What to know
Yakushima (屋久島) is a subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu, part of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is blanketed by vast cedar forests that shelter some of Japan's oldest living trees. Those over 1,000 years old are affectionately called yakusugi (a blend of Yakushima and sugi, the Japanese word for cedar), with the oldest possibly exceeding 7,000 years.
The island's cedar forests were heavily logged in the past, especially during the late feudal period for cedar shingle production. Today, the forests have largely recovered and are protected as a national park, with some areas designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Most visitors come to hike through the mountainous woodlands.
As a subtropical island with peaks nearly 2,000 meters high, Yakushima receives abundant rainfall year-round. A local saying claims it rains "35 days a month." While that may be an exaggeration, some rain falls almost daily, especially in the mountainous interior, though it can be light and brief. At higher elevations, precipitation falls as snow in winter.
