Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Jōmon-sugi is 83 feet (25 meters) tall and has a circumference of 53 feet (16 meters),
making it the largest conifer in Japan. The sugi is Japan's national tree. Perfectly straight, giant
Cryptomeria beams are the favored wood for
torii
gates. If properly protected, the wood nev-
er rots. Two of the most spectacular specimens from this island and forming a great
torii
are
at the entrance to the Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine at Asakusa (
浅草
) in Tokyo (
東京
;
Tōkyō).
In addition to the sugi trees, another plant found in abundance and in giant proportions
is the rhododendron. For fans of the king of all evergreen shrubs, the magnificent spring
bloom-viewing is unparalleled. In Yakushima's climate, rhododendrons are not merely
shrubs, they are trees, many with trunks over a foot thick and heights of 33 feet (10 meters).
For the most part, viewing the trees will require some hiking. The island's interior is ex-
tensively marked with trails and this is the number one outdoor activity for most visitors.
Some will also camp. Worth remembering is that Yakushima's climate is one of the wettest in
the world. There are signs posted everywhere warning hikers to make sure that they have ad-
equate foul weather gear and a plan for their hike. Only designated trail shelters may be used
for overnights in the mountains. These are free. A round-trip day hike to the Jōmon-sugi, for
example, requires about ten hours, and that's through and over mountains.
Senpiro-no-taki
(
千尋の滝
). With a verical drop of 100 feet (30 meters), this magniicent waterfall
flows from the Tainoko River in the southeast part of Yakushima. On the left side of the falls is a great
slab of solid granite.
