Hiking @ Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan's green hiking and hut-camping paradise, is known for its wet climate all year around ... so you'll better be prepared on a three to five days trail connecting the mountain huts. At least I was lucky, as I almost gave up to reach my last stop of my six week island-hopping voyage. Rain forecast already changed my plans, but arriving in Kagoshima - the gateway to Yakushima - a two-day dry weather window after a rainy day crossing made me rethinking: now or never! Luckily the ferry did not turn back after a rough crossing, as the captain informed that might be the case. And even better, the sun rose next morning to make my first trail up in Yakusugi Land on to Tenchuseki Rock on Tachudake a wonderful experience - hiking through ancient moss-covered cedar forest. Next day I was up early again to walk along the trails at the Shiratani Unsuikyo plateau in search for an encounter with the Yakuzaru - monkeys that live high up in the