@marisadventuresinjapan: A place I’ve been meaning to visit for years! 😍 I didn’t really know what to expect originally, I was just very curious and it didn’t disappoint. 🙌 It was precisely the prehistoric atmosphere that captured the imagination of Hayao Miyazaki. While Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki and lead artist Kazuo Oga spent extensive time exploring Yakushima, specifically the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine. Which is the one I’m showing in the video! Yakushima became the direct inspiration for the film’s iconic Iron Forest (the realm of the Forest Spirit and Kodama) for several distinct reasons: 🍃 Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine: the lush and emerald gorge where Miyazaki sketched key landscapes for the film. 🍃 Deep moss and primeval flora: the island’s high rainfall sustains over 600 species of moss, blanketing every trunk, stone, and root in a deep green carpet mirroring the ancient, living forest of the movie. 🍃 Ancient Yaku Sugi cedars: the stunning centuries old cedars mirror the giant, ancient trees that shelter the Forest Spirit. 🍃Coexistence with wildlife: Yakushima’s native Yakushika deer and Yaku monkeys roam freely throughout the forest canopy, evoking the spirit of San’s wolf tribe and the sacred animal gods protecting the woods. The only thing we didn’t see where deer and monkeys inside the forest, but along the streets there were plenty! I’ll for sure share more about this island as there is so much to do here! 🐢🌊🐒 #yakushima #princessmononoke #ghibli

Mari | Japan Travel 🎌

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Thursday 20 August 2026 13:03:56 GMT