Hike to the Forest of Magic – A Mysterious Adventure on Yakushima Island

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 

Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture is a mystical wonderland where ancient yakusugi cedar trees and mossy forests create an otherworldly fairy-tale setting. The island isn’t large—walking slowly, you can cross it in under five hours. It boasts incredibly rich and vital primeval cedar forests, a serene and mysterious atmosphere that soothes the mind and body. Even Hayao Miyazaki was deeply moved during his visit here, using the location as inspiration for the setting of the animated film "Princess Mononoke." It is also Japan’s first site to be designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage location.

Yakushima was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1993 alongside the Shirakami-Sanchi, and is also recognized as one of Japan’s national parks. Its distinction among many cultural and natural wonders comes primarily from the central and western parts of the island, which are home to a vast ancient forest of trees over a thousand years old. This approximately 107-square-kilometer sanctuary stands out compared to other areas in Japan and became the first to be listed as a World Heritage Site. Due to its highly unique climate and elevation, the island fosters a rich variety of plant landscapes. Hiking through the mountains, visitors can observe the transition from subtropical to cool temperate vegetation, with the most notable attraction being the Jōmon Sugi within the yakusugi primeval forest.

The yakusugi primeval forest is the most important natural attraction on Yakushima Island. Many of the vast cedar trees here are thousands of years old, among which the Jōmon Sugi is the most iconic and renowned, estimated to be over 7,200 years old—so named because of its age, which is close to the Jōmon period. To explore the mysterious and beautiful Yakushima more deeply, consider taking a hiking trip. Japan’s Tourism Agency has recommended three hiking routes for visitors, categorized by difficulty level, inviting travelers to come and admire these cedar forests that are older than human civilization itself.