Yakushima (屋久島) is a subtropical island located off the southern coast of Kyushu, part of Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. Here are some fascinating facts about this unique island:

1. Ancient Cedar Forests:

   • Yakushima is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees.

   • These ancient cedars, affectionately called “yakusugi” (a combination of “Yakushima” and “sugi,” the Japanese word for cedar), are more than 1000 years old. Some may even be over 7000 years old.

     
     

2. Logging and Recovery:

   • In the past, the island’s cedar forests were extensively logged, especially during the late feudal age for the production of cedar shingles.

   • However, today, the forests have recovered from past logging and are now a national park.

   • Certain areas of Yakushima were even declared a Natural World Heritage Site in 1993.

     
     

3. Hiking and Rainfall:

   • Most tourists visit Yakushima to hike through the mountainous forests.

   • As a subtropical island with nearly 2000-meter-high mountains, Yakushima experiences abundant rainfall throughout the year.

   • There’s a local saying that it rains “35 days a month,” although that might be a slight exaggeration. Still, rain is common, especially in the mountainous interior.

     
     

4. Top Attractions:

   • Shiratani Unsuikyo: This area served as the inspiration for the film “Princess Mononoke.”

   • Jomonsugi: A 2000 to 7200-year-old cedar tree that stands as a testament to the island’s ancient history.

   • Yakusugi Land: An easy place to see more yakusugi on Yakushima.

   • Other attractions include hiking trails, waterfalls, and stunning coastal views.

     
     

5. Access:

   • You can reach Yakushima by hydrofoil ferry, slow car ferry, or flight from Kagoshima.