Day 2
The Jōmon-sugi by the Arakawa trail
Morning
The Arakawa trail
Twenty-two kilometres there and back, eight to ten hours of walking, about eight hundred metres of height gain. The first eight kilometres follow an old forest railway laid on sleepers, on the flat: monotonous but quick. The trail then climbs into the primary forest up to the observation platform.
Afternoon
The Jōmon-sugi
Discovered in 1966, it is 25 metres tall and 16 metres in girth. Its age is debated: between two thousand and seven thousand years depending on the method, which would make it, on the high estimate, one of the oldest living organisms in the world. It was this discovery that put an end to logging on the island and led to the world heritage listing in 1993.
Evening
Wilson-sugi and Daiō-sugi
On the way you pass the Wilson-sugi, a hollow stump whose inner cavity, seen from a certain angle, draws a heart above your head, and the Daiō-sugi, the king cedar.
Good to know
The access road to the Arakawa trailhead is closed to private vehicles from 1 March to 30 November: you have to take the compulsory shuttle from Yakusugi Land or the Anbo centre, first departure around 5:00 AM, ticket to be bought the day before. Setting off early is compulsory: the last return shuttle cannot be made up. Bring rainwear, water, a head torch and a portable sanitary kit, as toilets on the trail are limited in number.
