Yakushima (Yakushima Town, Kumage District, Kagoshima Prefecture)
Yakushima, an island in Kagoshima Prefecture, was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Supported by abundant rainfall and a diverse ecosystem, its forests are known as the "Alps of the Ocean," and are particularly known for their Yakusugi cedar trees, some thousands of years old. The island is also said to have inspired the setting for the Studio Ghibli film "Princess Mononoke."