Shiratani Unsui Gorge

Shiratani Unsui Gorge is located in the northern part of Yakushima and is a valley of the Shiratani River, a tributary of the Miyanoura River.
The area is covered with huge rocks such as drum-shaped rocks formed by erosion of granite due to abundant rainfall, and is covered with virgin forest.

The primeval forest begins with a dense area of the commonly known Yakusugi cedar, and is mixed with evergreen forests such as tsuga and fir, along with evergreen forests of Japanese white oak, chair tree, tabunoki, and other evergreen trees. In particular, the 3,000-year-old Yayoi cedars are the symbol of this valley.

Known as a beautiful scenic spot since ancient times, the Kusu River Trail was built in the Edo period (1603-1868) and is still popular among people as a walking course. Now, with the registration of Yakushima Island as a World Heritage Site, the number of tourists visiting the valley has increased, and it has become one of the representative valleys in Kyushu.

Along the path, beautiful flowers and plants unique to Yakushima grow in abundance and can be enjoyed while relaxing and observing. There are also waterfalls and suspension bridges, allowing visitors to enjoy a walk without getting bored. The waterfalls are especially popular, and just walking along them while listening to the sound of water in the great outdoors is well-received as a soothing experience. In this valley, traces of logging in the Edo period can also be seen.

There are three courses in the natural recreation forest: the Yayoi Cedar Course (60 minutes), the Bugyo Cedar Course (3 hours), and the Taikoiwa Round Trip Course (4 hours).

Shiratani-unsui Gorge is included in the Yakushima Shizenryo Forest, but is not included in the designated area of Kirishima-Yaku National Park or the World Heritage buffer zone. The surrounding forest is the Miyanoura-dake National Forest, which has been selected as one of the 100 best water source forests.