Rain Hike in Kodama Moss Forest | Yakushima, Japan

Walking in the rain on trail through moss forest in Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge on the island of Yakushima, Japan. This mountain forest is home to old growth Japanese cedar trees and was the inspiration for the fantasy anime Princess Mononoke. It also may or may not be home to Kodama, tree spirits who guard the forest in Japanese folktales. The forest is not technically a rainforest, but it seems to rain a lot. On my way down the skies opened and the forest trail turned into a mountain stream, it was amazing.

Late April, 2026

More from Yakushima and Tanegashima
Yakusugi Land https://youtu.be/-qPcvFVB-yg
Yokko Gorge https://youtu.be/EYytIbx9AlQ
Senpiro Falls https://youtu.be/lXTgiGjzioA
Elephant Rock Beach https://youtu.be/DqzXXZDtvtI

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All sights and sounds were captured by me on location.

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#yakushima #rainhike #naturesounds

22 Comments

  1. Wow, what a treat!! 🤗My Ghibli-loving heart is pounding in awe. 😍
    Thank you so much for this video, Yakushima is a real treasure on our planet. 🌿🪲🌲🐜🌳💚

  2. Beautiful video, but the trail is so dangerous and harrowing that it's hard to focus on the beauty. Are trails there rated for danger, like "1" means family-friendly, "5" means experts only, walk at your own risk"? Also, is it responsible to walk such trails alone? What if something happened to you? Could it be days before anyone knew?

  3. What stands out to me is the vibrancy of the green leaves on the trees .. ..so peaceful and relaxing ..a chance to breathe and recharge the brain cells … I could spend hours in the Japanese forests … I can imagine your soul is full of love and peace …Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with us 🙏🏻🙏🏻

  4. Are those square cut outs at 5:11 for footholds? That Kugurisugi Cedar at 1:02:56 is ancient as is that stump at 1:05:49 + many others, too many to mention!
    Great walk though not as easy as it looks on video!

  5. This really captures that quiet Japanese forest magic — rain, moss, cedar trees and the feeling that the whole place is breathing. Beautifully immersive. 🌿

  6. обожаю вашу видео 👍,,, цели день смотрю , такое ощущение что я сама хожу 😊 особенно дождливые дни, большое спасибо 😊

  7. Thank you SO much!!🙏💚 ( it takes GREAT effort to fully appreciate GREAT rewards) YOUR great effort , must have been its own "reward"!!! But with that "effort" it has given me and MANY others a true BLESSING!! Thank you, beyond words that can express!!! This was SO wonderful!!! ❤🌏💚🙏

  8. Absolutely stunning hiking video! the compositions, the colors, everything is just perfect. people like you motivate others to go outside and explore. congratulations, excellent job! Have a great week ahead!

  9. hey!:) imagine hundreds of years ago walking through the area and stumbling upon a path that leads through all that. how mystical<3 your really having too much fun! xD . anyway, as always , thank you for your window:) be safe out there and enjoy it for me too please xD lol take care!

  10. 🌳🌳🌳🐦🐦‍⬛🪨🪵🪴Kodama Moss Forest-Yakuchima, Japan 🇯🇵 Divine, sounds 🐦 river 💦, beautiful 😀 trees 🌳🪴🪵,13:36 beautiful wood forms 🪵😮, beautiful stones forms 🪨, 45:43 pretty form of the root 😀, precious 🤩 root 1:02, 1:04:57 nice zoom of the moss, grand View the Rock 🪨is😮 big.🐦🌳🪴🌳💦🌳🌳🌳🌳.

  11. Arigatoo gozaimasu for the ultimate shinrin-yoku! I miss to be in the forest so much, I studied forest biology and watering technologies and I am doing totally irrelevant stuff now.This beautiful walk helped me to sooth my soul.

  12. This looks like something I would see in a fantasy movie. It's so gorgeous and green. My dream is to visit Yakushima and see all the trees.