These rows of zelkova trees lie along the front approach to the shrine Okunitamajinja. In the past, the both sides served as courses for horse-riding.

In the late Heian period, a father and son Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and Yoshiie dropped at the shrine Okunitama-jinja in 1062 on their way to expedition against the Abe clan of Oshu (Tohoku region today), in order to pray for victory; on their way back, they donated and planted zelkova seedlings as a token of gratitude for their victory, which is the origin of the zelkova trees there, according to the tradition. Thereafter, prior to the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the Shinto priest there prayed for victory of the Tokugawa force, and donated horses for military use from a horse sale of Fuchu. After the battle, Tokugawa Ieyasu donated in return zelkova seedlings, and additionally planted zelkova trees. The rows of zelkova trees were thus arranged as they appear now.

At the time of designation as natural monument, over 60 huge trees with a trunk circumference of 3 m or more were aligned in an orderly manner, and these trees took on a splendid aspect, together with Chonowski's hornbeams, konara oaks (quercus serrata) and cedars planted between the zelkovas.