Situated about 70km (45mi) south of Kyushu’s southern tip, the small mountainous island of Yakushima amazes the visitors with its breathtaking vegetation ranging from subtropical at sea level to subarctic on the mountain tops.
Thanks also to heavy rainfall, the location is a primeval forest covered area and home to some of the oldest trees in the world, known as the Yaku cedars. With the ancient specimens being around 3500 years old, the biggest among them, known as the Jomon Sugi, is believed to be about 7000 years old.
The cedars, other than considered sacred, are also interesting because of the names and the story that follows them. The phrase Meoto-Sugi means Married Couple and suggests that over the years the once separate trees joined and begun to coexist.
Another thing which will make your eyes pop out, is the Wilson stump . There’s a small stream running through it, you can walk into it and also visit a small shrine inside of it.
Other than the fascinating forests you can enjoy small waterfalls and tropical gardens throughout the area. The site is also a nesting place of endangered species of green and loggerhead turtles, so checkout the Sea Turtle Museum, but also the Yakushima Fruit Garden, and the Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Centre.
