Today was a highlight for those interested in the beauty of Japan’s natural heritage. The high granite island of Yakushima, located off the southern tip of Kyushu, is cloaked in a gorgeous subtropical rainforest that is home to ancient Sugi (the towering Japanese cedar) and many unusual species of animals. We rode buses up a narrow, winding road, high into the heart of the forest for hiking, birding, and photography along a boardwalk trail that followed the course of a mountain river among the moss-covered trees and vines. In the afternoon, we visited the small town near our dock and a local museum or enjoyed more birding!
9/23/2024
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Uwajima, Japan
Yesterday, we visited Yakushima, the southernmost point of our journey, and now we head northeast into the Seto Inland Sea. Today, we visited the small town of Uwajima in Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. Uwajima is famous for its delicious seafood, such as squid, sea bream, and yellowtail, as well as its pearl farms that produce beautiful pearls with the help of local oysters. Half the day was spent in the Date Samurai Museum and on the small hilltop in the center of town which houses the impressive Uwajima Castle. Some of us visited the Doi Pearl Farm and some got to take the pearls home. The other half of our outing was spent up in the mountains of Ehime Prefecture visiting the town of Uchiko, once home to around 30% of Japanese wax production. Japanese wax is of high quality and was expensive in many countries for a long time. This led to Uchiko becoming a very affluent and prosperous town, evidenced by the impressive architecture still visible today. We leave Shikoku behind and head over to the main island, to Hiroshima and Itsukushima for our next adventures.
