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Ancient cedar forest · Japan

Yakushima

A subtropical island of ancient cedar forests and waterfalls — a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest of yakushima macaques and deer.

Getting there

By flight or ferry from Kagoshima, off Japan's southern coast

Best for

Ancient cedar forest, Yakushima macaques, Yaku deer, waterfalls, UNESCO rainforest, hiking

The land

A mountainous, rain-soaked island of ancient laurel and cedar forest

Good to know

Yakushima's Jomon Sugi cedar is thought to be thousands of years old

What it is

Yakushima is a subtropical island of ancient cedar forests and waterfalls — a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest of Yakushima macaques and deer.

Off Japan's southern coast, mountainous Yakushima is a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest of moss-draped ancient cedars — some, like the Jomon Sugi, thought to be thousands of years old. Its rain-soaked forests shelter the endemic Yakushima macaque and Yaku sika deer, with waterfalls, granite peaks and a luminous green world that inspired Studio Ghibli.

PhotoYakushima — ancient cedar forest.

The reason to come

The ancient forest

Yakushima is a primeval rainforest of ancient cedars and endemic wildlife.

Ancient cedars

Thousand-year-old moss-draped cedar forest, UNESCO-listed.

Endemic wildlife

The Yakushima macaque and Yaku sika deer.

Forests & waterfalls

A luminous green rainforest of waterfalls and granite peaks.

Worth knowing

A primeval rainforest

Yakushima's ancient, moss-draped cedar forest is among the most magical woodlands on earth, a living inspiration for Studio Ghibli.

PhotoAncient moss-draped cedar forest on Yakushima.

When to come — honestly

A year-round rainforest.

March – May

Best

Spring — fresh green and the best hiking weather.

October – November

Best

Autumn — clear, comfortable forest days.

Year-round

Good

One of the wettest places in Japan; rain is part of its magic.

Yakushima is famously rainy year-round; come prepared for wet forest hiking.

Context

The cedar island

Yakushima adds a subtropical UNESCO rainforest and endemic wildlife to a Japan trip.

It contrasts wholly with Hokkaido's winter wildlife.

We add Yakushima for the ancient cedar forest and its endemic wildlife, a southern counterpoint to Hokkaido.

Beyond the obvious

More to Yakushima.

PhotoAncient cedars

Ancient cedars

The primeval forest.

PhotoEndemic wildlife

Endemic wildlife

Macaques and deer.

PhotoWaterfalls

Waterfalls

Through the rainforest.

Why Wild Voyager

We time Japan's winter wildlife to the day.

Japan's winter wildlife — dancing cranes, sea eagles on the drift ice, fish owls, snow monkeys — peaks in narrow windows. We plan the route and timing and work with the best local photo specialists and lodges to put you in the right place at the right moment.