Yakushima Island lies south of Kagoshima in Southern Kyushu. Unlike surrounding volcanic islands, Yakushima is a solidified magma core which was uplifted so fast, natural weathering barely made an impression in the Island’s solid granite rock. Consequently, Yakushima is home to the world’s oldest Cedar forest with Jomon Sugi though to be about 7000 years old. Yakushima Cedar is highly regarded in Japan for Temple repair and maintenance so Japan’s last operating narrow gauge cedar tramway, the Arakawa Forest Railway is kept in operational condition. Not only does the railway still transport Cedar for special orders, the trackway is preserved as a popular walking track for intrepid walkers wanting to experience Jomon Sugi and Yakushima’s World Heritage Listed Hinoki forest.
I’m guiding a series of small group, narrow gauge rail tours to Taiwan and Japan. Highlights of the Taiwan tour is a visit to the spectacular Alishan Forest Railway which climbs from sea level to 2.200m in just 75 kilometers and on special occasions, still operates a Shay geared locomotive!
Check out OzSteam.com for more information as well as tour departure dates.
Alo Japan.