Yakushima Trekking | What you need to know before going to Jomon Sugi and Shiratani Unsuikyo (Kagoshima)　★☆ ☆

About Yakushima trekking

Speaking of sightseeing in Yakushima, trekking (mountain walking) is famous.

Most tourists are from Yakushima's largest cedar"Jomon cedar course"It is said that she became a model of Princess Mononoke."Shiratani Unsuikyo Course"I think I will go to.

This time, I will introduce the highlights and things I wanted to know in advance from the experience of climbing both.

Which is recommended, Jomon cedar or Shiratani Unsuikyo?

personally,"Shiratani Unsuikyo Course" is recommended.

Details will be explained with pictures, so I will show you only the features of the course first.

Features of Jomon cedar course

Features of Shiratani Unsuikyo Course

Introduction of Jomon cedar course

Then, I will introduce the "Jomon cedar course".

Jomon cedar is said to be 2000-4000 years old, making it the largest cedar on Yakushima.

You need to walk for about 10 hours on a round trip, but if you participate in a local tour, the guide will allocate the pace, so you do not need to be physically fit.

Depart early in the morning

Departs from 4:00 to 5:00 in the morning, depending on where you are staying.

There is no toilet for about 3 hours, so be sure to finish in the building at the starting point.

At first, we will go through a slightly adventurous cave.

Walk on the minecart road

In the old days, Yakushima had a thriving forestry industry, so there is still a minecart road to carry timber.

After that, I will continue on this road.

If you walk for a while, you will have more time to spare, but even in such a case, the guide is a big success.

The plants on Yakushima and the inside story of Ghibli's employee trip may entertain the place.

Wilson's Stump

At the end of trekking, there is "Wilson's Stump".

It is a strain named after Dr. Wilson, a botanist who came to investigate Yakushima in 1914.

It looks like just a stump, but when you go inside and take a picture upwards, that shape emerges.

It's a solid heart. (It is necessary to devise a little shooting angle)

Since it is made naturally, it is said that it will not be visible in a few years depending on the degree of weathering.

Dr. Wilson wouldn't even think that the strains he investigated were heart-shaped.

Married cedar

Two cedars are "couple cedars" that look like they are holding hands.

Since it is not so noticeable, it is often passed through, but this cedar is also slightly over 1000 years old.

Jomon cedar

At last, "Jomon cedar" is the main tourist attraction in Yakushima, but I have a disappointing news here.

Jomon cedar is severely polluted by tourists and can only be seen from a distance now.

Surrounded by a wooden deck so as not to get close to the cedar, the power of nature is zero.
(I'm trying my best to prevent the wood deck from entering)

In addition, there is a heavy traffic jam of people, people, and people, and there is no atmosphere.

It's not a disappointing spot, but it has a strong sense of indigestion.

Countless branched cedars

The branched cedar above the wooden deck was more spectacular than the Jomon cedar.

What is this useless number of branches.

Summary of Jomon course

The above is the "Jomon cedar course".

I'm sorry for those who like Jomon cedar because there are splendid cedars within the range that can be reached by car on Yakushima, but I didn't feel the need to come here for 5 hours one way.

The most difficult thing is that you have to return to the minecart road on your way back with this lowered tension.

[Application for local guide]
Jomon cedar tour: Reservation site (Veltra)

Introduction of Shiratani Unsuikyo and Taikoiwa

next"Shiratani Unsuikyo Course"It is an introduction.

It takes about 4 to 5 hours to walk, which is about half of the "Jomon cedar course".

The road will be a little steep, but if possible, take a course that goes to Taikoiwa.

Morning departure time

There are many departures from 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning, so you can relax relatively slowly.

If you leave early in the morning at 5:00, you can return to the city around 12:00, so you can catch a boat or plane in the afternoon.

There is no toilet for about 90 minutes, so let's finish with the toilet at the entrance of the mountain trail.

Gooseberry cedar

Then, I will introduce the "Shiratani Unsuikyo Course".

First of all, I will go under the very thick cedar.

It is believed that the original fallen tree was rotten and disappeared, creating such a cavity.

Moss forest

It is a mossy forest that is said to have become a model for the Ghibli movie "Princess Mononoke".

As the name suggests, it is covered with moss and is fantastic.

There are many interestingly shaped cedars, so you won't get tired of watching them.

It used to be called "Mononoke no Mori", but it is rumored that it was changed to "Moss Musu no Mori" due to adult circumstances.

Yakushima monkey

If you are lucky, you can meet wild animals in the middle of the course.

When I went, there was a monkey in a very prominent place.

Since there are no natural enemies of monkeys and deer on Yakushima, the number is increasing, and at one point it was called "an island where 2 people, 2 monkeys, and 2 deer live".

Drum

It is "Taikoiwa" with a panoramic view of Yakushima.

The view was outstanding and it became my favorite view on Yakushima.

However, you need to climb a steep slope to reach Taikoiwa, so do your best.

Tsuji no Iwaya

Near Taikoiwa, there is a model of Iwaya where Princess Mononoke's Moro (Yamainu) lives.

It's a scene where Moro said to Ashitaka, "Shut up, kid!"

(Maybe you can't go here on a regular local tour)

Summary of Shiratani Unsuikyo Course

The above is the "Shiratani Unsuikyo Course".

There were many scenery like "Princess Mononoke", and I was able to enjoy it until the last way back.

When I think about it now, I think it was good that the scenery changed with drum rocks.
I get used to the same scenery no matter how good it is.

[Application for local guide]
Shiratani Unsuikyo Tour: Reservation Site (Veltra)

Precautions for trekking

I will explain the precautions when participating in Yakushima trekking.

Where should i stay

Most people will be troubled in the Miyanoura area and the Awa area,We recommend the Miyanoura area.

After all, there are more shops in Miyanoura, and it is close to the entrance of "Shiratani Unsuikyo Course".
(Conversely, the entrance to the "Jomon Sugi Course" is closer to Awa)

People outside the Miyanoura / Anbo area may have trouble with places to eat, so be sure to book an inn with meals.

Equipment required for trekking

You will need a set of climbing equipment.
If you don't have one, rent it as a tour option.
(Trekking shoes, rainwear, backpack, light in the early morning)

I'm most afraid of slipping shoes, so I wear two layers of socks and a bandage is essential.

Prepare your own water, lunch, portable toilet, and insect repellent.

The amount of water you need depends on the season, but bring more.
If you are comfortable drinking spring water, you can bring less.　
(Saving water so you don't want to go to the bathroom can lead to dehydration)

Yakushima toilet situation

Yakushima is a World Heritage Site, so basically you need to bring a portable toilet and bring it home with you.

However, there are also bio-toilets that can be left as they are.

With the power of microorganisms, the sentence "Uko disappears" is encouraging.

Yakushima weather

Yakushima is a very rainy area, as the novel "Ukigumo" wrote, "It rains 35 days a month."

Let's act as if it rains.

The scenery may not look beautiful in the rain, but instead the moss shines brilliantly.

Should I apply for a local guide?

If you haven't climbed much, we strongly recommend you to take a local tour.

The fun of traveling time changes depending on the presence or absence of a guide.

[Application for local guide]
Jomon cedar tour: Reservation site (Veltra)
Shiratani Unsuikyo Tour: Reservation Site (Veltra)

Precautions for local tours

However, some guides want to go home early without giving any explanation.
Some guides say, "It doesn't make sense to have a guide. There is too much time on the return bus, and I'm waiting for another team to come back ...".
(The reviews on the above reservation site match the characteristics of people with low ratings, so I think it's always like that.)

I have participated in many local tours so far, but Yakushima is the first and last negative local tour that I dislike for each tourist destination.In a sense, it was a valuable experience.

If you follow, most of Yakushima's guides are solid and serious people.
Two of the three guides I actually met in Yakushima were polite and knowledgeable.

Finally

For Yakushima trekking, from "Jomon cedar course""Shiratani Unsuikyo Course"Is recommended.

If you are staying for a short period of time, leave only the "Shiratani Unsuikyo Course".

We also strongly recommend using the Yakuza-go, which allows you to efficiently tour Yakushima. ↓