In traditional Japan, scarce or non-local materials were used only for special ceremonial buildings. In Japan, the abundance of wood has historically determined methods of construction. The use of cypress and cedar, for example, depends on the unique qualities of each wood.
Cypress is resistant to moisture, strong, and has an attractive grain.
For these reasons it is the preferred wood for structural members such as posts, beams and flooring. Cedar is softer and damages easily but it has a more attractive grain and coloration than Cypress. Cut easily , lightweight cedar is ideal for the construction of moveable partions in the interior of a house. Both cypress and cedar have become scarce during this century, and wood which once was used in the construction of the entire house is now used only for those elements that are exceptionally important. Today, we have a global problem with precious woods like cypress and cedar.