Located off the southern coast of Kagoshima Prefecture,
the subtropical Yakushima Island is famous for its 1,000-
year-old trees and high mountains. It was listed on the
World Heritage List in 1993, making it one of the first
properties of Japan to be designated a UNESCO site.
The designated property encompasses the center of the
island, including its highest peaks. Additionally, it is a
national park of Japan.
“Yakusugi” is the name given to the Japanese cedars,
“sugi”, which are at least over a thousand years old. The
oldest cedar tree on the island is estimated to be over
7,000 years old. In addition to having the oldest trees in
Japan, the island is also known for its unique ecosystem
and rich biodiversity. The area is home to 1,900 species
of flora, 16 different species of mammals, and 150 bird
species. It also holds remnants of an ancient warm-
temperate forest, which is distinct to this region.
Interestingly, Yakushima has mountains reaching as high
as 2,000 m, another rare characteristic for its region. The
island’s high summits, primeval warm-temperate forests,
and overall ecosystem make the property highly
significant. It is valuable for scientific studies in
evolutionary biology, biogeography, vegetation
succession, and more. In short, Yakushima’s Japanese
cedar dominant landscape and primeval forests are not
only biologically significant but aesthetically as well.
