Yup, the whole point of this trip! To see the (as yet unknown) 2,000 or maybe 7,000 year old cedar tree, Jomonsugi.
We arranged for our breakfasts and lunches to be packed and ready for pickup at 5.15 am (yawn~). We didn’t realise it, but our bus only took us to Yakusugi Museum, where we had to change to a larger bus to take us to the entrance of Arakawa Trail.
0601 hrs: Lovely sunrise from the bus
0630 hrs: Finally started on the trail! Before long, we came a bridge. ARGHS. This one wasn’t that bad since it had rails at the side, but still, it made my knees wobble when I looked straight down into the river rushing below so I just rushed straight ahead to get to the other side.
0730 hrs There was a rest area about an hour in, and we had breakfast here. Onigiri~
0811 hrs Recharged after breakfast :) and blessed with sunshine streaming through the tree tops.
0813 hrs Reached the 3rd generation cedars where everyone politely queued up for a photo in the shell of the 2nd generation stump which was covered by the 3rd generation tree. So far, we’d been walking along the railroad and it was basically flat, so nothing too challenging (except for those Bridges).
A few more pretty sights along the way and soon, we hit the last toilet stop (you’ll need an oxygen mask for this one), and from there headed up into the mountain trail. There was a sign that said if you had not entered the mountail trail by 10am (?), you should turn back and come back again haha. I think we entered the mountain trail about 9.15… ?
Definitely a big difference from the easy and flat walk in. The initial part was possibly the toughest for me – it was steep, narrow and I didn’t know how to find my footing. Five minutes in and I was thinking, if it’s all going to be like this, I may not survive to see the tree… bleah~
Luckily it got a little better and the steepness fell away. There were man-made steps and boardwalk – I’m not sure the steps were any easier than actually walking on the ground itself. They were high and seemed like they went on forever, they almost killed me hehe. I guess they were necessary to protect the forest though; better than hordes of people trampling directly on the ground and destroying roots and the oh-so-cute moss. No photos probably cos I was too busy trying to catch my breath LOL.
0948 We suddenly came upon loads and loads of people. Wilson’s stump! Rest area! Phew~ It’s named after an English botanist who according to legend, took shelter in the stump (which has a hole btw) when it rained and so it was named after him. Wiki says it was because he introduced the Yaku Cedars to the Western world. But why didn’t some native name the tree after themselves? I’m sure they took shelter there too!
Wilson’s stump is huge and you can comfortably hold a party for 10-12 inside, but it was so crowded because everyone wanted a pic of the heart-shaped hole. I tried on the way back, but this was the best I could manage. (this is what it’s supposed to look like)
I also continued my moss obsession. If I were a fairy or elf, I should only want to live in the mossy mossy forests of Yakushima~
1050 hrs A couple of trees that joined up, and so named Husband-and-Wife Cedars.
1117 hrs GOAL~ Meet Jomonsugi-san. Pictures and words simply don’t do it justice, you must see it for yourself.
1130 hrs check out some alien plant life!
We started back and took a short break for lunch, and by 1430, I couldn’t feel my feet anymore. Poor things, they were so very very exhausted. It felt like we’d never make it back out. Amazingly, a second wind hit at about 1530 and I decided to just walk quickly because I might not ever get out otherwise :D
1620 hrs At the entrance! I survived, even if I did moan and groan and whine along the way lol… All I can say is, if *I* can do it, *anyone* can. Cos I’m just not the mountain-climbing kind. Rewarded with some lovely views on the way back too…
*sigh* what an experience. I could possibly do it again. Someday. Anyone?