KAGOSHIMA, Jun 07, 2026 –
Yakushima, a world pure heritage island in Kagoshima Prefecture, is marking 60 years for the reason that discovery of Jomon Sugi, the island’s iconic cedar tree estimated to be greater than 2,000 years outdated, as considerations develop over the way forward for the traditional forests which have lengthy supported each tourism and native life.
Known for its huge primeval forests and Yakusugi cedar timber which might be greater than 1,000 years outdated, Yakushima is one in every of Japan’s wettest areas, with considerable rainfall nurturing its wealthy ecosystem.
In 1993, Yakushima turned one in every of Japan’s first World Natural Heritage websites, alongside the Shirakami Mountains.
Before daybreak, hikers collect at bus stops resulting in the mountain trailhead. Around 400 individuals set out every day on the 22-kilometer round-trip journey, which takes roughly 10 hours to finish. Their vacation spot is Jomon Sugi, the most important and most well-known of Yakushima’s historic cedars.
Tree stumps scattered alongside the path and remnants of outdated railway tracks used for logging function reminders of a interval when giant numbers of timber have been minimize down for timber.
The ultimate part of the hike is steep and demanding, however guests draw inspiration from the towering timber round them. After about 5 hours of climbing, hikers attain Jomon Sugi at an elevation of 1,300 meters. Standing 22 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 16 meters, the large cedar has endured centuries of harsh winds and snow. Its highly effective trunk and quite a few giant burls replicate the exceptional vitality that has made it a logo of the island.
Jomon Sugi was first recognized in May 1966 by Sadatsugu Iwakawa, then an worker within the city’s tourism division.
His son, 73-year-old Sadayuki Iwakawa, recalled the second his father returned from the invention.
“My father was a man of few words,” he stated. “But that day was different. He was smiling and said, ‘I found it.'”
Today, Yakushima, dwelling to roughly 10,000 residents, welcomes about 240,000 vacationers yearly. Approximately one in each 5 guests—round 50,000 individuals—enters the mountains to see Jomon Sugi.
At the identical time, lots of the island’s oldest cedar timber are exhibiting indicators of age. Cases of hollowing trunks and timber breaking beneath the pressure of wind and snow have develop into more and more widespread.
Taro Watanabe, who has labored as a information on the island for 25 years, believes preserving Yakushima’s pure setting for future generations is an pressing accountability.
“Our mission is to pass on Yakushima’s tourism industry and environment to the next generation,” stated Watanabe, vice chairman of the Yakushima Tourism Association. “We don’t want tourism that simply consumes or exploits Yakushima.”
To forestall extreme customer strain from damaging the forests, native stakeholders are in search of methods to focus on new points of interest throughout the island and encourage a extra sustainable strategy to tourism.
“It takes time, but if we continue these efforts, I think the idea will gradually spread,” Watanabe stated.
For six a long time, Jomon Sugi has supported the island’s financial system and drawn guests from around the globe. Yet as the traditional tree and the forests round it age, they’re additionally prompting a broader query about how individuals ought to coexist with and defend the pure setting that sustains them.