Leaves arranged decussately, mostly 7-lobed, subregularly serrulate on the margin, deep green and glabrous above, pale green and with axillary tufts of hairs beneath.

Flowers in April to May with the leaves.

Fruits maturing yellowish brown in October, the two wings spreading at a wide angle.

This is one of the common maple in Japanese mountains and there are also found many horticultural forms of this maple in Japanese garden.

The wood is used for furnitures, musical instruments, sculptures, the interior finish of buildings.

Distribution ; Hokkaidou, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu