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Welcome to Yakushima a small Island off the Southern Coast of Japan. Only a 35 minute plane ride from Kagoshima Airport (please excuse the advertisement for JAL).

Yakushima is almost a complete circle and takes approximately 3 hours to drive around. There is a twisting rugged coastal road on the Western side of the Island, called the Monkey Drive – only for the strong hearted…. But a great place to find playful red-faced monkeys.

 The landscape is very similar to tropical North Queensland with lush rainforests and crystal blue swimming holes (not your usual image of Japan). The highlight of the Island is the Jomon-Sugi  which is said to be between 6300-7200 years old! The oldest Cedar Tree in the world!! As the Japanese would say - ‘Berry Berry Old Tree’. The only thing is,  it takes a 5 to 6 hour hike up the mountain to be able to witness this monster of a tree.

As I am not much of a hiker, I went to the best next thing – 1000-2000 year old tree, which I think from memory is called the Daio-Sugi.

Along the way you can meet a few friends……this one looks a little evil, but very nice in person.

And check out the breath taking views from Mt. Miyanoura-dake, the highest peak on the Island.

To be continued…………..