Situated 60 km off the southernmost tip of Kyushu Island in the southwestern end of Japanese archipelago, Yakushima Island is unique in its diversity. This small island which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site hosts a variety of biomes. Mountains rising 2,000 meters dominate the island, primeval forests which house a number of large diameter Japanese cedar trees which are thousands of years old and beach habitats which host the southernmost population of Japanese Macaques in the country. The flora is very diverse for such a small island, comprising more than 1900 species and subspecies. Of these, 94 are endemic, mostly concentrated in the central high mountains. Cyril Ruoso shares the mysterious island's iconic views and animal inhabitants in this photo essay.
