It grows at altitudes of 700–2,200 m, often in temperate rain forest with high rainfall and cool, humid summers, and heavy winter snowfall.

It is a medium-sized to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 30–40 m tall with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m. The leaves are needle-like, flattened, 1.5–3.5 cm long and 2–3 mm wide by 0.5 mm thick, glossy green above, and with two white bands of stomata below, and rounded or slightly notched at the tip.

The winged seeds are released when the cones disintegrate at maturity about 6–7 months after pollination.

[citation needed] The wood of Nikko fir is used for general structural timber.

Outside Japan, it is grown as an ornamental tree in northern Europe and North America.