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Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kyushu - Yakushima
Shiratani Unsuikyo 
# 3   of 4 most visited
sights in Yakushima

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The Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine (白谷雲水峡, Shiratani Unsuikyō) on Yakushima is a lush, green nature park containing a number of the island's ancient cedars such as the Nidaiosugi, Kugurisugi and Yayoisugi, the park's most accessible yakusugi which can be reached in a 15 minute walk. Shiratani Unsuikyo is a popular destination to see the forests without much strenuous hiking.

The park offers a network of well maintained hiking trails that run along the ravine. The recommended circuits vary in length from one to five hours long, but you are free to wander around and choose your own route among the paths. The trails vary in difficulty from a historic footpath built in the Edo Period to more developed ones paved in stone and wood. English signs are provided throughout.

The inspiration for Mononoke Hime.

One of the main attractions of Shiratani Unsuikyo is a part of the forest that served as the inspiration for the Stugio Ghibli animated film Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke). Oga Kazuo, the lead artist for the film, spent lots of time here working on sketches for the movie's forests. The mountains of the film were further inspired by Akita Prefecture's Shirakami Sanchi Mountains.

The small grove is at the far end of the park on the trail to Tsuji Toge Pass. If you continue on this trail, it will eventually lead you to the Jomonsugi by way of meeting up with the Anbo Trail about halfway to the entrance of the Okabu Trail. The round trip to the Jomonsugi takes approximately twelve hours and is more difficult than the route that starts at the Arakawa Trailhead.

Boardwalk trail through the forest
Kigurisugi

Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.

How to get there

Shiratani Unsuikyo is located 30 minutes from Miyanoura Port by car. There are seven buses per day from Miyanoura Port (35 minutes, 530 yen). Note that during August and September the number of buses is increased to eleven, while it is decreased to four from December to February.

How to get to and around Yakushima Island

Google Map

Hours and Fees
Hours:Always open
Closed:No closing days
Admission:300 yen

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User Ratings
Ratings for Shiratani Unsuikyo:
japan-guide.com Rating:
  best of Japan  
User Rating (by 37 users):
94/100
  highly recommended

Best rated sights nationwide (out of 725):
14.  Nyuto Onsen (Hachimantai)   95/100
15.  Drift Ice (Ryuhyo) (Shiretoko)   94/100
16.  Iriomote Island (Yaeyama Islands)   94/100
17.  Takayama Festival (Takayama)   94/100
18.  Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima)   94/100
19.  Shiratani Unsuikyo (Yakushima)   94/100
20.  Taketomi Island (Yaeyama Islands)   94/100
21.  Monkey Park (Yamanouchi)   94/100
22.  Geibikei Gorge (Hiraizumi)   93/100
23.  Sojiji Temple (Noto Peninsula)   93/100
Most visited sights nationwide (out of 836):
501.  Asahidake Onsen (Daisetsuzan)   67
502.  Usuzan Ropeway (Lake Toya)   67
503.  MOA Museum of Art (Izu Peninsula)   67
504.  Jomon Site (Aomori)   66
505.  Taketomi Island (Yaeyama Islands)   65
506.  Shiratani Unsuikyo (Yakushima)   65
507.  Nyuto Onsen (Hachimantai)   64
508.  Chichu Museum (Naoshima)   64
509.  Art House Project (Naoshima)   64
510.  Kagurazaka (Tokyo)   64

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Japanese Links
Bus Schedule
Schedule of buses to Shiratani Unsuikyo.
宮之浦港 - Miyanourako - Miyanoura Port
白谷雲水峡 - Shiratani Unsuikyo

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Related Pages
Travel
Sightseeing
Kyushu
Yakushima

Jomonsugi
Shiratani Unsuikyo
Yakusugi Land
Around the Island

World Heritage Sites
Yakushima: Access and Orientation

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