Seibu Rindo Forest Path

Located in the western part of Yakushima, Seibu Rindo Forest Path is bounded by a wide variety of subtropical trees and plants. This forest provides some of the best opportunities to view wildlife on the island. Animals are protected here and cannot be hunted, unlike in other parts of the island, where the large monkey and deer population is culled to control numbers. The forest is inhabited by Yaku macaques and Yaku deer, both subspecies of their northern Japanese counterparts. Male Yaku deer, for example, tend to have darker fur, and their antlers have less branching than those of their cousins.

Visitors can spot groups of monkeys and deer while driving slowly through the forest. It is best to observe the animals and take any photographs from the vehicle so they don’t become overly familiar with humans and cause trouble to the islanders. If visitors are lucky, they can see the many monkeys grooming one another.