The World Heritage Site “Yakushima” !!
Hi everyone!
How are you?
I’m really happy because I won the lottery!!
In my dream!
Hahaha!
Alright!
Do you know “Yakushima”?
Have you heard it?
I think you never heard it!
I know because Japanese are bad at appealing!
It’s ok because I’ll introduce it instead of them today!
Yakushima is one of Japan islands and the World Heritage Site and is shaped like the island and the mountain are stuck together.
This place is so beautiful and amazing … like heaven!
It’s the place where you should go!
OH! “Shima” means island by the way.
In fact, I went to this island a week ago as third visit in my life and the island was still good.
So I would like to introduce Yakushima today.
OK?
Alright Let’s go!
What is “Yakushima” In Japan?
far from Tokyo
Look at the map.
Yakushima is very far from Tokyo.
If you are in Tokyo now, it takes 3-4 hours by airplane to Yakushima.
If you use trains and a ferry, it takes more than 10 hours!
Hahaha! Do you want to try?
One of the World Natural Heritage Site
In 1993, Yakushima was registered as the World Natural Heritage Site.
This island has a place as National Parks, Forest Ecosystem Protected Area and Wild Life Conservation Area and there are some nationally protected species.
Mr.Droste, who was a German director as first of The World Heritage Centre, said “The value of Yakushima as a natural heritage is that many people live there but still have excellent nature”
And he decided to register Yakushima as the World Natural Heritage Site!
Where should we go in “Yakushima” in Japan?
Of course you should go to see the “Jomon Sugi”!
Look at the picture above! That’s amazing!!
“Jomon Sugi” is like a nickname and It’s actually a kind of Yakushima Cedar which is one of plant.
“Jomon” means an era that represents the ancient times of Japan more than 10,000 years ago and “Sugi” means cedar.
Why does it have the nickname?
There are two reasons.
- The biggest
- very old
It’s the biggest
The height is about 30m and the trunk circumference is about 16m.
Jomon sugi is the biggest cedar in Yakushima!
It’s very old
Jomon Sugi is said to be 2,170 yeas old.
Hahaha! Can you alive like this?
According to a new report, Jomon Sugi is presumed to be an aggregate of three Yakushima cedars.
It’s fantastic because it looks like a huge cedar!
There are some Yakushima cedars having a nickname because they are big and old.
Ok! I’ll introduce another Yakushima cedars having a nickname!
Daiou Sugi
This cedar is about 3,000 years old!!
Yes! As a matter of fact, he is now the oldest.
“Daiou” means a great king.
So when people call me, they always say ”Tomo Daiou”.
…I’m not drunk. Don’t worry.
Meoto Sugi
This is a nickname for two cedars and “Meoto” means married couple.
They are so called because they stand like holding hands each other.
By the way, the left one is a wife and about 1,500 years old.
Right one is a husband and about 2,000 yeas old.
Humanity should model them. I think.
Wilson Kabu
“Kabu” means a stump.
In 1586, Willson Kabu has been cut down by a person ordered by Hideyoshi Toyotomi for building Osaka castle according to a history book.
Mr.Wilson who was a British botanist investigated this stump and introduced it to the Western population.
It was in 1914.
So we call the stump “Wilson Kabu”.
Alright?
There is a big heart!
You can get inside Willson Kabu and if you are lucky then you will see a big heart!
Like this!
If you find it, you would get a real heart of a person you like!
So you should go there!
Hurry up!
But it’s my opinion! Hahaha!
Sorry!
Where can we see them?
You can see them on your way to see Jomon Sugi in the mountain in Yakushima.
But you have to walk about for 10 hours to that place.
Can you do that?
Look at this picture.
The red pin means the place of Jomon Sugi.
The green pin means the place of an entrance of trail.
You can go to the entrance by a dedicated bus.
However, there is no choice but to walk from the entrance because no cars can enter.
There is a trolley road but normally climbers are not allowed to get on the trolley.
If you want to go there, you need to train definitely because a small number of people slid down and died unfortunately.
But don’t be too serious!
There are a lot of people over 70 years old are also climbing and successful.
Dom’t worry! You can do it too!!
There are some rules which you should remember!
Did you decide to climb for Jomon Sugi?
OK! It’s a good decision.
But! Please wait.
There are some rules which you should remember for climbing in Japan.
Look at the list below.
- Let’s say hello!
- Climbing people have priority
- Don’t throw away trash.
Let’s say hello!
Say hello when you pass someone in the mountains.
Please greet everyone, not just beautiful women!
A person or People who climb a mountain have priority.
If you are climbing down a narrow mountain path when you see someone, give the way to that person or people.
Don’t throw away trash.
Don’t throw away what you bring and please take garbage home.
Let’s protect nature together!
Do you understand?
Can you do these?
OK! Perfect!
You can go to Yakushima anytime!
Look at wonderful pictures of way to Jomon Sugi!
I’ll show you some pictures which I took 7 days ago in Yakushima!
You will surely want to go there if you see them.
Come on!
How do you feel now?
Do you want to go there?
Hahaha! Thank you so much!
However, I’m really sorry that I don’t know how to go to Yakushima from a country where you are.
So please confirm it right now!
There are many fantastic places in “Yakushima” In Japan.
I told you about some Yakushima Cedars but of course there are a lot of other nice places in Yakushima.
I’ll introduce it to you someday.
OK!
Episode 1 of Yakushima has just finished.
Thank you for reading until end.
I’m really happy now and I’m waiting for your visit in Japan.
Be careful about your health and don’t forget to train.
See you soon!
