oak (scientific name: lithocarpus edulis) is a species of oak that grows from the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula, Kii Peninsula, Shikoku, and Kyushu to the southwestern islands of Honshu.
The leaves are alternate, stiff, elliptic, with whole edges, and the tufts are thick and coarse, 5 to 20 cm long. The surface is smooth, shiny, and dark green, and the underside is grayish brown with fine scaly hairs.
Because of their large, dense leaves, they are widely planted alongside busy roads because of their soundproofing effect when planted side by side and their resistance to air pollution.
Japanese stone oak is also planted by hand in temple precincts and gardens.
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