[2025 Yakushima Attraction] Travel Guide for Shiratani Unsui Gorge (Updated May)

Shiratani Unsuikyo is a natural recreational forest located upstream of the Shiratani River, which flows through the northeastern part of Yakushima. It is one of the most popular spots on the island, and the main purpose of most people visiting Yakushima for the first time is to see the Jomon Cedar or Shiratani Unsuikyo. #trip2023 #WorldHeritage

∇This is the place It is located after climbing up a place covered with trees and rugged rocks after proceeding through Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge. There are no obstructions around the rocks, so you can feel the nature of Yakushima firsthand. ∇Recommended photo spot On top of the rocks with the mountains in the background! 🗻 The view is so good that you can see the distant mountains clearly. Try taking some photos here that give you a sense of openness. ∇Access About 1.5 hours from the entrance to Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge #Yakushima #Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge #Enjoying nature #Remote island trip #Remote island #Breathtaking views #Trip to visit remote islands #Amazing nature

I've always wanted to visit Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, a mysterious forest that was the model for the movie "Princess Mononoke." At an altitude of about 800m, the gorge is home to a mixture of Yakusugi cedars and evergreen broad-leaved trees, creating the image of Yakushima that most people imagine... #BreathtakingView#SupportTourism

Take the bus that runs through Yakushima to the last stop for Shiratani Unsuikyo and walk for about an hour and a half. The "Moss Forest" in Shiratani Unsuikyo, Yakushima, is famous for being the inspiration for Princess Mononoke. This forest, full of moss and with a mountain stream, was a great place to enjoy forest bathing. The sunlight filtering through the trees and hitting the moss was a fantastic sight. Yakushima is also home to the famous Yakusugi trees, but this is recommended for those who find it difficult to walk that far or who don't want to get up early in the morning! In addition to the Moss Forest, Shiratani Unsuikyo also has Taiko Rock and many cedars, so you can easily enjoy the nature of Yakushima! #Yakushima #Remote Island #Trip to Visit Remote Islands #Remote Island Tour #Kagoshima #Breathtaking View #Remote Island Trip

Yakushima, located in the southern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the famous Jomon Sugi cedar is a must-see, another stunning spot is Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, known for its lush moss-covered scenery. From the port, you can take a bus heading to Shiratani Unsuikyo. The entrance to the gorge is located after a climb along a mountain road. Upon arrival, you pay a 500-yen fee and receive an explanation of the route and safety precautions. The trail includes some challenging sections, such as crossing cliffs and streams, but overall, it was relatively easy to hike. After about two and a half hours of walking with breaks, I reached the moss-covered forest. The area is filled with ancient tree stumps and rocks densely covered in moss, with a cool breeze flowing through the air. It’s incredibly beautiful, so if the Jomon Sugi hike seems too demanding, visiting Shiratani Unsuikyo might be a great alternative.

Winter in Shiratani Unsuikyo is a special season where you can feel the most tranquility throughout the year✨ The moss-covered rocks and trees look even more vivid in the clear winter air, making you feel as if you've wandered into a fantasy world🌿 The cool air and murmuring of the river will soothe your mind. Walking through the sunlight filtering through the trees, you will feel the vitality of the Yakusugi cedars and the strength of nature on your skin! If you're lucky, you may even see snow falling on the moss at Shiratani Unsuikyo, which is also a very mysterious sight. It's also attractive to enjoy the quiet trekking that is unique to winter, when there are few tourists😊 Why not experience an extraordinary moment in winter on Yakushima? #Yakushima #Shiratani Unsuikyo #Winter trip #Domestic travel trip #Healing forest

The Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine in Yakushima is the setting for a famous Studio Ghibli animated film✨ I started my hike before dawn and waited for the sunrise in Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine! The forest gradually regained its brightness, creating a truly magical atmosphere. I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that such a world exists in Japan🥹 By the way, it takes 90 minutes to reach the Mossy Forest from the trailhead and 2 hours to reach Taiko Rock🥾 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Name: Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine Address: Miyanoura, Yakushima Town, Kumage District, Kagoshima Prefecture Access: About 30 minutes by bus from Miyanoura Port to the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine trailhead Closed: Open year-round - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This time we will introduce Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge in Yakushima. 🌿 The beautiful mossy forest of Shiratani Unsuikyo is a must-see for moss lovers. 🍃 This place was the model for the Studio Ghibli film "Princess Mononoke," directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 1997. It is said that Hayao Miyazaki visited this place many times and expanded his imagination when creating the film. All the plants and rocks are covered in moss, and the fantastical green world attracts many people 🥹 It's a wonderful forest that you should visit at least once 🌳 📍 Miyanoura, Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, Miyanoura-dake National Forest 🚗 About 25 minutes from Miyanoura Port, about 50 minutes from Awa Port ⏰ All year round (Management building 8:30-16:30) *Course restrictions apply during high water 💰 Forest environment improvement promotion contribution: 500 yen for high school students and above #Domestic trip #Shiratani Unsuikyo #Yakushima

I climbed Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge with a guide and photographer. The highlights are "Mononoke Forest" and "Taiko Rock". The miraculous humidity and rain allowed us to enjoy the wonderful cedars, moss, and plants. I hope you enjoy the spectacular view from the monolith known as Taiko Rock. 📍891-4200 Miyanoura, Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture 💰Entrance fee: 500 yen (cash) ⛰️Climbing time: about 4 hours one way There are also courses that can be completed in about 1 hour one way ❤️Recommendations & Information ・Beginners should especially take a guide. It is necessary to climb in dangerous places and to have the right knowledge. You can learn various knowledge about plants and animals and enjoy climbing. ・There are places to rent climbing equipment in Yakushima Town. #Yakushima @#Japan

#summerdream Shiratani Unsuikyo is a valley on Yakushima Island that was registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1993. The valley is known for its ancient pine forests, waterfalls, and clear streams. There are also many hiking trails here, making Shiratani Unsuikyo a popular place for hiking, camping, and fishing. The valley is also home to many wild animals, including deer, wild boars, and monkeys. If you love nature, don't miss this place! This is a must-visit place in Japan.

A very primitive place, the only drawback is inconvenient transportation. It's impossible to visit all the attractions on the island in one day. There are just too many sights on this small island. The most famous are several hiking trails. I took the Jomon Sugi and Shiratani Unsuikyo trails. The moss forest in Shiratani Unsuikyo is the location for the film Princess Mononoke. The experience is ordinary when you are there. If you go further into the forest to Taiko-iwa Rock, the view is better. The Jomon Sugi trail is 22km round trip, suitable for those who are very confident in their physical strength. Because the bus ends early, but hiking takes at least 10 hours, so I hired a guide at the time. But actually, there are paths in the forest, so you don't have to worry about getting lost in it. So people who walk fast can save the cost of hiring a guide.

Shiratani Unsuikyo is a popular spot that you can't miss if you go to Yakushima. The moss-covered forest, which was the model for Princess Mononoke, is truly beautiful with its greenery, and the scenery is especially spectacular after the rain, when the greenery becomes even more intense! The trekking takes about 3-5 hours, so even beginners can try it. If you have enough stamina, we recommend climbing up to Taiko Rock! When the fog clears, you can see the surrounding mountains well, but even with the fog it is still fantastic. #Outdoor #Yakushima

The view of Taiko Rock in spring is truly amazing! A beautiful collaboration of fresh greenery and cherry blossoms🌸🍃 It took about 3 hours to get here, but there were plenty of things to see along the way, such as large stumps and large rocks✨ #Yakushima #Mountaineering #Taiko Rock #Shiratani Unsuikyo #Amazing view

A mossy forest also known as the Forest of Monsters. A mysterious world covered in moss that appears during the Shiratani Unsuikyo trekking✨ The leaves, moss, water, and trees are all so lively that you can feel the power of nature! #Yakushima #Mountaineering #ShirataniUnsuikyo #Breathtakingview

Shiratani Unsuikyo is one of Yakushima's famous tourist spots. Climbing equipment is required, but even beginners can enjoy the challenge without any difficulty♪ You'll definitely feel refreshed in the magnificent nature◎✨ The spring plants were so cute♡ #climbing #Yakushima #ShirataniUnsuikyo #breathtakingview

The Baigu Yunshui Gorge is a valley that flows through the Baigu River, a tributary of the Urawa River in the northern part of Yakushima. Due to the abundant rainfall, the huge rock such as Taiguyan formed by the erosion of granite is covered with dense primary forest. The native forest has a 3,000-year-old "Baishengshan" that makes Kagoshima people very proud. Most people who like Japanese cartoons know that Miyazaki is also familiar with "The Valley of the Winds", "City of the Sky", "My Neighbor Totoro", "The Witch's Delivery Service", "Magic Princess" "Spirited Away", "Hal's Moving Castle", "The Goldfish Princess on the Cliff" and his last "Wind Up" in 2013. is not only the model of the mountain beast god forest scene in Hayao Miyazaki's "Magic Princess", but also the most beautiful hiking route on Yakushima. There are waterfalls, streams and suspension bridges at the entrance. The map of the Yakushima Forest Conservation Management Association began to hike, and the red line was the shortest. It took about an hour to walk around, mainly to see the cedar and the second generation Dashan.

The prototype of "Princess Mononoke": Yakushima White Valley Yunshui Gorge About Baigu Yunshui Gorge: It is a valley flowing through the Baigu River, a tributary of the Puji River in the northern part of Yakushima. Due to the abundant rainfall, the huge rock such as Taiguyan formed by the erosion of granite is covered with dense native forest. The valley is covered with moss, flowing water, and there are often wild deer and wild monkeys. Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke" was inspired by the mossy forest in the Baishui Yunshui Gorge. There are three routes to choose from in the Baigu Yunshuixia Scenic Area, one hour to watch the 3,000-year-old Yayoi, three hours to the White Valley Lodge and the Princess of the Monsters, and five hours to the Taikoyan route. is located in the northern part of Yakushima and is a 424-hectare natural recreation forest. Here, the stream rushes down, and the evergreen broad-leaved trees and the ancient house long-sleeved shirts are row upon row. There is also a virgin forest of moss and ferns that is the source of inspiration for Miyazaki's animated film Princess Mononoke. belongs to the primary-intermediate line, and most people can walk down. Yakushima, regardless of the hiking route, is marked with a pink tape, usually tied to a branch, sometimes on the ground, the Baigu Yunshuixia line is clearly marked, and there is no guide and it is completely ok. Be careful, don't slip. About transportation: Gongzhipu Port-- Baigu Yunshui Gorge has a bus to and from the city, four shifts a day. You can also go to Miyakoura Port or Yakushima Airport. Of course, you can also complete a group tour of Yakushima in Kagoshima. In Yakushima, except for self-driving, it is basically a group tour~ Its really not much like I have to walk freely... English is almost impossible in this place. Friendly Tips: 1. Don't be smug, be sure to wear hiking gear to go hiking!! personally feel that the Shanshou Trail is much better than the Yasugi Trail. After all, it is a mountain road. The scenery is completely different. Because it is a bus trip in Yakushima, it is regrettable to give up the Taiguyan Trail in order to catch up with the last bus.