It is known that scrub forests such as Hibiscus hamabo community develop around salt marshes in the warm-temperate zone of Japan, but natural forests in the hinterland are still insufficiently known. In this study, we examined species composition, distribution of vegetation and land use on six sites, where scrub forests and natural forests remain. The results shows that Pittosporo-Quercetum phillyraeoidis and Cyrtomio-Litseetum japonicae were recognized as natural forests in the hinterland. It is suggested that these forests remained because the sites received little impact from human activities, or that the black pine forest transitioned to these forests. It might be important in conservation and landscape planning of the salt marsh that natural forests in the hinterland such as Quercus phillyraeoides community and Litsea japonica community are taken into account.
