It has a very coarse texture, hairy, light green leaves, a faster growth rate than most zoysias and excellent cold tolerance.

The hunting billbug and nematodes cause considerable damage to this lawngrass.

Zoysia japonica is the only zoysia for which seed is commercially available. It can be used for lawns or general turf areas where convenience of establishment by seed is more important than quality.

This species does not make as good a lawn as the other zoysias.