Yakushima National Park

Tucked away within the lush gardens of Sengan-en, Nekogami Shrine is a whimsical and heartwarming tribute to cats. It was bu

Yakushima National Park covers nearly half of Yakushima Island (over 20,989 ha land and nearly 4,000 ha marine area), designated as an independent national park in 2012 after separating from Kirishima-Yaku .

It’s famous for its ancient temperate rainforest and majestic Yakusugi cedars—Japanese cedar trees aged between 2,000–7,200 years, including the iconic Jōmon Sugi . The park ranges from the sea level subtropics to 1,936 m peaks, creating one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in Japan—hosting around 1,900 plant species, 16 mammals, and 150 birds en.wikipedia.org.

Highlights

• Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine: lush mossy forest that inspired Princess Mononoke 

• Yakusugi Land: a network of walks among millennia-old cedars at 1,000–1,300 m 

• Jōmon Sugi: the oldest cedar (~2–7 ky), reachable via a strenuous 10-hour hike

• Scenic waterfalls: including 88 m Oku-no-Taki and 60 m Senpiro-no-Taki 

• Coastal wildlife & activities: sea turtles nesting at Nagata Beach (May–July); deer and endemic macaques