A Magical FOREST

Expat Living's MELANIE LAM heads to a small Japanese island for hiking and forest bathing in an exquisite setting.

While Yakushima in Japan is not a well-known destination, it’s recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its pristine forests made up of ancient Japanese cedar trees, some over a thousand years old.

Located around 60km off the southern tip of Kyushu, Yakushima is a small island made up of 90 percent forest famed for its rich biodiversity and unique temperate climate. One main road goes around the island, passing through areas where you’ll find the endearing Yaku deer and Yaku monkey – animals that have evolved into their own subspecies endemic to the island.

There are several hiking trails; the holy grail among them is a 10-to-12-hour route across the forest to see the island’s largest and oldest cedar tree, known as the Jomon Sugi. Japanese cedar trees on Yakushima that are over a thousand years old are called yakusugi; the Jomon Sugi is estimated to be between 2,000 and 7,200 years old!

Being inexperienced hikers, we opted for the much more manageable half-day hikes accompanied by a local guide. To be honest, I was slightly nervous hiking into a primeval forest – what wild beings would I encounter? And would I be fit enough to hike to our intended destination and back? When I met our guide, he assured me that we could go at our own pace – and that he had a first-aid kit, should the need for it ever arise…

The forest