Yakushima, Kagoshima- A Popular Tourist Destination

This video, titled "YAKUSHIMA WONDERLAND"（【HD】屋久島ワンダーランド ＿ YAKUSHIMA WONDERLAND）, was created by “happydayztag,” and it introduces you to the beautiful scenery of Yakushima.

The video shows you scenes of an ancient Jomon Cedar standing in a mystic forest, sea turtles, and other wildlife living in Yakushima. Enjoy the dynamic nature view of Yakushima!

Yakushima is an island located at the southernmost tip of Kyushu island. The island contains more than 90% forest. Yakushima is designated as a National Natural Monument, Special Natural Monument, as well as the first place to become a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2012, Yakushima park was registered as a national park.

Yakushima is a subtropical forest that contains waterfalls, a clear ocean, a moss covered forest, local wildlife, ancient Jomon cedars, and more. It's a place that many Japanese and international visitors long to visit.

Sightseeing at Yakushima, Kagoshima

Photo：Wilson’s Stump

Yakushima island has a lot of rain throughout the year. The video contains footage of mystic cedars in the fog, the blue ocean and water falls in Yakushima. If you'd like to enjoy the nature of Yakushima, we recommend hiking or trekking. Yakushima's trekking tour is quite popular.

In the middle of the old railway line that connects the logging village to the coastal village, sits Wilson’s Stump, the remains of a giant cedar tree that toppled over roughly 400 years ago. If you look up inside Wilson’s Stump, you can see a heart shape, making it a very popular place for taking photos. You can also see the heart of the Wilson’s Stump at 0:57.

Photo：Jomon Cedar

The ancient Jomon Cedar is the the symbol of Yakushima. It is estimated to be around 2170 to 2700 years old and is the largest cedar in Yakushima. The trip to visit the Jomon cedar takes about 5 hours of hiking. Seeing the mystic cedar after the long hike is a truly rewarding experience. You can see the dynamic view of the Jomon cedar at 1:07 in the video.

Trails are available and well maintained for hikers. Mt. Nagatadake and Mt. Miyanoura, the highest peak on Yakushima, are two more popular spots and are both made of granite. You can check out this beautiful view at 1:55.

Other Tourist Spots in Yakushima, Kagoshima

©Kagoshima prefecture Modifying

Another must-see sight in Yakushima is Shiratani Unsuikyo, a fantastic mossy forest filled with water that glistens and is said to have been the inspiration for the famous Japanese animated film, Princess Mononoke. The water overflowing from the mountains creates magnificent waterfalls, such as the Okonotaki and Senpiro Falls, which flow out to the sea. You can see this at 0:25 in the video. br>
A short hike around Yakusugi Land is an ideal route as you can see the spectacular road into the interior of the island. Yaku Shrine is a masterpiece swallowed by nature. Yakushima lighthouse is located at the westernmost tip of Yakushima. “Hirauchi Onsen” is available only for 2 hours between high tide and low tide, but we definitely recommend checking it out if you have the chance. The Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Center is a museum you can visit to learn more about the history and nature of Yakushima.

In early summer, sea turtles come to the beaches in Yakushima to lay eggs. You might be able to see local deer and monkeys on the Seibu rindo forest path as well. The dense forests of Yakushima cover 95.5% of the island. There are wild Yakuzaru monkeys as well as Yakushika deer, and the chances of seeing them are high. You'll see these natural animals throughout the video too, so be sure to check it out!

Summary of Yakushima, Kagoshima

Photo：Fried flying fish

There are 2 ways to access to Yakushima: either by a plane or by ship. Direct flights are available from Osaka (Itami), Fukuoka, and Kagoshima. There are many hotels, ryokan, onsen facilities, pensions, and guest houses are available. If you plan to visit the Jomon cedar, you'll need to stay at least one night at Yakushima.

Try some fresh seafood dishes at Yakushima, such as deep fried flying fish and mackerels. As you can see in the video, there's a lot of natural scenery left in Kagoshima prefecture. Be sure to check out the video to see how fascinating Yakushima is! Are you packing your bags yet?

【Official Website】Yakushima, Kagoshima Town
http://www.town.yakushima.kagoshima.jp/en/

【Tripadvisor】Yakushima
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g3211144-Yakushima_Yakushima_cho_Kumage_gun_Kagoshima_Prefecture_Kyushu-Vacations.html