Part of BBC Earth documentary on Yakushima

BY AIR 1. VIA KAGOSHIMA JAL operates a JAC propellor plane 5 times a day from Kagoshima airport and the flight takes around 35 mins to cover 102 miles. The route south flies over Sakurajima volcano and offers wonderful views. One way: 13,900 yenReturn: 26,500 yen Current schedule up to

Pillow-shaped Lava beach: Location: Nagakubo (See Google maps) A collection of coloured lava rock formations to climb over. Pillow-shaped Lava beach Harutahama beach: Location: Anbo (See Google maps) Jagged rocks with rock pools full of fascinating creatures.   Yakusugi Museum: Location: Anbo (See Google maps) Inside it has displays about

MACAQUES Yaku monkeys are smaller than the native macaques of mainland Japan. They are dark grey and have long thick hair. Before getting carried away about the cute and fluffy creatures however – the most important points to remember about the Yaku macaques are that: 1. They are wild. 2.

Below is an NHK documentary called ‘Yakushima no Yamashi mori ni ikiru’ which follows Takada Hisao, a local man from Anbo, and his work in the forest collecting yakusugi trunks. It is split into 5 parts for Youtube. Return to Homepage

Yakushima seeks environment-tourism balance YAKUSHIMA, Kagoshima Pref. — Yakushima Island off Kagoshima Prefecture in 1993 became the country’s first natural site to be entered on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, together with the Shirakami Mountain Range in northeastern Japan. Known for its many large cedar trees and hot springs, Yakushima is

Almost everyone who comes to the island goes hiking at some point. If you don’t have any walking shoes, or rain wear, or need a sleeping bag and a mat for an overnight stay in one of the mountain huts – don’t despair. Just about anything you could want can