Walking in the Rain through Old Growth Forest | Yakushima, Japan

Rain walk on boardwalks and trails through Yakusugi Land, an old growth forest with mossy streams and ancient trees on the island of Yakushima off the coast of Kagoshima, Japan. This forest is home to many old cedar trees, some thousands of years old, and is one of the most beautiful forests I have seen. Yakushima gets a lot of rain, and this morning it was particularly heavy, which made for a nice atmosphere with high cascading rivers and trickling mountain streams all over the trails. I had originally planned on walking to Jomon Sugi, the oldest and largest tree in Japan (estimated to be between 2,000-7,000 years old), but after seeing how narrow the trail was I realized I wouldn't be able to manage my umbrella through the trees. It was also raining so hard that even a few seconds of exposure would drench my camera and gimbal. Instead I opted for the 80 minute course, a loop on a combination of boardwalk and trail, crossing a number of rivers and streams. The forests in this area are said to be the inspiration for Princess Mononoke, perhaps I should have watched it before my visit... More from Yakushima to come. Late April, 2026 Patreon   / ambientexploration   Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/ambientexplo... Subscribe for more walks on Yakushima and beyond If you are planning on visiting, keep in mind that I take efforts to avoid crowds and I also try to present areas I visit in a favorable light by choosing where to point the camera. All sights and sounds were captured by me on location. Playlists    • Dawn Walks      • Japan Less Traveled      • Japan Well Traveled      • Rain, Snow, and Weather      • UNESCO World Heritage Sites      • Sunset Walks      • Cities at Night      • 2025      • 2024      • 2023   #yakushima #rainwalk #naturewalk #4kbeautifulplaces