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Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine

The magical, mossy forest that inspired 'Princess Mononoke.'

Yakushima, Japan

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Shiratani Unsuikyo.   JoshBerglund19/CC BY 2.0
A pathway in Shiratani Unsuikyo.   JoshBerglund19/CC BY 2.0
Moss in Shiratani Unsuikyo.   JoshBerglund19/CC BY 2.0
  TravellingG / Atlas Obscura User
The Buddha Tree (1800 years old)   Ysabet / Atlas Obscura User
Shiratani Unsuikyo.   Josh Berglund19/CC BY 2.0
Shiratani Unsuikyo.   Kimon Berlin/CC BY-SA 2.0
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Look closely when walking through the mossy trees of Shiratani Unsuikyo forest–there might be kodama, or tree spirits, nearby.

It's dense with greenery and very quiet, sound absorbed by the thick moss. Gentle creeks trickle over ancient rocks, through the fine selection of cedars only found in Japan , and which are named for it (they are called "yakusugi" or "Yakushima cedars"). There are hiking trails too, some of which date back to the Edo period (the 17th through mid-19th centuries). 

It is also notable because it served as an inspiration for Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke, which addresses the tension between humans and nature spirits in the forest setting. Lead artist Kazuo Oga was said to have spent many hours sketching the forest in preparation for the film. 

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Take the one of the Mutsubanda buses from Miyanoura to the stop at Shiratani Unsuikyo park.

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Published

October 10, 2016

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