Yakushima

Hiking Yakushima, Japan: forests, monkeys and mountains on island that inspired a Hayao Miyazaki film

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Hiking Yakushima, Japan: forests, monkeys and mountains on island that inspired a Hayao Miyazaki film

Most of Yakushima was logged at some point, starting early in Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867), but the forest has been conscientiously replanted since logging ended in the late 1960s. The author hikes up a trail in Yakushima. Photo: Fiona Ching Now the circular island is a protected national park criss-crossed by hiking trails and dotted … Read more

Hyatt to launch luxury ryokan brand Atona in Japan, mixing beds and futons, burgers and kaiseki, modern and traditional

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Hyatt to launch luxury ryokan brand Atona in Japan, mixing beds and futons, burgers and kaiseki, modern and traditional

The first three locations, scheduled to start opening in 2026, include the well-trodden town of Hakone (two hours southwest of Tokyo by train), the hot springs valley area of Yufu, in southwestern Japan, and Yakushima – a remote and mountainous island near Okinawa. The starting nightly rates are likely to range from US$800 to around … Read more