Last Updated: Dec 12, 2023

Between Kagoshima & Okinawa

Isles in the Southern Reaches

This story was originally published on japan.travel and has been syndicated here on Medium

The islands of Okinawa are quickly becoming popular with overseas visitors. And even though Japan is not necessarily known as a beach resort destination, locales like Miyakojima and Ishigaki are making a name for themselves outside the domestic market. And while it’s wonderful that Okinawa is finally getting the attention it deserves, the islands directly to the north are a different matter. Technically part of Kagoshima Prefecture, these isles are still something of a well-kept secret, even among Japanese people.

Yakushima: Walk in an Ancient Forest

Situated directly to the south of mainland Kyushu, Yakushima is a subtropical island home to a primeval forest lost to time. Many of the cedar trees here are more than a thousand years old, and some are thought to be several thousand. Affectionately referred to as yakusugi, a portmanteau of Yakushima and sugi (cedar in Japanese), the sheer majesty and incredible age of the trees will leave you speechless.

While all of Yakushima is worth checking out, two places really stand out. The first is known as Shiratani Unsuikyo. The spot can be reached by car in around 30 minutes from Miyanoura Port or alternatively on a painfully infrequent bus. The second standout is the so-called Jomon-Sugi, a spectacularly old tree that allegedly dates from the Jomon period (14,000–300 BCE) and is thought to be the oldest tree in Japan. You’ll need a decent pair of walking shoes though — the tree is a good 10-hour hike round trip through the forest.

Amami Oshima: Bliss Out on the Beach

Amami Oshima is the largest island in the chain that runs from Kyushu to Okinawa. Along with its adjacent sub islands, this part of Kagoshima benefits from a temperate climate, great beaches and exotic fauna and flora (including some magnificent…