If you pick up a book about Yakushima and it’s filled with moss-green forests, then the chances are you are looking at Shiratani Unsuikyo.

Shiratani Unsuikyo is relatively easy to access and therefore it is a popular destination. Due to its ease of access, some visitors are tempted to “going-it-alone” at Shiratani Unsuikyo, but they miss so much. The hike around the forest with a YES guide is easily twice as long as it would be if you go by yourself which is an indication of how you much you will miss out. Consider the Shiratani Unsuikyo Tour as a “must do” and leave the forest feeling inspired rather than just ticking it off a list.

If you only have an hour or so then this tour would go around the Yayoi sugi loop where a 3,000 year old sugi once stood on the hillside.  A typhoon in 2024 felled this majestic giant.  A longer walk would also include part of the genseirin trail.

A short tour of 4 hours would include the quieter primeval forest trail towards the three-footed sugi. This area is a beautiful moss and river area.
Heavy rain can force the Shiratani Unsuikyo forest to be closed due to some dangerous river crossings, but we are often able to take alternative courses that can avoid these dangerous river crossings.

There are many water access points along this hike.