Inspiring Ghibli's 'Princess Mononoke': The Nature of Shiratani Unsuikyo

Yakushima Island: World Heritage Site & Treasure Trove of Nature

Yakushima Lighthouse

In 1993, the island of Yakushima was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan.

Forest make up about 90% of the island, with a vast variety of animals and vegetation. The island is filled with lush plants and stunning, transparent waters, and attracts travelers all year-round.

How do you get to Yakushima Island?

1. By plane
   There are direct flights to Yakushima from Osaka and Fukuoka once a day. From Kagoshima, direct flights are available 5 times a day. From Osaka to Yakushima is about 90 minutes, Fukuoka to Yakushima is about 65 minutes and Kagoshima to yakushima is about 30 minutes.

2. By ferry
   There are two ferries from the Port of Kagoshima to Yakushima: "Ferry Yakushima 2" and "Rapid Ferry Toppy & Rocket".
   Ferry Yakushima runs once a day, and Toppy & Rocket runs 7 times a day. It takes approximately 3 hours on a ferry from the Port of Kagoshima to Yakushima.

Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine: About the Forest that Inspired "Princess Mononoke"

Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine

Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine offers a trekking route to explore the woods of Yakushima.
In 1974, Yakushima was nationally designated as a Recreational Forest, to preserve and fully utilize its abundant nature and forests.

It was also designated by the Bryological Society of Japan as a "Valuable Moss Forest of Japan". Shiratani Unsuikyo and Yakushima are lively nurseries of all kinds of vegetation, and the moss covering on the island's rocks and trees create a fantastical atmosphere just like in "Princess Mononoke".

How do you get to Shiratani Unsuikyo?

1. By bus:
   From Miyanoura (Yakushima’s city center), there is a bus to and from Shiratani Unsuikyo 6 times a day.

2. By car:
   You can rent a car and drive to Shiratani Unsuikyo. It is about a 30-minute drive. The parking spaces are free of charge, but they can get pretty crowded during peak seasons.

Trekking course

The trekking courses at Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine visit popular spots such as the "3,000 year old Yayoi Cedar", "Taiko-iwa Rock" and the "Princess Mononoke Forest".

The courses range from 1 to 6 hours, and there is a course for all levels of hikers.

There are three main courses: the Yayoi Course, the Bugyo-sugi Course and the Taiko-iwa Round Trip Course.

The Yayoi Course is about an hour long, and ends at the Yayoi cedar tree. It is easier than the other two courses and is perfect for beginners.

The Bugyo-sugi Course passes through a unique selection of Yakusugi cedar trees. It takes about 3 hours to complete.

The Taiko-iwa Return Trip Course is the longest, and takes about 6 hours to complete. It goes through Koke-musu Forest, which inspired Studio Ghibli in the making of “Princess Mononoke”, and gets to Taiko-iwa, where you are presented with a view of the forest from above.

In this article, we will introduce the Taiko-iwa Return Trip Course.

Entrance to Shiratani-Unsuikyo; the setting of Ghibli's Princess Mononoke

Shiratani Unsuikyo Entrance

The entrance for the Taiko-iwa Return Trip course is located at a point 600 meters above sea level. At the entrance you will find a donation box gathering ¥300 from visitors for the continued preservation of Yakushima's nature.

Satsuki Suspension Bridge

Satsuki Suspension Bridge

After about 15 minutes of walking, you will approach the Satsuki Suspension Bridge. After crossing the bridge, the hike truly begins as you enter the mystical forest that inspired Princess Mononoke.

Kusugawa Course

Kusunokigawa Course

After crossing the suspension bridge, you will see the sign leading you to the Kusugawa Course. This path was created during the Edo period (1603 – 1867) to carry Yakushima's cedar timber through the forest. The stone arrangements on the path are from those times, too.

Kuguri-sugi Cedar

Kuguri-sugi Cedar

This uniquely shaped cedar tree, called the Kuguri-sugi, is the result of a Yakushima cedar growing out of a separate nursery tree. The nursery tree decayed overtime, leaving an arch-like hole at the base of the cedar.
At times, you may see monkeys and deer running through the arch.

Shiratani Hut

Shiratani hut

About 90 minutes after hiking, you will reach the Shiratani Hut, a resting space. Near the hut are water fountains as well, where you can refill your bottles. Take a quick break here, and rest your legs before resuming your hike.

Kokemusu Forest (Princess Mononoke Forest)

Kokemusu Forest, a.k.a. the "Princess Mononke Forest"

After resuming your walk from Shiratani Hut, you will arrive at Kokemusu Forest in about 15 minutes. This forest is also called Priness Mononoke Forest, as this is the part of the forest that the movie was inspired by. From the trees to the rocks, everything is covered in vibrant, green moss.

The forest gives an especially fantastical impression after rain, as the dewy plants and rocks glimmer under the sunlight.

Tsuji Pass

Tsuji Pass

From Kokemusu Forest to Tsuji Pass is a 40-minute hike with an intense upward slope. At Tsuji Pass is a wooden Bench, and from here is a great view of Kokemusu Forest.

Taiko-iwa Rock

Taiko-iwa Rock

Taiko-iwa Rock is a 20-minute walk from Tsuji Pass. The view from Taiko-iwa varies by season – from cherry blossoms in the spring to the colored leaves in the autumn.

Sights near Shiratani-Unsuikyo

We hope that in your trek through Shiratani Unsuikyo, you have caught a glimpse of the sights that inspired Princess Mononoke's lush-green nature.
There are many other sights on Yakushima Island.

Jomon-sugi Cedar

　
Jomon-sugi Cedar

You can get to the Jomon-sugi cedar via a different hiking course from Shiratani-Unsuikyo.

On the course are many Yaku-sugi cedars that are over 1,000 years old. In the woods, there are also wild animals such as the Yakushika, a deer native to Yakushima.

The Jomon-sugi cedar is one of the biggest on the island. It is said to be one of the oldest plants on the planet, and is estimated tobe around 4,000 years old.

Yakushima Trolley Road

Yakushima Trolley Road

The Yakushima Trolley Road can be found on your way to the Jomon-sugi cedar. This logging railroad opened in 1923 in order to deliver yakusugi timber from the woods. It is the oldest logging railroad in Japan, and still is in operation. If you’re lucky, you might be able to see the trolley in action.

Wilson Stump

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Wilson Stump

The Wilson Stump, named after the American botanist Ernest Henry Wilson, can also be found on the route to Jomon-sugi.

Enter the stump and look at it from below to see the heart-shaped hole. The heart becomes filled with the green trees, and is a sight you can only see in Yakushima. This sight is known as a lucky spot on the island.

Landmarks & Attractions at Shiratani Unsuikyo: The Nature that Inspired Studio Ghibli and Princess Mononoke!

Due to the worldwide popularity of the film "Princess Mononoke", Shiratani Unsuikyo and Yakushima have become hugely popular travel destinations. Experience the ancient forest and its sceneries, that brim with life from coast to coast!

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