Yakusugi Land, Yakushima's Ancient Cedar Paradise
If you're planning a visit to Yakushima, Yakusugi Land is one of the places not to be missed, as is the Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine. As its name suggests, this nature park is home to a number of Yakusugi (Yakushima cedars over 1,000 years old).
With its 4 different circular hiking trails, from 30 min to 150 min, you can choose which path to explore depending on the time you have and your hiking level.
How to Get There
The best way to get to Yakusugi Land is by car. It takes around 30 minutes by car to reach the car park at the entrance of Yakusugi land from Anbo and 50 minutes from Miyanoura port. Like Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine, Yakusugi Land is also accessible by bus, but there are only 2 buses a day from Anbo. You can check the bus timetable here.
As you get deeper into the mountain and closer to the entrance, you are likely to see Yakushima deer and monkeys relaxing on or near the road.
To know more about how to get to Yakushima and other things to do on the island, check out my other article here.
Things to Know Before Starting to Hike
When you arrive at the entrance to Yakusugi Land, you'll find several car parks, a shop selling local wooden products and toilets.
To enter Yakusugi Land, you'll need to pay a small donation of ¥500 at the administration building near the entrance, where you can also obtain a map. By paying this donation, you will also receive a ¥200 discount voucher that you can use to visit the Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine.
On this map, you'll see that there are 4 different trails, ranging from 30 minutes to 150 minutes, so you can choose which path to explore depending on the time you have available and your level of hiking. While the 30- and 50-minute routes are easy ones with wooden footbridges or cobbled paths, if you want to explore the longer routes, you'll need to wear suitable footwear. Please note that it is possible to retrace your steps or switch from one trail to another if you wish.
Discovering Yakusugi Land in 10 Pictures
The photos below were taken during the 50-minute walk through Yakusugi Land and mostly by my husband. I think they best reflect the unique beauty of this ancient forest and will give you a glimpse of this timeless place.
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
As you explore Yakusugi Land, you'll also cross a few bridges and can take the time to appreciate the clarity and tranquillity of the mountain river.
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
One thing I found very interesting and remarkable about Yakusugi Land is the way in which the second-generation cedars have grown back on the felled trees. This gives the trees a very unique shape, as you can see from the photos below.
Photo by Fisheye Therapy
Whichever itinerary you choose, I strongly recommend that you take the time to soak up the peaceful atmosphere of this place and observe what nature can do when left undisturbed.
To Conclude
Like when I visited the Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine, I felt overwhelmed by the raw beauty of nature at Yakusugi Land. I would have loved to walk along some of the longer trails in Yakusugi Land, but I had a flight to catch and was only able to do the 50-minute route. I recommend that anyone planning a trip to Yakushima should not miss this place.
Little bonus: if you have a car, after visiting Yakusugi Land, I recommend driving a few minutes further into the mountains to see Kigensugi (紀元杉), another of Yakushima's giant cedars, just by the roadside.
