Wonderful Yakushima

Overview

Yakushima was registered as an UNESCO World Natural Heritage site 20 years ago. Though small, the island has mountains rising more than 1,000 meters. Elevation differences have created a unique climate zone allowing for 1,900 species of flora from subtropical to subalpine. The island also receives significant rainfall; so much so that people joke it rains 35 days a month. Blanketed in primeval forest, Yakushima attracts visitors from all over the world. Our reporter is Peter Skov, a Canadian photographer living in Japan for 12 years. On Journeys in Japan, Peter focuses his lens on Yakushima's primeval forests, its soaring mountains and its sea turtle spawning grounds.