Yakusugi Museum
Yakusugi Museum, Yakushima 屋久杉自然館
Yakusugi Museum, Anbo, Yakushima
To understand something of the history, culture and natural environment of Yakushima it pays to visit some of the excellent museums on the island.
The Yakusugi Museum in the hills above Anbo is a nature museum dedicated to the cedar trees (yaku-sugi), some of them extremely old, that grow on the island. The floor of the museum is made from cedar blocks and visitors remove their shoes on entry.
Yakusugi Museum, Anbo
Yakusugi Museum, Anbo
Exhibits
The Yakusugi Museum is dedicated to the Cryptomeria japonica (sugi). Trees over 1,000 years old are known as Yakusugi.
On display are various examples of the trees, some cut to show the tree rings or growth rings. These indicate the very slow growth rates of cedar trees on Yakushima compared to other forested areas of Japan. The high resin content of cedar trees on the island make them especially resistant to insects and decay.
During the Edo Period of Japanese history, the cedar forests on Yakushima were selectively logged. The descendants of these trees, kosugi, naturally restored the forest. After World War II, the forests were more extensively cut until a more sustainable approach was adopted. A 20 kg chain saw from the 1950's is on display along with more traditional hand saws and other cutting tools used since Edo times (see the photograph below).
Cedar shingles, known as hiragi were mass produced during the Edo Period for use in homes in mainly the Kansai region of western Japan. Made from straight Yakusugi logs, hiragi were used to pay local land taxes. Also on display are various local handicrafts made from cedar.
The history of logging on Yakushima can be seen in a video presented as through the eyes of Tomari Jochiku, an Edo Period Nichiren Buddhist priest, who convinced the authorities in Satsuma domain (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture) to exploit the forests on the island. There is also a computer generated virtual reconstruction of Wilson's Stump. This is the remains of a massive tree felled in the Edo Period and named after the English botanist Ernest Henry Wilson, who visited the island in 1914.
The logging village of Kosugidani which operated from 1924 until 1970 is also featured. At its peak, the village had 500 inhabitants and its own school.
The Jomon-sugi Millennium Branch can also be seen at the museum. This is a branch of the famous Jomon-sugi tree that fell off after heavy snowfall in 2005.
Outside the main building is a small diesel locomotive and short section of track used to transport the logs out of the forests. An annex has more examples of cut cedar and some whole stumps.
The museum also has a museum shop selling items made from cedar wood: clocks, key rings, toys etc. The basement gallery of the museum is used for temporary exhibitions. The adjacent theater shows high vision documentaries on Kosugidani Village and the logging industry on Yakushima.
Hiragi roof tiles, Yakusugi Museum, Anbo, Yakushima
Various saws used to cut the cedar trees, Yakusugi Museum, Anbo, Yakushima
Access
Yakushima Museum
2739-343 Anbo
Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun
Kagoshima Prefecture 891-4311
Tel: 0997 46 3113
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm; closed the first Tuesday of every month; December 29 - January 1.
Admission: Adults 600 yen, university students and high school students 400 yen, junior high and elementary school students 300 yen.
The museum is a 30 minute drive by hire car from Yakusugi Land or just five minutes from Anbo. Both Yakushima Kotsu and Matsubanda Kotsu buses run to outside the museum from both Anbo and Miyanoura. From outside the museum buses run up to the Jomon-sugi trail in about 40 minutes.
Alternatively, the museum is a pleasant 50 minute walk from Anbo with the likelihood of seeing the island's native monkeys and deer on the way.
The free Yakushima World Heritage Conservation Center is a 5 minute stroll away as is the Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Learning Center next door.
The Yakusugi Museum is located in a pleasant forest setting with wooden bridges and streams as well as a large car park for hikers to leave their vehicles before hiking up to Jomon Sugi.
Other good museums on Yakushima include the Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Center and the Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum both in Miyanoura.
Hiragi cedar roof slats, Yakusugi Museum, Anbo, Yakushima
Yakusugi Museum, Anbo, Yakushima
Accommodation in Yakushima
There is a range of available accommodation on Yakushima from budget minshuku guest-houses to high-end western style hotels and resorts. In Miyanoura try the Minshuku Iwakaya with rooms from around 6,000 yen for budget travelers. The Sankara Hotel & Spa is in the south west of the island near Anbo offers luxury accommodation including Thai massage and French cuisine. The Yakushima Youth Hostel is also on the south coast.
In Onoaida the JR Hotel Yakushima has ocean views. Also in Onoaida is the plushest hotel on the island, the Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel (0997 47 3888) with its own hot springs and wonderful sea vistas.
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Yakusugi Museum on Yakushima is a nature museum dedicated to the cedar trees (yaku-sugi), some of them extremely old, that grow on the island.
