Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine

Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine is a natural forest with giant boulders, oldhollow trees, waterfalls, and many rare species of plants and moss. It is locatedin the north of Yakushima Its temperate coniferous forest of 424 ha sits at an elevationof 600–1200 m. The ravine is home to Japanese fir (Abies firma), Japanese cedar trees (sugi in Japanese) (Cryptomeriajaponica), and Japanese hemlock (Tsugasieboldii), as well as more than 550 species of moss.

The hiking trails along the ravine pass some of the oldest sugi trees on the island; those older thanone thousand years are referred to as yakusugias they are found only here. Hiking trails also pass a riverside spot with largemoss-covered boulders, including Taikoiwa Rock or “big drum boulder.” Here visitorscan get a spectacular view of the highest peaks on the island.

The ravine has three mainhiking courses. The short one-hour Yayoi Sugi course is named for a sugi dating to the Yayoi period (approx.300 BCE–300 CE). The longer three-hour Bugyo Sugi course passesa handful of extraordinary yakusugi. Finally,the four-hour course around the Taikoiwa Rock also passes many yakusugi and ends with a magnificent viewof the mountain range of central Yakushima.