We compared forest traits of primary forest, secondary forest recovering after clear-cut of primary forest, Cryptomeria japonica plantation and Aleurites cordata dominated forest regenerating after clear-cut of C. japonica plantation in the lowland of Yakushima Island, Japan. Greater similarity in species composition was found between primary and secondary stands with same topography rather than between forests of similar age on different topography. High mean dbh and basal area values along with low density in C. japonica stands indicate probable effects of thinning management. Lower basal areas in A. cordata stands might be a characteristic of this forest type. Species diversity was much lower in C. japonica and A. cordata stands. Species that usually dominate in primary and secondary forests like Distylium racemosum, Quercus spp. and Castanopsis cuspidata were absent or had very low importance values in the C. japonica plantaions and A. cordata stands, suggesting the difficulty of rehabilitating the forest of primary status once C. japonica plantation was established. A. cordata forests were more similar to primary and secondary forests than to C. japonica plantations due to the abundance of Ardisia sieboldii, but they are still far from becoming as diverse as the primary and secondary ones.