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Published: March 26th 2008
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day 1 - ferry
my ferry, a containership to yakushima day 1:
After 7000 km of train travel from japans most northern prefecture to japans most southern prefecture, temperatures from -10 to 30 degrees and too many different accomodations my japan rail pass has ended. So i decided to go to one of japans subtropical islands in the south. I choosed to go to Yakushima island, a wolrd unesco heritage site and a remarkably travel destination because more than 75% of the island is covered with pure nature. Yakushima means medicine island and the islands plant have been used by herbologists for centuries. But yakushima is also an incredible destination for hiking.
To save some money, i found a cheap overnigth ferry, which saved up to 50%. As soon as i arrived it didnt seem a normal ferry, but a container ship. At 6 pm we left the harbour and entered during sunset the rough open sea. i met some people we enjoyd the evening on this unusual ferry. After a good sleep on the ground we arrived in the early morning yakushima during a splendid sunrise. To get to know the island a little bit i hired a mountain bike for 5 days and went south to my hostel, a ride
day 2 - ferry
I watched on open sea this beautiful sunrise of 35 km. After one hour my backpack felt so heavy, so i took 75% out and left it at the tourist office. On the way i saw monkeys, deers, waterfalls many flowers,etc. I met some other cyclists and we splitted our lunch. Later an a old lady gave us 2 kg of oranges, so my back pack was heavy again. In th afternoon i arrived at the hostel. A beautiful building designed by the owner and totally build of ceddar wood. In the eveing i baked my fist dutch meal, potatoes, broccoli and pork all bougth along the way.
day 2:
Today i went up at 4 am to catch the bus to the jomon sugi hike. A 10 hours hike trhough a acient forest with trees og more than 6000 years old. It is the most popular hike of the island and it leads to a gigantic 7000 year old cryptomeria japonica tree. The first hour i passed a lot of japanese hikers, but from the second hour on i had the forst for myself. The forest was so amazingly beautiful and i felt so small between these massive trees. its hard to describe、but the forest looked like a fairytail
day 2 - ferry
yakushima island from the containership forest where the trees become alive. the ground is covered wit 1000 of roots and a thick layer of moss. Th rivers found their way trhough the roots and a little bit of sunligth is passing through the leafs. on my way back i was resting along a river while a deer approached me and was looking at me from 5 metres distance, great!! On my way back to the hostel i got a ride from a japanese family, who took me also to a museum. In the evening i eated a very tasty meal (a lot of raw fish, miso soup, pork and rice)
day 3:
Together with Marie I danish girl I met we went for a hike in the park Yagi suki land. The whole trail it was raining badly, but this gave the forest a kind of mystic atmosphere. The subtropical rain storm fitted to the forest, with its trees, green covered ground and many little rivers. At a certain moment even the path turned into a small river. After a few minutes we where allready soaked, but we went on to finish the trail. Along the way where many beautiful trees, wild rivers and
day 3 - jomon sugi hike
an amazing hike through a acient forest with trees of more than 6000 years old. views over the island. In the evening i again prepared the baked patato meal.
day 4:
Today is relaxing day, but i wake up so early that i went for a big cycling trip along the south and west coast of the island. I visited a 88 metre high watarfall and beautiful beaches. Around noon i got back and find out that i cycled about 45 km. In the evening we had a little sake party with some people in the hostel. I had so much fun, because the japanese sake drinkers went totally crazy, haha.
day 5:
today I visited the hostels private beach; just imagine some rock formations, two waterfalls, deep blue sea and many crabs....beautiful. In the afternoon i brougth my bycycle back and took my 75% of the backpack from the hostel.
day 6:
Today i took the boat to kagoshima, but not the container ship. The bus was delayed and i missed the connection at 2 minutes. The only thing i could do was waving to the containership. I took the next ferry, a very nice hydrofoil. And here I am back in Kagoshima and ready for my very long ride to
Tokyo. I hope to arrive there in 6 days. ciao
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