Chris from Okano TV takes his viewers to Yakushima Island as he adventures through all 47 prefectures of Japan! Him and his fellow YouTubers get an early start to catch a two hour ferry to get to their destination from Kagoshima Port.

First stop of course is souvenirs, and the shop is filled with wooden items made with Yakusugi wood, also known as Japanese cedar which is unique to the island.

The YouTuber heads for a hike up a mountain where Jōmon Sugi is located, which is a large tree that is over 2000 years old and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And this area was also an inspiration for the Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke. Chris warns that this nature walk is for the more advanced hikers! But it seems worth it to witness the beautiful landscape with it’s waterfalls, turquoise bodies of water and the green of the ancient trees.

In the video we see the path turning from steps, to rocks, and eventually tangled roots. And the locals say that it rains 35 days a month on the Island, so it’s best to be prepared!

The two hour trek is actually like stepping into the magical world of Princess Mononoke. The YouTuber describes Yakushima Island the best as “Nature at it’s finest.”

Go check out more of his adventures through Japan at Okano TV!


By - grape Japan editorial staff.