After a rather humorous start to our Yakushima trip, day 2 was an absolute blast. Since we had the car for the rest of the day, we decided to drive around the entire perimeter of the island. As it isn't a large island by any means, a drive around the entire perimeter of Yakushima takes approximately 3 hours - but why would anyone do that when there are so many things to see on the island? Throwing our luggage into the car, we got ready for a day around the island.
(Fields and Mountains)
Heading east this time, we headed towards the port town of Anbo(安房) so that I could finally withdraw some money. From there, we proceeded to hike along various trails, taking in the gorgeous coast and forests before heading to our first destination - a short hike to see Senpiro Waterfall (千尋の滝.) Along the way, we tried the local citrus juice known as Tankan juice, which tastes like a combination of tangerine and orange. When we got to the viewing platform, it was a little disappointing that we could not see the waterfall at a closer range but it was gorgeous nonetheless.
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| (Rocky Coasts) |
(Land crabs where everywhere)
Back on the road, we decided to look for an onsen (温泉) to relax in. Near the southern part of the island, there are various onsen which overlook the sea known as kaichu-onsen (海中温泉。）Kaichu-onsen was something that we all wanted to experience while we were in Yakushima. Eventually we came across a small one with just a donation box at the entrance. This bare minimal approach was perfect for student travelers as it certainly kept costs down. I don't know what came over us, maybe it was something about the Yakushima atmosphere but we dashed towards that onsen with more excitment than children at Christmas. Throwing off all our clothes in the blink of an instant, we hopped frantically over the sun-baked rocks in a vicious dash towards the inviting water. Surrounded by tropical blooms and the southern sea breeze - it was a moment of pure bliss. Little did we know, the money lost to the god of the ocean was being put to good use and our luck was about to change. Out of the blue, a little old man appeared and approached us. Curious to know where we were from, he stuck up a conversation with us. Turns out, he was a local on the island and looked at us as if we were crazy. "There is a much better onsen just a little ways away from her" he exclaimed, "you guys really fell for the trap" he chuckled while proceeding to show us the path to the real onsen experience. Following him down a rocky path in nothing more than the option hand to cover the man-junk we skipped on down after him. We were not let down. What lay ahead was a onsen build directly into the boulders protruding from the ocean overlooking a vast expanse of blue - not only that, the man insisted we take a swim in the ocean as well which was invitingly cool after soaking in the hot water. If there is one thing you should know about Japan, it is that nude frolicking is not out of the ordinary.
(Onsen looking out and part of the sea)
Satisfying our onsen itch, the old man recommended that we buy lunch and head out to a waterfall much better than senpiro falls - "Okawanotani (大川の滝)" he proclaimed in a southern dialect "is grander than senpiro falls! Buy a lunch box at a convenience store up the street and settle down there for lunch!" Thanking him for this suggestion, we hopped back into our car and headed for the waterfall. Oh, old man, you did not dissapoint us. This waterfall was beautiful. Surrounded by lush greens, one could walk so close to the waterfall as to feel its thunderous roar pounding at your chest. During our lunch break, the old man appeared again! This time, he insisted on taking our picture at the foot of the falls - which requires a certain amount of climbing to reach. Needless to say, we got some pretty spectacular shots. Thanking him again profusely, we headed back to the car to continue our journey around the island.
(Okawa waterfall)
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| (Grooming monkeys on the road) |
Heading into a much more forested area of the island, we were greeted by a pack of monkeys grooming each other on the sun-dappled roads. Showing no fear of humans, we had to navigate through the pack very slowly as to not run over them. In addition, we would also encounter lots of little deer which were a little more skittish than the monkeys. After an extremely winding and narrow trail (about the width of 1 car) and near collision with oncoming cars, we finally broke out of the forest and onto a road which round around the cliffs overlooking the sea. In all honesty, it is a majestically beautiful place in all aspects. Coming round to the end of our drive, we proceeded to our next destination - our lodgings for the night!
(Starry Sky and the Milky Way)
We had decided to camp out on the second day of our trip complete with an ocean barbecue. Gathering our supplies we set up camp back at a campsite in Miyanoura and spent close to an hour trying to light a fire. When we finally succeeded it was pitch black. However, with the fire going, copious booze and seafood, we were treated by a truly outstanding night sky. A completely clear and cloudless night, the stars scattered as far as the eye could sea and the milky way twisting its way from the mountains behind us. It was truly one of the most beautiful things I have had the pleasure to experience in my life. Content and rather drunk, we decided to tuck in and leave the cleaning for the next morning. While we slept, it appears that wildlife had cleaned up our leftovers for us, as we awoke to garbage scattered throughout the campsite and all our leftovers consumed. That certainly explains the commotion outside during the middle of the night.
(Sunrise at camp)
(End day 2)
