Yakushima has many more wonders on top of the giant thousands of years old Yakusugi, here are a few that we appreciated:
Other types of trees…
Likely my personal favourite, likely just because of the colour contrasts it creates ….Not so sure anymore but this could well be a Momi fir (Abies firma )Banyan trees, well probably just one here as you only see the roots!!
Himeshara (stewartia monadelpha), a camellia relativeIt can also do funny tricks…Here Yann is holding a “new” root from that Banyan, which will eventually reach the ground and start to look more like a trunk…. ( those were not on the mountain, but coastal area)
Other fauna & flora
Not a mushroom, apparently a sticky plant, mainly rhizomeLikely a not so shy Blue Rock Thrush No one to tell us what this one is…Phasmid or stick insectYou cannot miss them, Yakushima Macaques
Brown Dipper13th Feb., doesn’t look like it….Same flower as above.Coastal forestThe road bordering the west coast has so little traffic, even deer are not afraid. That side of island is so steep right to the see that it never got exploited.This time it was safe, i.e. we did not eat that one!
Different species of evergreen (sempervirens) gives shades of green and different “texture”
Rivers and waterfalls
With so much water pouring everyday (almost) on these granitic mountains, we were bound to find great rivers and impressive waterfalls. Japanese love these spectacular scenery – we do too!
Could be the Chéran ( near Gruffy)Torohki-no-taki close to Hara (south), on our third day.Slower shutter speed effect
Ryujin-no-taki, upstream on same river.Left side is not concrete!!
Senpiro-no-taki, same as last one above, further upstream on Tainoko river. Worth a panoramic photo!
Ohko-no-taki, west coast, few km north of Kurio. 88m drop!Yokogawa gorge, not far from Nagata
Upstream on Kuriogawa, after overnighting in Kurio.Tempting….
At least worth a panoramic!
Local activity / trade
Here and there we were able to observe some traditional trades and engage small conversations- thanks to Hélène’s Japanese, people are always amazed and delighted to find a foreigner that speaks Japanese, it opens doors.
Tatami workshop, unfortunately nobody was in… (later on our trip you will see we were able to see artisans in action)Grocery shop, local products for sure! Again no one in (*), but you can help yourself and pay in the little box.Potter, shop and atelier in same place – no one but still openFamily size tofu makers and direct sales – we had a sample.Tofu slices…Tankan, kind of small orangesCheck what is used to hold the buckets in the tree… deer antlers
Knife and tool sharpener… again no one at the workshop ( although not locked!)Mos Burger, localfast food. ( we did not test it )Fisherman, not utterly talkative…… but successful in catching fish!Most of the times we find beauty and elegance in the tools they use.
A mackerel smokery
They start from whole fish, so need to start by making fillets Left to smoke for a day
Laid on these wooden trayset voilà
They were down to 5 workers, but used to be up to 30 employees, when there was enough fish coming from the sea … 🙁
