Yakushima was one of the most powerful places I’ve ever been. Lush, quiet, alive in a way that’s hard to explain.
I hiked the forest that inspired Mononoke Hime — and it made sense. The place really does feel inhabited. Not just by nature, but by something older. You walk for hours through moss-covered roots and towering cedars, and it feels like the gods are watching, just out of sight.
I was lucky — perfect weather the whole time. Clear skies, filtered light, cool air. Everything felt still, present. The forest wasn’t just beautiful, it was awake.
Yakushima is one of those places that stays with you. Not because of one specific moment, but because of how it opens something in you. A beautiful place that will never leave my heart.