Shiratani Unsuikyo: Yayoi Sugi
Walk
Enjoy a leisurely stroll on a well-maintained path (but with plenty of stairs!) to an old Yakusugi tree, and see the famous "second-generation" trees. Although you'll miss the more famous sights in the park, this trail may be the only one open in bad weather.
Said to be 3,000 years old, the Yayoi Sugi
tree has grown week in recent years.
See how the trees contort in their struggle
for sunlight.
The Hiryuu (White Dragon) Cascade.
Ni-Dai Oh-Sugi, a large
second-generation tree.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll on a well-maintained path (but with plenty of stairs!) to an old Yakusugi tree, and see the famous "second-generation" trees. Although you'll miss the more famous sights in the park, this trail may be the only one open in bad weather.
Said to be 3,000 years old, the Yayoi Sugi
tree has grown week in recent years.
See how the trees contort in their struggle
for sunlight.
The Hiryuu (White Dragon) Cascade.
Ni-Dai Oh-Sugi, a large
second-generation tree.
Links:
- Official Shiratani Unsuikyo Park Website
- Certified Guide List
- Hiking Notification
- Brochure and Island Map
- Trail Times, Bus Schedule
Content last updated in 2020.
- Experience Level:
- Beginner
-stairs and rocks - Trail Head Access:
- Bus, Car, or Taxi
- Time:
- ~1 Hour, slow pace
- Round Trip Distance:
- 1.5 km
- Trail Head Elevation:
- 600 m
- Peak Elevation:
- ~720 m
| Deer/Monkey Sightings | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
| Yakusugi Trees | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
| Mossy Forests | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
| Vista Views | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
| Endurance | ⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠ |
| Strength & Technicality | ⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠ |
| Crowds | ⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠ |
| Weather Cancellations | ⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠ (Severe rain, rarely road closures) |
- Costs:
-
The recommended park donation is ¥500 per hiker. Between
Shiratani Unsuikyo and Miyanoura, the bus costs around ¥600
each way.
For a guided hike, expect to pay ¥5,000~¥10,000 per hiker. You may be able to combine this hike with a sight-seeing tour around the island. - Getting to the Trailhead (GPS coords: 30.3809, 130.5751):
- The closest town is Miyanoura. YOu can take a car, taxi, or bus. There are several buses each day, and you can use the Yakutani bus pass.
- Toilets:
- There toilets at the Shiratani Unsuikyo Park parking lot. (As of 2020, these are still squat-style.)
- Equipment List:
- Water Bottle + Snacks, Rain Jacket + Rain Pants dependent on weather forecast, Hiking Shoes or sneakers, towel, etc.
- The Hike
-
Shiratani-Unsuikyo (Literally: White Valley of Clouds and
Water) is a natural recreation forest in an area that receives
nearly 8 meters of annual precipitation. Signs of the force of
water are everywhere, and this short course is often the only
one open after heavy rains. This course is especially good for
folks who are less steady on their feet or folks who just want
to take it easy, but there is still a lot of uneven and potentiall slippery ground.
This is a well-maintained path consisting of mostly boardwalks, stair cases, and fairly level ground. However, the trail does cross over one large boulder and you will have the option of leaving the beaten trail to visit an impressive second-generation tree. (A second-generation tree is a Japanese cedar that has grown up on the stump or log of a fallen japanese cedar.) Although this is a short trail, there is much diversity in flora, mossy valleys full of contorted trees trying to capture the sunlight, and a decent chance of spotting animals.