Image search results - "yakushi" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "yakushi"

Yakushima is a round island noted for Yakushima National Park and World Heritage Site. When describing a location, they use clock face numbers. Miyanoura Port is at one o'clock.

Main road on Yakushima as we go to Yakusugi Land by tour bus.

Rare to see these Yakushima mountains. They are usually shrouded by clouds or fog. Rains a lot on Yakushima.

I thought Yakushima was going to be mostly wilderness and sparsely populated like Iriomote in Okinawa. So it was surprising to see the island so well populated.

Yakusugi Land is in the mountains, so our bus drove up the mountain road.

Lots of greenery along the way up the mountains.

Nice mountain views on Yakushima.

Some wild monkeys on the mountain road.

Wild monkeys on the mountain road in Yakushima. Waiting to get food tossed by tourists. (None from us.)

Yakusugi cedar trees can only grow in cold climates. Therefore on Yakushima, they grow at high altitudes.

Mountain road got very narrow. This bridge was narrow too.

Pretty hairy drive going up the mountain.

Nice mountain views on Yakushima.

Road construction work, hopefully they are widening the road.

Entrance to Yakushima most famous cedar tree named "Jomonsugi" (縄文杉) said to be a few thousand years old. However, it's a serious hike to see it.

Yakusugi Land is a lush, thick, mountain forest area featuring ancient Yakusugi cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) native to Yakushima and the island's major attraction. You can see a variety of Yakusugi cedars by walking on a forest trail of varying lengThe forest trail starts and ends at the same place, but there are several trail options. The shortest trail route is 0.8 km long (yellow line on this map named Fureai-no-Michi, numbered from 1 to 6), taking about 30 min. This is the trail we went on. Even this short trail for tourists was very impressive. Another easy tourist trail is 1.2 km taking 50 min. (red line).

The longer trails going for 2.0 km, 3.0 km, and 4.4 km (green line) involve mountain climbing taking about 80 min., 150 min., and 3.5 hours respectively. These longer trails require proper climbing equipment and physical endurance.

Kuguri-tsuga or "Conifer Underpass." They have names for all these different trees in unusual shapes or growths.くぐり栂Japanese pamphlet (pdf) and map of the trail here: https://y-rekumori.com/pdf/yakusugi_land_pamphlet.pdf

Easy tourist hike.

Rinsen-bashi Bridge 林泉橋

Rinsen-bashi Bridge goes over a small stream.林泉橋

Yakusugi Land tourist hike to see old cedar trees (and stumps) on Yakushima island, Kagoshima.

Kind of sad to see so many great Yakusugi cedar trees which were cut down. But at least they still survive in some form or hosting other trees and plants.

How sacred Yakusugi cedars started to be harvested from the 17th century. Much of the wood was used for roof shingles on mainland Japan. Luxury homes might still have Yakusugi as interior ceiling panels to show off the fine wood grain.

How sacred Yakusugi cedars started to be harvested from the 17th century. (English version) They can be centuries old or even a few thousand years old.

Domaiboku is a tree already harvested or felled by a typhoon. The tree's high resin content prevents the wood from rotting. Discarded scrap tree parts have been recovered to make souvenirs. 土埋木

Detour path on the right to see the 1000-year cedar. Didn't have time to see it.

Everything is so artistic. Nature is the greatest artist of all.

So many things grow on these trees.

Regenerating on a tree stump. Other plants or trees grow on old trees, like epiphytes.

Twin cedars or Futago-sugi and also regeneration on tree stump. 双子杉

Such a picturesque forest trail. Highly recommended. Best to hike the longer trail (50 min.) though. The 30-min. trail is too short.

Yakusugi cedar tree stump.

Kuguri Cedar or Cedar Underpass. くぐり杉

Yakusugi cedar tree on Yakushima island, Kagoshima.

Ultra-fine grain of Yakusugi cedar.

Seiryo-bashi suspension bridge. 清涼橋

Seiryo-bashi suspension bridge. After this bridge, it's a short walk back to the parking lot, bus stop, or starting point. 清涼橋

At Yakusugi Land's starting (and ending) point is this gift shop named Shinsen (森泉).

Souvenirs made of Yakusugi cedar.

The gift shop has this phone booth inside a hollow Yakusugi tree trunk.

Phone booth inside a hollow Yakusugi tree trunk.

Kigensugi is an ancient Yakusugi cedar tree you can conveniently see from the road. Local buses go to Kigensugi. If you visit Yakusugi Land, Kigensugi is a short drive away.

Kigensugi as it looks from the road. "Kigen" refers to the beginning of recorded history which in Japan is the year 660 when the first emperor came to being. The tree seems to be older though, at age 3,000 years.

Kigensugi's height is 19.5 meters (64 ft) with a girth of 8.1 meters (26.5 ft). Elevation is 1,230 meters (4,035 ft). Hard to believe we were looking at something that has lived all these centuries.

About the Kigensugi cedar tree. Wow, many other plant species also grow on this tree (epiphytes). They include Japanese cypress, Japanese mugwort, Yakushima rhododendron, and Japanese rhododendron.

Kigensugi cedar tree also has a short walking path going around the tree, so you can also see the back of the tree (more impressive).

Back of Kigensugi cedar tree.

Kigensugi cedar tree.

Momi fir tree stump also nearby. It was cut down. 455 years old.

About the Momi fir tree stump.

Driving back to town. Lots of ferns on the cliffs.

Gift shop.

Gift shop on Yakushima.

Passing by Yakushima Airport.

Scenic coast back to Miyanoura Port.

Scenic coast back to Miyanoura Port, Yakushima.

Miyanoura Port is Yakushima island's main port for ferries and cruise ships. This dock is where cruise ships usually dock.

The dock connects to the main road, so tour buses can come right up to the cruise ship.

Cruise ship dock at Miyanoura Port, Yakushima, Kagoshima, Japan.

Yakushima's Miyanoura Port has nice mountain views when it's not foggy/rainy.

Miyanoura Port has nice mountain views when it's not foggy/rainy.

About 70% of Yakushima is made of granite. The island has many mountains higher than 1,000 meters. It's Japan's wettest spot where it rains the most.

Miyanoura Port has nice mountain views when it's not foggy/rainy.

Miyanoura Port's cruise ship dock.

Welcome sign at Miyanoura Port's cruise ship dock.

Welcome banners at Miyanoura Port's cruise ship dock, Yakushima.

Fond farewell to our cruise ship leaving Miyanoura Port, Yakushima.

Yakushi Ike Park has 250 plum trees, 2,200 irises, camellia, lotus ponds, two thatched-roof homes, the Machida City Photo Salon, the Yakushi tea house, and a statue dedicated to democracy.

About Yakushi Ike Koen Park. The park is 15-min. by bus from bus stop 21 at Machida Station's North Exit.

Old waterwheel.

Inside waterwheel shack.

The park centers on this Yakushi Ike pond after which the park is named.

Plum blossoms in Yakushi Ike park, Machida, Tokyo.

Former Nagai house with thatched roof.

Former Nagai house with thatched roof in Yakushi Ike Park, Machida, Tokyo

Inside former Nagai house.

Yakushi Ike pond

Yakushi Ike Park, Machida, Tokyo.

Machida City Photo Salon is a rental gallery. It used to house works by famous photographer Akiyama Shotaro whose works are now in his own museum in Aoyama, Tokyo.