Yakushima Island Japan Miyanoura-Anbo, Satsunan-Osumi Islands Kagoshima
38
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Emerald Waterways (5 Cruises)
Lindblad Expeditions (15 Cruises)
National Geographic Resolution
15 Cruises
Silversea Cruises (8 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
At Miyanoura, the main town, or sometimes at Anbo on the east coast. Depending on the ship and the state of the sea, the call is alongside or at anchor, with tenders to the small harbour.
For its forest. In 1993 it became Japan's first natural site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This round, mountainous island south of Kyushu is covered in forests where some cedars sprouted before the pyramids were built.
"It rains thirty-five days a month here," the islanders joke. That generous rain has made the island a natural greenhouse unlike any other. Bring a raincoat and shoes you do not mind muddying: many passengers come back aboard soaked.
Pick one valley and give it your full attention. Road distances are modest, but mountain roads stretch the travel times. Shiratani Unsuikyo is the most accessible option; Yakusugi Land, higher up, takes 70 minutes by road.
A ravine 12 km from the pier, about thirty minutes along winding roads, offering the most accessible immersion in the ancient forest. Trails of varying lengths wind between rocks carpeted in thick moss, clear streams and century-old cedars with knotted roots. An hour's walk is enough to feel its magic.
The Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine inspired the film's landscapes, and it is easy to see why: the green light, the spongy silence and the mist clinging to the branches make a world apart.
No, and it is worth knowing before going ashore. The island's presumed elder requires a hike of about ten hours: day passengers will not see it. The Kigensugi, however, roughly 3,000 years old, can be viewed straight from the roadside on the way to Yakusugi Land.
A forest perched above 1,000 m, 70 minutes by road, where wooden walkways and marked loops from thirty minutes to several hours lead to venerable cedars such as the Sennensugi, the thousand-year tree.
Yes. Senpiro, to the south, slides down an immense granite monolith; Oko-no-taki, the island's highest at 88 m, lies further along the west coast. Along the way, macaques and Yaku deer, smaller than their mainland cousins, cross the road at their own pace.
Flying fish is the specialty: fried whole with wings spread or shaped into tsukeage fritters, served in the port restaurants. Stalls also offer tankan, a sweet citrus grown on the lower slopes, and countless objects turned from the fragrant wood of naturally fallen cedars.
