On Yakushima, it is said that it rains 35 days a month. This abundant rainfall has nurtured lush “forests of water,” where the accumulated water forms flowing streams that purify the land.
Japan has a deep connection with water, and this bond is especially profound on Yakushima.
From the coastline lush with subtropical laurel forests to seas bursting with coral reefs and tropical fish, emerald-green rivers that have carved the land into the Yakushima we know today, and habitations with a unique culture built on the blessings of the warm Kuroshio Current and the island’s forests, the waters and townships of Yakushima offer fertile ground for a vast range of activities. Walking amidst the trees, the forest soon takes on a new appearance, with moss-covered landscapes and impressive millennium-old yakusugi cedar trees—an ancient forest still full of life. Beyond the treeline, the forests give way to a heavenly world where mysterious granite objects stand tall amidst expanses of yakuzasa bamboo grass. This Japanese garden crafted by nature feels like stepping into the realm of gods, the mountain landscape is truly worthy of the name of “the Alps on the ocean.”
Yakushima is a microcosm of the nature of Japan.
People have their own unique rhythms, and nature is much the same. Sometimes tempestuous, sometimes serene... Synchronizing the rhythms of people and nature is a way to venture deeper into the heart of Yakushima. Through the wealth of activities available at Sankara, you can experience a sense of freedom that makes you feel at one with nature and come to understand the rhythms of this miraculous island.