Yakushima Environmental and
Cultural Village Center

Yakushima’s great natural environment is shown on an ultra-wide screen.
“Yakushima, Symphony of Forest and Water” is shown on a 14-by 20-meter screen. It brings to life a dynamic introduction to the nature of Yakushima.
（Running time: approx. 25 min.）

“Yakushima, Symphony of Forest and Water”

The exhibition hall displays models, samples, panels, videos, and images. It introduces Yakushima’s exceptional nature environment and lifestyles of the islanders in an easy-to-understand format.

Yakushima 〜Water Island〜

On Yakushima precipitation is so heavy that it is said to rain for 35 days a month! This rainfall is demonstrated by the Yakushima topographical model, located in the center of the hall, and the “rainfall chandelier” descending from the ceiling. The tremendous rainfall on the island and the wide distribution of plant life, from subtropical to cold regions, is a result of Yakushima being an island of high mountains-including Kyushu’s highest, Mt. Miyanoura-dake. The exhibition also looks at the formation and climate of Yakushima, as well as its ocean current.

The World of People 〜the Ocean〜

Yakushima is Japan’s premier nesting site for sea turtles. Why do sea turtles nest on Yakushima? It seems to be related to the flow of the warm sea current, the Kuroshio, and to Yakushima’s beautiful ocean and beaches. The Kuroshio has also brought diverse benefits from the sea to the islanders since ancient times. This section further introduces the past and present of people making a living from the sea, especially from flying fish and mackerel.

The World of People 〜the Village

In Yakushima, where mountains extend almost to the sea, villagers have developed only in the flat coastal areas. In the village’s subtropical climate, influenced by the Kuroshio’ Current, people in the past harvested sweet potatoes and sugar cane. Today they thrive by cultivating fruit, especially Ponkan and Tankan oranges, and practicing flowering plant horticulture with cymbidium and other orchids. Yakushima has been known as the medicine island since ancient times, a fact that is said to be related to the origin of the island’s name. Today, too, the cultivation of Gajutsu (a herb of the ginger family) is thriving. The plant is processed into digestive medicines in the island’s factories.

The World inhabited by Gods

In winter, snow falls on the high peaks of the Okudake mountain range. Since ancient times, the mountain have been objects of the gods, Ippon Hoju Daigongen was worshipped on Miyanoura-dake. Nagata-dake, Kurio-dake, and other mountains in the Okudake range. Each Village community would climb the mountains to pray to the gods in a ceremony known as Takemairi. A full pilgrimage used to take place in both spring and fall, but now it takes place only in simplified form. The ancient Yaku shrine is in Miyanoura. It is recorded in the “Engishiki,” a Heian era document. The Yaku Shrine is a village shrine(satomiya) and there is a sister shrine, called Okumiya, in Okudake.

The World inhabited by Gods

In winter, snow falls on the high peaks of the Okudake mountain range. Since ancient times, the mountain have been objects of the gods, Ippon Hoju Daigongen was worshipped on Miyanoura-dake. Nagata-dake, Kurio-dake, and other mountains in the Okudake range. Each Village community would climb the mountains to pray to the gods in a ceremony known as Takemairi. A full pilgrimage used to take place in both spring and fall, but now it takes place only in simplified form. The ancient Yaku shrine is in Miyanoura. It is recorded in the “Engishiki,” a Heian era document. The Yaku Shrine is a village shrine(satomiya) and there is a sister shrine, called Okumiya, in Okudake.