Mt.Miyanoura

The “Garden of the Gods”—where Yakushima’s story reaches its climax.
The mountains lining the coast are referred to as Maedake, or “front mountains,” while the towering peaks at the island’s center are known as Okudake, or “interior mountains.” The sacred Okudake have long been revered as the “Domain of the Gods.”After passing through the subtropical forest, you are surrounded by moss species and towering Yakusugi cedars. Crossing the tree line, a different world unfolds before you, with vast fields of yakuzasa bamboo grass and alpine plants stretching into the distance.Swept by mountain winds, the grasslands and granite rock gardens weave together a landscape filled with mysterious beauty befitting a “Garden of the Gods.”At the heart stands Mt. Miyanoura, the island’s highest peak at 1,936 m. Every landscape of Yakushima seems to converge upon this summit.