Japan's first World Natural Heritage Site: Mangroves of Yakushima! Introducing the types and places where you can see them!

Mangroves on Yakushima Island

Yakushima, the first island in Japan to be designated as a World Natural Heritage site, attracts many people as a mysterious and power spot island.

On Yakushima Island, mangrove forests spread along the water's edge, and you will be very impressed by the wonderful natural scenery.

Mangroves are a rare sight in Japan, but on Yakushima Island, one can see a community of one species of mehirugi, the mangrove.

In Japan, mangroves are rare subtropical plants that can only be seen in Okinawa, some remote islands in Okinawa, and Yaku Island in Kagoshima.

 

Where is Yakushima located?

Yakushima is a remote island in Kagoshima, located in the East China Sea.

It is located approximately 130 km south of Kagoshima City and 65 km from Cape Sata, the southernmost tip of Kyushu.

It is the second largest of Kagoshima's remote islands after Amami Oshima, and the seventh largest among all the islands in Japan.

South of Yakushima is Tanegashima Island, which together form the Osumi Islands.

Further down south is Amami Oshima, a popular remote island in Kagoshima.

Being a remote island in Kagoshima, some people may have the impression that access is inconvenient.

However, it is not that inconvenient, as it can be accessed by a 40-minute flight from Kagoshima Airport or a less than 2-hour high-speed ferry ride.

There are also direct flights to Yakushima from Fukuoka Airport and Osaka Itami Airport, making it relatively convenient.

 

Yakushima World Heritage Site

Yakushima Island was the first island in Japan to be registered as a World Heritage site in 1993, and is called "God's Island," making a tour of the island's power spots very popular.

Approximately 90% of the island is forested, which is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Yakushika deer, said to be messengers of the gods, also inhabit the area, and you may encounter them during your trek.

The Shiratani Unsui Gorge is home to the "mossy forest" that served as the model for the Ghibli film, 7,000-year-old Jomon cedars, emerald green rivers, and even mangrove forests.

Also, the area is called the "Alps of the Sea" because of the 1800-meter-high mountains, including Miyanoura-dake, the highest peak in Kyushu, which provide dynamic views of the landscape.

Yakushima is an island where one can enjoy everything: deep green forests, beautiful rivers, the ocean, and mountains!

 

Types of mangroves found on Yakushima Island

Mangrove forests are hard to see in Japan.

There are 100 species of mangroves in the world as a whole, but only 7 species grow wild in Japan.

Here we introduce some of the rare mangrove species found on Yakushima and the places where they can be seen.

 

Kandelia obovata (species of mangrove)

On Yakushima Island, "Mehirugi," one of the mangrove plants, grows in colonies.

Mehirugi is a member of the hirugi family, and is a rare plant found only on Yakushima, Amami-Oshima, Tanegashima, and Okinawa in Japan.

On Yakushima Island, it grows only in Kurio, and is designated as a natural monument by the town.

Mehirugi is a mangrove that is very tolerant of cold, and the tallest trees are 7 to 8 meters high, with lovely white flowers that bloom in early summer.

In the mangroves of Kurio, visitors can observe them submerging or appearing above ground depending on the tide, and are overwhelmed by the power of nature.

Come and take a closer look at the mangrove forests of mehirugi, which are found around the Kurio River.

You can also see crabs and fish by the mangroves.

 

Activities to enjoy in the mangroves of Yakushima

Here are some mangrove activities you can enjoy on Yakushima, a remote island in Kagoshima.

We hope you will enjoy the mangrove forest activities that are only available in Okinawa and Kagoshima.

 

Mangrove Canoe Tour

The "Mangrove Canoe Tour," one of the activities that can be enjoyed at the Kurio River in Yakushima, is very popular among both children and adults.

The rivers of Yakushima, with their high transparency, are emerald green when approaching the forest, and cobalt blue around the mouth of the river.

On a clear day, you can see as deep as 4 to 5 meters and be impressed by the underwater beauty.

The Yakushima mangrove canoe tour starts from the brackish waters of the Kurio River, where you can see fish and coral reefs that live in the sea, and as you go further and further out, you can see the mysterious mangroves growing wild.

During the summer season, sea turtles may be seen in the brackish waters of the Kurio River.

Yakushima is also famous as a spawning ground for sea turtles.

Canoeing tours are full of experiences that can only be had on Yakushima, such as viewing the mysterious deep forests from the water and mangrove forests.

In addition, mangrove canoe tours in Yakushima can be enjoyed throughout the year.

In the spring season, enjoy the cherry blossoms and fresh greenery, and in the summer months, jump out of your canoe into the river for a swim.

 

trekking tour

There are a variety of tours available, including the very popular trekking on Yakushima Island, a full-scale course aiming for the Jomon cedars, and courses that can be enjoyed with children just like hiking.

The Jomon cedars, the symbol of Yakushima, are said to be between 2,000 and 7,000 years old, and are a power spot that one would like to see up close at least once.

The Jomon Cedar trekking tour is a full-scale mountain climbing course, with a round-trip distance of 22 kilometers and a long trekking time of about 10 hours.

Walking along the trolley path from the Arakawa trailhead, admiring the heart-shaped wilson stumps, husband and wife cedars, fantastic mosses and a wide variety of flora and fauna found only on Yakushima, and seeing wild yakushika deer and yakusaru monkeys, you will have an exciting experience that will make the fatigue of long hours of trekking go away.

The "Shiratani Unsui Gorge Trekking" course, which is as popular as the Jomon Cedar trekking, is a very mystical experience that allows visitors to see the scenery that was used as the model for the Ghibli film.

The "moss forest," which was the inspiration for the Princess Mononoke movie, offers a fantastic landscape that is sure to impress.

Depending on the time of year and the weather, you can see different faces: moss wet from the rain, a mysterious mossy forest shrouded in mist, or lively moss during the season of fresh green leaves.

The scenery is very photogenic, as if you were in a Ghibli movie.

In addition, the popular Yakushima trekking course "Yakusugiland Trekking Tour" is highly recommended for beginners, people with children, and the elderly.

There are five different Yakusugiland trekking courses, and you can decide your plan according to your fitness level and the time you stay.

There are various courses where you can enjoy ancient forests, beautiful rivers, and mangrove forests, so please enjoy trekking in Yakushima.

 

Eco-tour (island sightseeing)

Yakushima's "eco-tour (sightseeing in the island)" allows you to visit the highlights of the island with a skilled guide.

Half-day tours (morning or afternoon) and full-day eco-tours (sightseeing on the island) are available, allowing you to choose according to the time you have to spend on the island.

The "Chihiro Falls," a sightseeing spot that cannot be missed on Yakushima, has a drop of 60 meters and offers a very dynamic view.

The largest waterfall on Yakushima, "Okawa Falls," has a drop of 88 meters, making it an impressive sight to behold.

Okawa Falls, selected as one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan, will refresh you with plenty of negative ions.

The "Seibu Forest Road," known as the World Heritage Road, is a 20-kilometer forest road along the sea that connects the villages of Kurio and Nagata.

Surrounded by forests, it is also known as the "Green Tunnel.

In the green tunnel, if you are lucky, you may see yak deer and yak monkeys.

You will also be enchanted by the unspoiled nature of the island, with its giant banyan trees and Yakusugi cedars, which are typical of the Yakushima landscape.

In addition, visit "Yakusugiland," which is designated as a natural recreational forest, to view Yakusugi cedars more than several thousand years old, and walk on a short trekking course to experience the deep forest firsthand.

The biggest highlight of the eco-tour, "Kigen Cedars," can be seen from the car window even without trekking, and is a very popular tourist attraction.

Kigen-sugi is a giant cedar over 3,000 years old and has a very mysterious appearance and atmosphere.

Yakushima rhododendron and azalea can be seen in spring, and beautiful autumn leaves can be seen in fall.

Let's enjoy Yakushima to the fullest by participating in an eco-tour (sightseeing in the island) that allows you to visit the sights that you cannot miss when sightseeing in Yakushima.

 

summary

We hope you enjoyed our introduction to the mangrove forests spreading in Kurio, Yakushima.

On Yakushima Island, you can experience mangrove canoeing, which is rare in Japan.

We hope you will enjoy mangrove canoeing while taking in the beautiful scenery on Yakushima.

The rich nature of Yakushima will surely heal your body and soul.

We encourage you to consider it as an option for your next travel destination.

Thank you for taking the time to read this to the end.